A Poem And Letter For Karen From Her Son Kirk -back
Cancer is so limited-It can not cripple love
It can not shatter hope
It can not corrode faith
It can not destroy peace
It can not kill friendship
It can not suppress memories
It can not silence courage
It can not invade the soul
It can not steal eternal life
It can not conquer the spirit.
Our greatest enemy is not the disease, but despair.
Cancer may rob us of that blissful ignorance that once led us
to believe that tomorrow stretched forever.
In exchange we are granted the vision to see each day, today,
as a precious gift to be used wisely and richly.
(Author Unknown)
Karen epitomized this poem. She knew that her Cancer had to affect her physically, however, she never let it affect her emotionally. The essence of Karen never faded and as my father stated, Karen Would Not Give Cancer an Inch. Her strength and passion for life was legendary. She spent her time providing hope and joy for all those around her. Her love was her family, especially her grandchildren, and she was blessed with three beautiful bundles of joy during the last 2.5 years. Even at the toughest of times, her smile, New York sense of humor and love of life was close to the surface.
The last 18 months were a roller coaster ride, with lots of ups and downs; however, we packed a lot of “living” into those months and experienced a lot of joy. Countless shopping trips, outings to good restaurants and quiet dinners at home led us all to feel like normal happy people, which was a great feeling. We did a lot of living as a group and that has helped to fill the huge void that Karen’s death has created. Life is precious and we were given some quality time that a lot of other Cancer patients are not afforded. I will always be in awe of Karen’s courage, determination and hope for life. I try to live my life the way that Karen did, treating people well and making a difference in their lives.
Mom, I miss you every day and cherish the memories of the time we spent together. I can honestly say you are my best friend and my mother and that made all the difference.
Love Always,
Kirk
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