Prayer needed!

My heart is heavy this morning after the phone call I got from my cousin {sigh}...You know what the person has to say is not good when they ask you if anyone has called you yet...Ever had that happen before?

Well, yesterday one of my mom's sisters found out she has breast cancer. She is one of my most favorite aunts and I don't get to see her very often. The memories I have of this aunt from childhood bring a smile to my face every time I think of her.

Her husband passed away just over a year ago and she lives alone. Several of her children live close by and do check in on her. She is still quite independent and active, I might add. So it isn't like she's confined to home by illness or some other reason.

But here's the kicker (and I'm sooooo upset about this!)...The doctor decided to call this 76 year old-recently-widowed-living-alone-gal at 5 p.m. on a Friday and drop the bombshell that yes, indeed she does have breast cancer.

I apologize for the rant here but YOU JUST DON'T HANDLE IT LIKE THAT!!! First of all, I think that type of life-changing news should be told in person, NOT ON THE PHONE! Secondly, that doctor should have asked my aunt to bring a family member into the office with her so she'd have some loving support when she got the news.

But sadly, no - it wasn't handled like that. My cousin and I discussed how poorly that doctor handled it. (This same cousin, at age 41, has dealt with cancer not only once, but twice so she speaks with the voice of experience in this area.) Anyway, I asked my cousin if she was going to at the very least let that doctor know how upset the family is that she was didn't exactly extend care and compassion in breaking the news to my aunt - she said OH YES, she's DEFINITELY going to address it! Good, I think it needs to be pointed out to that woman that you don't just rock someone's world in such a casual manner. Not ever. Yes, she had to tell my aunt but I honestly do think she could have been a bit more compassionate about it. GRRRRRRR!!!!!!!

Okay, I'm done. I have now stepped off my soapbox :)

Anyhow - PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE pray for my aunt. And for the rest of us in the family, too. The big "C" word is always shocking and it seems that our family has been hit (no, make that slammed) so hard by it over the years. So many family members dealing with this terrible thing - some are still here, others are not (my mom being one of them, as you know). Augh, it makes me weepy just thinking about it....