Gratitude post and remembering another Mum's George

My cousin Jen has been such a support to me since our baby George was stillborn. We haven't seen each other in years and years, but we did often see each other when we were younger. Our grandfathers were cousins and her mum, a Canadian, married an American so Jen was raised south of the border. I'm a military brat, so when we lived in the prairies my sister Lisa and I would often see Jen and her sister Kristina when they came north to visit the paternal side of our family in Manitoba.

Jen is a breast cancer survivor and October is breast cancer awareness month. This lovely cousin of ours was only 26 when she found her lump and was told that young women don't typically get breast cancer. She did. It was more aggressive than they first thought and she opted for a radical mastectomy.

She has shared her story as a breast cancer survivor with an online Detroit news agency. More than this, she has founded a non-profit charity called Army of Pink to help other women with breast cancer find one-stop access to helpful resources. Unlike in Canada where we have universal health care, Jen and many other American women have crippling hospital bills to deal with in addition to their battle with cancer. Consequently she hopes someday to have grants to offer to breast cancer patients to help them out financially so they can focus on fighting their cancer and healing.

Jen has been so kind, so supportive, and regularly in touch with me since our George died. I am so grateful for her support to our family and awed by her work to reach out to other women with breast cancer. For Jen, and for your own health, be sure to do your monthly breast exam. And if your doctor at first doesn't think you have cancer, but in your gut you know something's wrong, think of Jen. And get a second, third, or fourth opinion.

Never doubt your instincts.

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I've just read on several blogs lovely posts to remember another little baby boy named George. He was born a year ago today but didn't get to stay in the arms of his loving parents. I smiled through my tears as I looked at lovely forest photographs taken by this other mum of an angel boy named George. My heart goes out to her and I will think of Barbara and Ray and their George today as I look at the lovely tall trees that surround us here on the West Coast of British Columbia. I will think of them every time I think of our George and how much we miss our boys.

I hesitated to mention this other sad coincidence, but think I will because it made my heart wrench to learn that Barbara's darling boy was born October 20th. I wish things were so different for her because I laboured with one of our children through my entire birthday on the 19th of October and he was born in the wee hours of October 20th. It was a horrible labour and a dreadful delivery but that son was safe and healthy.

My heart aches for Barbara and Ray because I wish their George was with them today for cake after a walk in those magnificent woods where they are. You are so on my mind and will be in my heart the rest of today.

Sending all peaceful thoughts and promising to light our candle for their George. He will be remembered here on Canada's West Coast tonight.