Suzi's Diary Continued

Sisters | About Suzi | About Elizabeth

Suzi's Diary Continued
In 1992, my very dear friend and mother-in-law, Bobbi Gray was diagnosed with colon cancer. Ironically, Bobbi is the daughter of Terese Lasser, who is the crusader behind the American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Reach to Recovery program, which developed from Terese’s personal crusade in 1952.

Over the next 5 years, Bobbi underwent two major surgeries, chemotherapy, rehabilitation and more chemotherapy only to once again find that the cancer how now spread into her blood. It was a bittersweet time as I cared for her and learned more about this disease and the ways in which I could care, love and support her while caring for myself as well. Sadly in 2005 Bobbi passed, we were together at the time as I had escorted her from the hospital back to the comfort of her home a few weeks earlier. On November 17th there was an unusual early November snowfall and together we watched from her bedroom as the snow fell and the baby deer roamed in the yard. She passed quietly and peacefully that afternoon.

In 1998, my youngest sister Elizabeth was first diagnosed with breast cancer. She had a lumpectomy and chose a non-aggressive chemotherapy and kept her cancer a “secret”. In 2000 she was diagnosed for a second time, and this is when I came to understand that everything I had done prior in my life had prepared me for the role that I was about to take on as her “primary caregiver.” It was a major turning point in my life, and one I would repeat a thousand times over. What I learned from this experience, the gifts my sister taught me, the ways she stretched me to recognize my natural gifts and purpose to serve in this lifetime is priceless. My sister Elizabeth is an amazing woman, she continues to serve as an incredible sister, friend, teacher, inspiration and healer. At this same time, I was introduced to the coaching profession. Hand in hand, I enrolled in a 2-year program with Coach U, founded by the pioneer of Coaching, Thomas Leonard and became involved with Elizabeth and her situation. (To be continued)