A Conversation with MOM

My dad, me, and mom Junior year Prom

*This is a long Post*

I'm doing this a little backwards today because something AMAZING happened last night. Many of you already know, my mom did pass away in January after a long hard battle with Pancreatic Cancer. Since then a lot has happend. The main thing that happened was unnecessary family drama that divided my "close" family apart. Since my moms death I have been searching for signs. Anything really, but most of all I have been asking her for guidance, asking her if my Dad and I are doing the right thing. Although I know some people do not believe my experience with Maureen Hancock last night, made me a 100% believer with mediums. I went back in March, but my mom didn't come through. Last night my Dad and I went together. It was the most surreal experience ever. Here is what happened. 

We were getting close to the end (there were around 100 people at the event) and Maureen was speaking to the last spirit. I was upset because once again i heard nothing from my mom. Then all of a sudden, Maureen pointed at my dad and I and said "You Mom/wife has passed?" "I want to speak to you guys in the back at the end". INSANE right?! I started crying and felt this rush of emotion rush through my body. At the end everyone cleared out of the room and my dad headed to the back to meet with Maureen privately. 

*This is where there is going to be a lot of she said this and i said this type of thing*

Maureen said to my dad and I: "Your wife, your mom, wanted to come through the whole time, that is why I was looking at you and making jokes. She was standing right next to you guys the entire time."

To both of us: "Oh i really like her, she is so strong!" "haha she just said back to me 'I like you too'" 

To my dad: "She wants to let you know that you did everything you could for her."

To both of us: "She also wants to let you both know that she is whole again. She suffered from an illness?" "Well just know she is no longer sick"

To me: "And your grandmother has passed?" (both of my grandmothers are alive)

To both of us: "Has her grandmother passed, what does the M  stand for"

The M was for my mom paternal grandmother her Nonnie Materia. That was her inspiration. My mom was just like her, strong. 

To both my dad and I: "Please know that she is holding on to your moms arm, she is right next to her"

To me: "You have other siblings...2 more...2 girls and a boy...please know your mom is recognizing them"

To my Dad: "Your father is here...he wants you to know he is very proud of you. *Grabs her chest* He passed away suddenly from a heart attack" ( My Papa Dom passed away July 2009 suddenly from a heart attack)

To both of us: "Oh your mom just pushed him out of the way" *Grabs my hands*

To me: "You cannot make everyone happy, and you cannot do everything for everyone. You will never please everyone"

To both of us: Your mom/wife is so proud of you guys, she said as for the family stuff forget it. You are her family you are the ones who matter the most to her. 

To me: "Keep talking to your mom she hears you all the time, she also says to not always watch the news when bad things happen, stop over thinking things"

I was about to ask Maureen if my mom knew i finished my semester at school, and she put her hand up and said. 

"Stop your mom just looked at me and gave me a huge thumbs up. She is so proud of you, she knows you did that for her"

I then asked maureen if my mom knew about the celebration of life and my mom said

"Did she not just sit through 2 1/2 hours listening to you, of course i know, I am so proud"

Maureen to me: She is showing me balloons or lanterns.

I was planning on doing a fundraiser on her birthday and setting off Chinese lanterns!

Maureen to me: Your mom said she things thats a really neat idea. 

I'm sorry this is so out of place but I wanted to share with people who saw my Facebook post, and also write it down so I myself will remember in years to come. 

"There is no death, only a change of worlds." - Chief Seattle

Wedding Day...

Video of some wedding pictures to the song my mom and Nathan danced to.

