My first post is to congratulate my Mum! She received good news from her oncologist; she is now classed as "cured". While I was pregnant with my daughter (soon to be 5 years old) mum was diagnosed with breast cancer. I moved from Sydney (NSW) to Wollongong (NSW) to be close to mum while she was ill. I gave birth in the same hospital that she was having treatment in to make it easier for her as she was one of my birth partners. Straight after my daughter was born mum went in for one of her radiation sessions.

She stayed positive throughout the time she had cancer and she was marvellous. I couldn't keep up with her. I'm in a different state now and would have loved to taken her out to celebrate. It doesn't matter what our differences are (and believe me we have had a few) I love her and I'm glad she's still here.

I just looked at the clock; when I started to write this it was still the 31st and the day that mum received her news; but now it is the 1st of Feb and today would have been my grandma's birthday. She died the day before my daughter's first birthday. I miss her a lot. Happy Birthday Grandma :)

As an aside: it seems ironic that on the day my Mum received her news a little baby boy born not so long ago (co-incidently on my Dad's birthday) passed away today during an operation. I feel for the family even though I do not know them. I wish that there was something that I could do for them, to help them in their grief, but I have no idea of how I could help, except by sending them loving & healing thoughts.