Dear Friends,

I just completed my 8th round of Chemo using the 2 drug therapy...CarboplatinTaxol...the Taxol portion will be distributed in 3rds starting with last friday and continuing the next 2 fridays..I will be able to take a 4 week break and will resume chemotherapy using only the Taxol for one year starting June 29th. This 8th round made me a little more sick than #7 however...with that said...still doing very well...ready to work again tomorrow with clients.

I wanted to acknowledge Mother's Day over the weekend and realized on Sunday that I didn't have the strength to share what was in my heart. Mothers Day has taken on an additional meaning for me as I share what my friend Gladys shared with me in 2002. Gladys as many of you know passed away May 14th from Colon Cancer...I had the honor of spending time with her and her family during a 2 year period as she experienced her life with Cancer ...2 days before she passed away...we celebrated Mother's Day together ...this was her card to me on May 12th,2002

the card said...

"Comfortable Friends"

It's so easy to tell you
just about anything
whenever we share Mom stories
or confide in each other,
I can count on you
to be sensitive and supportive.
I want you to know
How much I value that closeness.

Happy Mother's Day"

Gladys' words...

"To my special special friend. I haven't got the words to express just how special you really are. I love trading Mom stories with you whether they're happy or sad. I love you sooooooooooooo much. I wish you all the health and love and vitality that you deserve. You are my special gift of light each and every day!!!

Peace and Joy Always,
Gladys

...this day was a day when Gladys was losing control of her words...trying to speak but was not able to be understood some of the time...I knew at that moment that Gladys was going to pass...we could all feel it...Gladys and I shared a special time in both of our lives...we tried to help each other be better Mothers by sharing stories of our own lives that lifted us and often times caused us to feel powerless and unable to solve the mistakes or misunderstandings of our children. We shared how much we loved(love) our children...How the blessings of loving another the way a Mother can love her child is a gift that we would never take for granted. She loved being a Mother more than anything...she was so proud of her daughters....Brea and Sharmaine...as she looks down on them now...she must be so amazed at their beauty and intelligence. Her spirit radiates in both of them. I am so blessed to watch as Brea prepares to graduate from college and as Sharmaine grows her 3rd precious child in her body and continues her film career.


Gladys,

Thank you for teaching me the real beauty of Mother's Day...with Hallmark pressure on our heels to be this special day which sets us all up for disaster...enough cards...enough flowers...enough lunches...brunches ...dinners....we lose sight of the most precious gift....the gift of loving a child and watching that child grow into an amazing human being....even with all of the ups and downs...the searing pain when we are so worried about them...unconditional love for what has come out of our bodies and through our hearts...I am forever grateful to you and to all Mother's!!!!


Happy Mother's Day to all Mothers

Love,
Summer