  With the right medication, mom was feeling better. We began packing for Nate and Amanda's wedding. On Thursday October 11, 2013 we headed to Logan airport to board a plane for Pittsburgh, PA. I can honestly say, I was a little nervous for my mom to fly, I didn't think she would have the energy to walk all the way around the airport. I was obviously proven wrong. Not only did she walk around the airport taking little to no stops, she pulled her luggage as well! We made it to Pittsburgh, and met up with Nate and Amanda. Friday October 12, 2013 was the rehearsal dinner. Everything came together beautifully. Mom made it through the rehearsal dinner as well. She was doing great. You could see the happiness on her face! We also got amazing news that made my mom even more proud of Nathan. HE PASSED HIS BAR EXAM! She was so proud of her son. He worked so hard. Saturday October 13, 2012  WEDDING DAY. Jenna and I headed to Amanda's house to get ready with the Bridal party. Mom rested for most of the day so she would make it through the wedding and the reception after. My cousins helped her get ready and blow dry her hair. When we arrived at the church, I remember stepping out of the limo and seeing my mom. I had tears in my eyes. She looked beautiful! She didn't even look sick! The wedding was beautiful. Amanda looked amazing, the church was gorgeous, and the day was wonderful. At the reception we watched as Amanda and her Dad took to the dance floor for the father daughter dance. Then it was my mom and Nathan's turn. My mom was not into all the attention being on them, but she did it. I do not think there was a dry eye in the place. She looked so happy, and it was such an accomplishment for her to even have the strength to get up there and dance. I will never forget that moment. The joy in my moms eyes as she danced with her son, to one of her many favorite songs. The weekend flew by, and it was time for us to get home. Mom had an appointment with her doctor when we returned home, that would decide on the surgery, but before we got home my mom and I talked about her goals. I remember her saying "I did it, I made it to the wedding!". She most certainly did. Her next goal was to make it to Halloween, but an even bigger goal of hers was to be here for the birth of my cousins first child, and christmas. We were all looking forward to the future because things seemed to be going well for her.

“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.” -Gandhi 

The Roller-coaster Ride Continues

My mom and I at my high school graduation Party 2009 (Please excuse the sunglasses! lol)

On Tuesday September 18th, my mom and dad went back into the hospital, so my mom could get a drain put in. No one thought this would be a problem. Once again, cancer showed us that it was going to continue the roller-coaster ride. There was no need to put a drain in because her liver was draining fine. The problem was the hole. The doctors told my mom and dad to monitor the situation for any signs of fever, abdominal pains, and bleeding. So they came home, and we continued our week. Sadly on Friday things took a turn for the worst. My dad had to take my mom to the Emergency Room at Brigham and Women's hospital. A place that was becoming way too familar. She had a high temperature, chills, and was vomiting. Mom had a fever all weekend, which kept her in the hospital. The wedding was only a few weeks away, and I know that is all she was thinking about. All weekend doctors were trying to find the write antibiotics to give my mom to treat inflammation and infection. Eventually my moms surgeon, who performed her aborted whipple came in and talked to my mom. He informed her that surgery would be the long haul cure for the hole. Basically the surgery was a bypass, he would be stapling off where the hole is and redirecting it to another part of stomach and intestine. Because of the vomiting mom was not eating anything. Her nutrition was terrible and her doctor was worried. My mom told him that she needed to make it to Nathans wedding, and then he can do the surgery. The dr understood where she was coming from and said she could travel to the wedding, but she would need to get the surgery as soon as we returned. My mom was really nervous that this point. Another major surgery?! Her oncologist called my mom and calmed her down and told her she was on board with the surgeon. On September 26 my mom was discharged from the hospital with 2 different antibiotics. Our next hope was for her to be strong enough to make it to Nathan and Amanda's Wedding.
As sad as it was seeing my mom in the hospital, it gave me many memories with her that I will treasure forever. Since my school was right around the corner, I spent most of my days with her, shopping online, listening to music, gossiping. As sick as she was we always had a good laugh together. She was my inspiration to enjoy life to the fullest.

"Sometimes, you just have to be strong & hold your head high. It's not always going to be easy, but you'll be alright. Things will work out"

Welcome to the Family...

