My Mom, Diane M. Baker, was diagnosed with breast cancer in August 2010. She annually went to her mammograms, never missing a visit and always following doctor’s orders. That year though it was discovered that the breast cancer was fairly involved, so much that it was in her lymph nodes. She did chemotherapy, had a double mastectomy, and then radiation. She lost her hair, worked when she could, and then ran a marathon and completed a one-hundred-mile bike ride less than twelve months from her original diagnosis.
My Mom loved the outdoors, gardening, being active, and had a smile that lit up a room. Everything she did she did 100%, including being a great friend, mother, daughter, and sister. After her original cancer diagnosis, she lived life to the fullest, more so than ever before. She ran races, completed in triathlons, did bike tours, traveled, and treated herself to things she enjoyed.
We always knew it could come back, but we did not talk about it. We just lived! Four years later in August 2014, and only months after she retired, my Mom was told the cancer was back and had metastasized to her bones. We went to Boston to Dana-Farber for a second opinion and then she immediately started chemo pills. For two years the cancer either was kept at bay or slowly grew, but Mom continued her fight. Last summer my Mom started to get a bit more tired and in September 2016 was told the breast cancer had spread to her bone marrow. At that point, she started IV chemo and continued on it throughout the year. She lost her hair again and battled numerous side effects, never with a complaint or a tear. She was fighting and that was that. I knew deep down though that she dreaded her visits to the oncologist. We just wanted the day to come when she was told it was gone; she was always hoping and praying for her miracle.
In August 2017 my Mom had a small stroke and was admitted to the hospital. She stayed for four days as numerous tests were performed. She was having complications caused by the cancer. At this point, it was in her back, her liver, and her bone marrow. She wanted to go home. Her doctor did not recommend anymore chemotherapy and wanted my Mom to get Hospice care. She was not done fighting though.
A few weeks later we went to Cleveland Clinic and were told that there was nothing more that could be done. We were heartbroken and disappointed. The trip had been difficult and we were going home with a lot less hope than we headed there with.
When we got home my Mom made the decision to enjoy the rest of her days at home with me. There would be no more chemotherapy. We enjoyed special meals together, watched our favorite tv shows, ate our favorite snacks, enjoyed the birds in the backyard, and went on short jaunts in town. We did not know how much time my Mom had. We just spent time together. I do not remember the last time my Mom told me she loved me, but I know she loved me dearly and truly was not ready to leave. She fought until the absolute bitter end.
On Thursday, October 12, 2017 my Mom, Diane M. Baker, was called to Heaven. She had a smile on her face. She no longer had to carry the burden of metastatic breast cancer with her.