Intimate Strangers

So my mom does this thing.

"Do you remember the Horschenbaums?" she'll ask.

"Um. No." I'll reply.

"Sure you do. The Horchenbaums. Maude and Irving."

"No. I don't remember them."

And it will go on like this for awhile, until I finally have some vague idea who the Horschenbaums are (you know, the grandparents of that boy who gave you the valentine in preschool), and then my mom reports on some horrible tragedy that has befallen them. A terminal illness, a death, a stillborn great-grandchild, etc.

And then I'm always a little irritated, because now I'm completely bummed out over some stranger's sad story, like, I could just have easily punched myself in the face instead.

Anyway.

All of this is just to say: I'm about to punch you in the face, bloggerifically speaking. Sorry.

Reader Amy sent me an email this week, and she pretty much said it all: Wow. Just, wow.

The blog she passed along says the rest.

Leanne was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. Lymphoma. My heart breaks for her. And for her husband (who is writing most of the posts at this point) and her little daughter Lydia.

She was five and a half months pregnant when the final diagnosis came.

Needless to say, she is no longer pregnant. My heart shatters for her.

She's started chemo now. She's fighting. She's going to "give lymphoma a beatdown."

Please please please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. Because wow. Just, wow.

Comments

[Lena]

Now I am crying. Hap-py Friday!

[Cara]

Ya know, perhaps being that I am 34 weeks pregnant myself I shouldn't have read that. Cause now I'm a crying mess and my preshus baby is kicking me like crazy. :(

[Kristine]

My mother does that to me too.

But I have learned her game and now it goes like this:

Her: Do you remember Fred?
Me: Why? Is he dead?

Sadly - sometimes he is, but it lessens the blow.

[Kari]

What a terrible tragedy.

[KristaMB]

Okay, I just read and sobbed through the whole blog. Yep, wow. I'll certainly keep Leanne and her family in my thoughts.

[Dani]

Thanks for punching us in the face with a blog. We'll follow and pray for her.

[Mouse]

When I first saw the title, I was going to say something about you rocking the Indigo Girls lyrics. But then... wow. It's one of the amazing things about the internet and blogs: the chance to learn about others we would otherwise never meet. And to care so deeply about what they're going through.

[Bethany]

Oh my gosh...I can't even think straight- what a horrific, scary story, and yet I can't stop reading.

[Becki]

You've done your public service for today. Now more people are knowing and caring about Leanne and supporting her in her fight. If I were lymphoma, I'd watch my back.

[wilddreemer]

The only two times I have visited this site you have made me cry, this one and Karla's story about Ava (I still sob about that even with sweet baby Nate around.) So I challenge you! Please find a blog that is so ultra happy and positive that doesn't require 3-4 boxes of Puffs and post a link to that. Between these last two blogs I'm terrified at the thought of getting pregnant again. Eeeek. Also! Return to Amalah! If you want, I mean what am I going to do. But really! We miss you and hope that all is well.

[carrisa]

My goodness that's a sad blog. I have just sat here bawling in front of my laptop and worrying my husband that something is wrong.

My heart goes out for all of them.

[Brandee]

You almost wish you could fast forward and read the happy ending. Please, let there be a happy ending.

[melody]

Oh my. I too want the happy ending, so I'll say my prays.

Remember, lymphoma can be one of the most curable cancers so there is reason for hope. also: many chemotherapies (but not all) can safely be given after the first trimester of pregnancy, but not radiotherapy.