My Mom, Me, and my Dad at my H.S graduation 2009

Everyone was getting ready to start school I would be commuting this year, because I wanted to be with my mom as much as I possibly could. Jenna and my mom were starting to get things ready for a new school year at the preschool, but most importantly we were starting to get things ready for the puppy. Mom never complained about how she was feeling so we took that as a good sign. Nate and Amanda's wedding was getting closer and closer. The Sunday before Labor Day my Mom Dad, Jenna, and I went to our good friends house for dinner. It was the first time seeing them in a long time. We had a great time, and ate wonderful food. For some reason on the ride home my mom was very quiet. We got home, and she went right to bed. Something wasn't right, she didn't feel good, and it was evident. From that point on mom was not eating like she usually did. When she ate she got stomach aches and things just did not seem right. On September 12, she went in to talk to her oncologist, her new scan showed the tumor had not spread or grown (YAY!) but her bile duct was blocked. Just to be clear the pancreas is in probably the most complicated areas in the body, there are so  many things around it. She was scheduled to go in for an endoscopy to see what was going on. On September 14 (Less than a month away from the wedding) my dad brought my mom in to get the endoscopy procedure done. They were going to try to put a replaced stent in (to help everything flow back and forth so things wouldn't get stuck), but the area was too inflamed. Not only was this a problem, but the doctors saw a small hole in the small bowel which could lead to alot of problems. The only option would be for her to have an external drain for bile duct. My mom was SO UPSET. This meant she would have the drain for Nathan's wedding. She cried to me when she got home, but i tried to tell her that we can make it would no one will notice, we can figure something out. This was one of those times that my moms illness was very evident to everyone, and showed that the little things, like having an external drain bothered my mom so much. She never ever complained, but with this she did, she was mad, upset, annoyed, depressed anything you could think of thats how she felt. Its hard to say you understand, but there is a part of you as a caregiver to a person with cancer, that feels everything they feel, so I will say I understand how she felt. But once again, mom forged on like a warrior and tried to make the best of the situation. The next day September 15 my moms mood quickly changed. On that day we went and picked up our new fury friend Maverick! He was so small, and cute. We were all smiles, and once again...it felt normal in our house. 

Maverick Welcomed into our home September 15, 2012 (SO much bigger now)

"You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf."

Summertime fading...but good news was coming

My Dad, Nathan, Jenna, my Mom, and I in Bologna Italy 2003

As we morned the loss of our beloved dog Sherman, we all had to continue moving forward. For me it was really hard. I was miserable coming home and not having our "smiling" dog come greeting me, or have someone to sit outside with me when I came home from work. I started researching puppies and one afternoon suggested the idea to my mom. She was a little iffy at first, but when I explained to her that we need happiness in our life, and we all know that Sherman brought us happiness everyday she kind of understood. My moms cancer was like the elephant in the room. Though she never acted like that, we all knew it was there, and we all knew what it would/could eventually do to her. Sherman somehow someway always made her feel better, and made every member in my family feel better. After some cute pictures of golden retriever pups, my mom was sold. She was the easy one, my dad on the other hand did not want any part of getting a new dog. I found a great breeder not too far from us in Bridgewater MA and they had only MALE puppies left! It was a complete sign. I tried to convince my dad, but he still wanted no part. He wanted to wait until after my brothers wedding, but by then this litter wouldn't be available! Finally my mom put her two cents in. She said to my dad "You know Steve it would be nice for me to have some time with the new puppy" for the first time EVER she played the CANCER card. GO MOM! My dad caved.  The breeder wanted us to go and meet the puppies before we said yes, and my dad agreed to this, but was not 100%. On Thursday August 30th my Mom, Dad, Jenna, and I went and visited the puppies. They were adorable. We held them and played with them. At the end my dad was sold, and put a deposit down for us to pick up our puppy Saturday September 15th! We were ecstatic. Things were starting to look up! My mom was feeling good, and we were going to have the pitter patter of paws in our home again. It is important to know that we were not trying to replace Sherman. Sherman will NEVER EVER be able to be replaced, we were simply trying to find the happiness of another four legged friend....

Nathan, Me, Jenna and Sherman our 2004 Christmas Card

"Happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is somethingyou design into the present."

A Happy Occasion followed by a Sad event..

This post is going to be one of the most challenging posts to write.

Jenna, my cousins Kristelle, Mera, Me,Amanda,my cousin Elyce, my Aunt, and my Mom at the Shower

My mom began her process of chemo every other week, and  was handling it very well. She was hard at work finalizing the Bridal Shower for Amanda. We decided on a beach theme since we live near the Ocean and it was summer time. Also, we were having it at my moms favorite restaurant in town, which was right on the water. 

Everything was coming together and on Saturday August 18, 2012 my mom threw Amanda and Nathan the most beautiful Ocean themed Bridal shower. (I may be slightly biased) Down to the drink list my mom planned everything out. Being as sick as she was, she was so happy for Nathan and Amanda, and wanted to celebrate this special time with them. She looked wonderful and so happy. She was able to catch up with old friends, and family. Every single woman who walked into that restaurant was shocked when they saw how good my mom looked. She was so sick, yet she looked like she was as healthy as could be. She accomplished yet another goal! She not only planned a beautiful shower, but she was able to enjoy the day! She was tired after the long afternoon, but once again NEVER once showed any signs of slowing down. She was ready to fight this cancer head on, and now was even more determined to make it to Nathan and Amanda's wedding on October 13, 2012.

