LouLou

My sister Louanne was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer back in December of 2009.  The outlook for LouLou was grim, and the recommendation was that she not pursue any treatment.  On December 24th Louanne signed herself into a hospice program and asked me to be her primary caregiver.  I agreed and signed the paperwork. The reality would be that for many months afterwards Louanne was her own primary caregiver along with our father.

Lou entered the nursing home in April.  She had been falling a lot and the strain of those repeated falls was becoming harder and harder on both my father and Lou, putting them in a stressful and dangerous place.  I asked Lou to try a nursing home respite, and after only a few days she realized that returning home would be a bad idea.

Louanne is 45 years old.  Her birthday is on August 9th, and her goal is to make it to her birthday.  LouLou currently weighs 112 pounds and is perhaps the strongest person I know.  She may not have the use of her legs anymore.  But she does have the most beautiful pair of wings.

Much of this blog has been about my journey alongside my sister, with me acting as her witness.  Louanne has been and continues to be an amazing teacher.  She does not think of herself as a teacher, nor does she consider herself as strong or as remarkable.  I know differently, as do the many people who have spent time with her.

Lou is not a perfect person.  She gets angry, she aggravates us, she forgets to say thank you.  But her story is so very important to me.  Because in many ways, it is my story too.

I hope that you will join me in wishing LouLou a very happy birthday. In a few days she will meet this momentous goal.  Please post your Happy Birthday LouLou wishes in the comments section of this page.  I will read each and every one to her during the week of her birthday.

Namaste!