I really wanted to write something cheerful to cover up the maudlin spree I went on in the last entry. But, I'm afraid this one will be a downer too. This weekend we found out that my mom's doctor died. Not her current doctor, but the first doctor that really made a difference in her life. He got leukemia last year, and gave up his practice. Apparently, he died last November. We stumbled across his obituary on Saturday.

My mom's been taking it really hard. He was so kind to our family. He was the first doctor to take her illness seriously. Shortly after he started treating her, I actually got to know my Mom. It's because of him that we have the friendship we do today. Her pain issues got better and while she still gets really drained some days, It's not the same as when I was little, and a single exposure to perfume would have her out on her back for a month.

He was just such a fantastic doctor. He was kind, sympathetic, and funny. She'd come into his office, barely able to stand, and he still have her laughing so hard. He became a real friend to our family, and vice versa. He had a picture of us at his home, by his bed. My mom and I are in a canoe. He never thought he'd see the day when she was well enough to canoe. But thanks to him, she had a life again.

He hadn't been in good enough health to treat my mom for quite some time now. But it was still reassuring to know he was around, you know? My mom was sorry she didn't have any pictures or anything to remember him by. But she does. Every time she stands up. Every time she interacts with people for more than 15 minutes at a time, every day that she still wakes up will remind us of him.

I don't know what we'd do without the hope we have. I so look forward to seeing him again someday, and I can't wait to see the look on his face when he sees my mom in perfect health.