Deborah, Mom, and Donna at the Shower

After a wonderful weekend, everyone was back to their routine Monday morning. We all went back to work (including my mom), but for some reason our beloved family pet Sherman didn't seem like he was feeling well. He wouldn't eat breakfast in the morning for my mom which was very unusual, and barely moved when I left for work. 

I came home from work around 1:30PM and Sherman was still in the same spot from when I left, and didn't get up when I walked in the door (that was extremely weird). I thought maybe he had to go out since he was laying by the back door so I let him out. He climbed our steps in the backyard slowly, and once he made it to the top stood still. Then he all of a sudden started swaying back and forth, and then collaspsed. I let out the loudest most horrifying scream ever. I picked him up sat him down, and frantically ran inside to call my Dad and my mom. Our decision was that my dad and my mom were both going to leave work and meet me at Sherman's vet. I picked Sherman up and carried him all the way to my car. I thought I was going to loose him on the way there. When we got to the vet Sherman wouldn't move he was carried in by my dad and started on IV fluids right away. They did an ultra sound to see what could be the cause, and found what everyone feared. Sherman had cancer. By the time we had caught it it was already in his spleen, liver, and around his heart. There was nothing we could do. We called Jenna at work and told her to come to the vet. We decided the best thing for Sherman was to put him to sleep. He had shared 9 wonderful years with us, and we did not want to see him suffer, it was not a time for us to be selfish. He was my first dog, my best friend, always there for me when I needed him. I remember thinking how mad I was at cancer, first attacking my mom and making her fight for her life, and then taking my dog away from me in the matter of minutes. When my mom said goodbye to Sherman she said something I will never forget. "Goodbye Pal, I will see you up there soon". Putting a pet to sleep is a very hard thing to do. Our hearts were heavy leaving the vet, but deep down we new we did the best thing for our pal Sherman. I hope you're chasing those Cats up at the rainbow bridge Shermy buddy. Love and miss you forever.

Sherman June 4, 2003-August 20, 2012

A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself.

- Josh Billings

"It is what it is"

My Dad and my Mom at their wedding in 1980 :)

By late spring, my mom was beginning to show signs of the chemo taking a toll on her body. Though she never complained, she told her oncologist one day that she believes her body had "reached its toxic level" So at this point they made the decision to give my mom a break. She was able to participate in her works pre-school graduation and just be "normal" for a little bit. Spending time with family and friends, something she truly enjoyed.
By this time I was out of school for the summer. My mom and I spent a lot of time together. We were either shopping online, going to the garden stores, going to Marshalls (her favorite place), sneaking to DQ and not telling my dad or sister, or she was planning a meal for me to cook for dinner haha. Things seemed pretty normal at this point.
On June 21, 2012 she got another CAT scan just to see how the tumor was doing. On June 22nd my mom, dad, and I drove to CT for Diana's wedding (my sisters friend). Jenna (my older sister) was Diana's bridesmaid so she was already there.
On June 23, 2012 my mom attended Diana's wedding. ANOTHER GOAL ACCOMPLISHED! Diana looked beautiful and we were all so happy to see her and her husband happy together. At the reception Diana had a photo booth, I begged my mom to take a picture with me. It took some time but she eventually said yes. I am so happy I begged her, they are my favorite pictures with her. They show how close our bond is. She is my rock, my best friend, the person I could be goofy with and annoy, and at the end of the day she would still love me. My mom lasted well into the night, but decided that she was getting tired and should go back to the hotel. I was so proud of her, she once again showed her cancer, who was boss. She was NOT going to let this cancer run her life.

My Mom and I at Diana and Nick's Wedding

On June 25, 2012 my dad and my mom went in to Dana Farber to get the results from her CAT scan. Once again, NO CHANGE! Her oncologist even said that there was some slight shrinkage in her tumor! They decided they would do 4 more rounds of heavy duty chemo. My mom was okay with this plan as long as the 4 rounds (every other week) would not interfere with the Bridal shower we planned for Amanda on August 18, 2012. Luckily the Bridal shower fell on her off week so she was thrilled. Once again, my mom proved just how strong she was. She was determined to fight back and continue fighting this terrible disease for as long as she could. Regardless of what was going on inside her body, she never EVER let it show on the outside. When she came home, she was ready to start finalizing everything for Amanda's Bridal Shower...something she was determined to make it to!

