My Friend Annette...

We had such a wonderful evening...we were able to attend a combination surprise Birthday/end of chemo party for my friend Annette. She just finished the last of 12 grueling chemo treatments.
I first met Annette 14 years ago when I moved down the street from her after I became a single Mom. Annette was also a single Mom. We instantly bonded and became much more than friends. She is my sister. We've been through many joys and sorrows together. We've taken family trips together, served in Church callings together, laughed our guts out together and shared many tears together. Annette met Joseph and got married about 3 years ago. They built a new home and moved away. We don't live down the street from each other any more, but it hasn't changed our friendship at all. We have come to love Joseph and have enjoyed many double dates together.
I will never forget the day Annette called me to tell me she had colon cancer. It was a Saturday and I was shopping at Costco. It was news that I certainly was not prepared for. No one ever is. I have watched her progress through treatments that have wreaked havoc on her entire body. I watched how she handled horrible pain when she had a blod clot in her lung after her initial surgery, when her porta-cath leaked chemo and destroyed surrounding healthy tissue which caused her to undergo another surgery to remove the dead tissue and implant the porta-cath in a different place.
Even through this difficult trial, as she has so many times before in my life, she has been such an example to me. She always handles things with such fortitude and grace. I told her tonight she is like one of those amazing strong pioneer women. She laughed and said, oh no, I love air conditioning way, way too much!
It truly was a wonderful celebration to join with her and Joseph's family to celebrate the completion of her last chemo treatment. I truly am grateful to be blessed with such a dear, beloved friend...and happy end of chemo Annette!