What is it with Cancer these days?

I just got an e-mail message from a friend who we used to see regularly, but since a couple of years we haven’t seen each other. We didn’t have a falling out or anything like that. We used to go to this little Chinese restaurant, in Chinatown, at least once a week after training. It was a family run business; the father was the cook, the son L. and daughter A. were owners and uncle M. waited tables.

The food was really good and the people so friendly. We became regulars. At the beginning they didn’t our names, so when friends would meet us there for dinner and arrived before we did, M. would refer to us as “Molson Dry” (for Hubby) and “Karate” (for me). As time went by we got to know them on a first name basis, and we became friends. They served the bests Hot & Sour soup in town. Everything we ate there was good, and their almond cookies… home made and so yummy. I’m drooling just writing about their food! About two years ago they had to close their restaurant. It was so sad, but L. and I kept in touch. We would send each other jokes, a line here and there, some pictures of his kids, we kept in touch that way.

Since October his father has been sick, what started out as being diagnosed as an ulcer is now some sort of generalized cancer near the lungs and liver. The poor man is suffering and weighs about 75lbs… The family is asking for help because they are facing the medical system and its decision to give up on this man who gave his life serving the public for 40 years with his great cooking talent. He worked 12-14 hours/day, 7 days/week. The only time he didn’t work was when the restaurant was closed. It seems so unfair, and yet Cancer is trying to claims another victim.

So many people are facing this ugly monster; it’s not easy for anybody, neither the people directly suffering nor the people around them. It’s scary. The fear of the unknown is so real when having to deal with cancer.

I feel so bad for them. They’re good people.

Time passes.
Life happens.
Distance separates.
Children grow up.
Jobs come and go.
Love waxes and wanes.
Hearts break.
Colleagues forget favours.
Careers end.
Parents die.

When we began this adventure called life, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we would need each other. Life happens no matter what, doesn’t it?