Blindsided.

(Spaghetti's Aunt N, his Cousin, Cuz, and his Uncle T. July 2009)

You know those people that you love? The ones you call family? Do me a favor.

Go hug them. All of them. If you can't call them and tell them you love them.

We are all busy. Very busy people. We sometimes say, maybe next year, maybe next birthday we will do it big. How about in a few years we go there.

Well for Cuz (Spaghetti's cousin) she learned a lesson on maybe next time...

Spaghetti's Uncle T, (Cuz's dad) he had the flu. He coughed, felt crappy, threw up alot. For over a week. Then he got really bad migraines. For 4 days they just wouldn't stop.

Spaghetti's Aunt N. got worried, she told him he had to go to the hospital. He needed her help getting to the car. He had problems using his right side. He was speaking gibberish.

He was put in the ER. Everyone was guessing a stroke, or maybe an aneurysm. The did tests and scans...

It's brain cancer.

The migraines, the right side issues, the gibberish. It all makes sense now.

Then we had to see how bad it was. When do we start Kemo, and treatment? What Cancer facility will he stay at?

They did a full body scan to see if the cancer was anywhere else.

He has melanoma in his kidneys and liver. And he's not waking up from the medication to help with the pain.

He should have woken with in hours, instead it took him over a week.

Friday Cuz and her mom went to the Hospital to visit Uncle T. He was awake. Eyes open. Glasses on. He couldn't talk, and they were not aware of how "there" he really was. But for a day they had him. Awake. More then they have had for weeks.

Then yesterday Uncle T. took a turn for the worse. The doctors said there will be no treatment. Melanoma doesn't respond to kemo, and the tumor in his brain is 2 inches around and 1 1/2 inches deep, so they can't reach it.

Right now they are just talking about keeping him comfortable till he passes.

Typing that just blows my mind.

This is the same guy that just talked me through closing my pool a month ago. They same guy we just took a road trip up to Milwaukee Fest to watch Banjo play with Kate & Kacy. The guy who just rides his bike over for a nice ride.

(Uncle T.'s bike him and Aunt N. rode over one nice fall day last year)

The guy that goes to see his kids in Nashville whenever he wants, he gardens, he tinkers in his garage, he is a loving father, grandfather, has a grandchild on the way in April, he has SO much life left and it was just taken away.

I am angry at this cancer. Just like we all are. It hurts my heart SO much for this family. Who is my family too.

I looked to Uncle T. for help. He is SO much like my dad. Losing him makes it so hard for me. I couldn't even tell my dad, I was afraid I would become the blubbering mess I am right now.

I love you Uncle T. I just hope that your pain is minimal until the end. Tell Gramma we all say "Hi" (she just left us due to an aneurysm in February) man this is going to be a jacked up Holiday season.

Love You,

Jack

Dear Banjo and Cuz,
I love you both, and my heart hurts SO much for you both. I can only give you endless hugs, and all my love right now.