As I began to think about this week’s column, I knew it would be difficult, most likely the toughest one I might ever write. I knew, however, putting it off any longer wasn’t going to make it any easier, maybe even making it just the opposite.
On Monday, Aug. 18, our daughter Meghan passed away following several months of an aggressive brain cancer. Doctors who treated her and other physicians told us that after the surgeon removed a tumor from her heard the size of an orange last Dec. 13 and it was diagnosed as malignant, she might have 12 to 18 months to live.
The oncologist sat down that following Wednesday evening with her, our son-in-law Terry and Pat and me and informed us that although the surgeon had been able to remove the entire tumor, that it was cancerous.
It has some long name and I’ve forgotten exactly what that is, but this particular type of cancer forms in the brain. Apparently it’s the most common kind of cancer that forms in the brain.
My wife asked the oncologist, who was very compassionate but straight forward, about the fact that the MRI had shown that the surgeon was able to remove all of the tumor then how come it was still cancer?
Graciously, Meghan’s oncologist explained that this type of tumor sends out what I believe he said is spindles to other areas of the body.
He further explained to us that it’s incurable. A couple of months after that surgery, she began radiation and chemotherapy treatment at the same time, and after she completed the radiation treatment, MRI’s were showing no more tumors.
I mentioned to countless people back in December and earlier this year that was the most difficult crisis we’ve ever faced but we must continue to have faith and trust in God.
Now, with her passing, this is the most difficult time in our lives.
As we continued to pray and I believe so many thousands of other people did for a miracle for Meghan that she might overcome this deadly disease I told the Lord that I would never stop having faith in Him until she could no longer take a breath. I did that.
We went through much of the summer believing she was improving and making progress. She seemed to be gaining strength, getting a little stronger, was driving her car some and had a great appetite. However, she continued to be tired, so my wife Pat spent a lot of time driving back and forth to Norman, not every day but several days at week.
Along the way she had another MRI and her oncologist and surgeon from OU Medical Center were having some difficulty trying to figure what it was they were seeing. They weren’t sure if it was a new tumor or some kind of old tissue from the radiation.
It was determined that another surgery would be required to determine what it was because even if it were old tissue it needed to come out since that was blocking blood flow to her brain.
On Monday morning, Aug. 4, family members, close friends, and colleagues of our son-in-law Terry gathered as the surgeon operated on her.
Shortly before the operation began, Pat and I were able to visit with her briefly. Our last words to her were, “We love you Meghan.”
During the surgery, they found a new tumor that caused a stroke, something this surgeon had never experienced.
She never woke up. Two weeks later she was pronounced at 12:10 p.m.
What is so sad she leaves behind a son, our grandson, Liam who turned 7 on Sunday, her great husband Terry, and so many close family and friends.
We hosted a birthday party for him here this past Sunday and around 25 people came to help celebrate, family and close friends. Pat had promised Meghan we would host his birthday party here.
Unfortunately, I can somewhat relate to little Liam. I lost my mother when I was 3½.
All that little Liam really understands is that his mommy is in Heaven and we believe that too.