"if you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl,
but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward."
 Martin Luther King

Another Goal to Cross Off...

My mom congratulating Nathan at his Law School Graduation.

Throughout the entire spring of 2012 my mom went to radiation at Dana Farber in Boston 5 days a week. I would go with her on Friday's because I didn't have class. She would drive in because she didn't like how I drove. We would talk, listen to music, and honestly sometimes it almost felt like this Pancreatic Cancer monster did not exist. Of course once we got to Dana Farber reality set in. The weekend of May 18th was my brothers law school graduation. My moms oncologist knew how important it was for her to make it there. She made a deal with my mom that they would disconnect her from her chemo pump for the weekend. My mom was so happy, she was able to be free with out her chemo for the first time in 5 weeks!

The drive to NJ was as uneventful as ever. Well besides my mom yelling at my dad to "SLOW DOWN!", "You are driving like a lunatic!" haha those were always said during any road trip. Sadly my dad never learned. We arrived at Nathan (my older brother) and Amanda's (my brothers fiancee) house and settled in. 

May 19 2012, Nathan graduated law school. My mom was so proud. She looked so incredibly happy. Not only was she proud of Nathan, but she was so proud that she was able to be there to see him accomplish this milestone in his life. Once again, for how sick my mom was SHE NEVER EVER complained. She forged on through any and all pain, or discomfort she had.  Another big announcement that was revealed this weekend was that my cousin was expecting her first child! My mom was thrilled!

My mom, Nathan, and my dad

On our ride home, we talked to my mom and she said that we needed to start planning Amanda's bridal shower. She wanted to have one around us, because she could not travel to Pittsburgh. As soon as we got home the planning began. She had to finish her final few days of chemo and radiation, and then another CAT scan was ordered...For some reason, I had such a bad feeling about this one. I begged my mom to text me as soon as she talked to the oncologist. I got the text when I was at home giving my dog Sherman a bath. "Tumor looks the same", "No change". Such a relief. Once again I was able to look into the future with my mom. She was doing great she was an a-typical Pancreatic Cancer Patient, which is something nobody could complain about. She continued to work everyday, go shopping, and work in her garden. She met once again with her oncologist to work out a plan...and my mom once again looked to the future, and was determined to make it to my sisters best friends wedding, and the bridal shower we were planning for Amanda...

"You have powers you never dreamed of. You can do things you never thought you could do. There are no limitations in what you can do except the limitations of your own mind."Darwin P. Kingsley

Never Give Up...

My Dad, Mom, brother, sister, and I back in the day. Crazy but happy :)

The pain and sorrow of December 22, 2011, slowly began to fade. As we said goodbye to 2011 one of the toughest years my family has had to endure, we welcomed 2012, which was sure to be a year of many difficulties. Something to know about my Mom...She NEVER EVER let her cancer define who she was. She continued to work, as she went through 4 more rounds of that horrible chemo, and once again showed all of her doctors and family just how strong she was. At this point I was at school right around the corner from Dana Farber and made sure to visit her on her chemo days. I sat with my mom, my dad and my aunt. We laughed and shopped online. As sad as it was to be in such a place where there were so many sick people, my mom once again found the light at the end of the tunnel. She somehow always looked so healthy throughout her whole illness. When she finished her 4 rounds of chemo, and then went in for another CAT scan. The unknown of moms illness is what got to her the most. Not knowing if her cancer had and I quote a Dr. "started to rear its' ugly head", was always a fear that was in not only her head, but my entire family. I remember nights before her CAT scans. I would stay up all night, of course fearing the most, but hoping for the best. Once again, my mom showed the doctors and Pancreatic Cancer, who was the boss! Her CAT scan came back and showed her tumor has remained the same! NO CHANGES! That is big news when it comes to Pancreatic Cancer, usually chemo does little to nothing with this disgusting disease. I remember the text my mom sent me I was in STATS class, "No change in tumor!". I was so happy. Just meant I had a little longer with my mom, my best friend, my role model. I was determined to make my time with her the best I could. Once again she worked out a new plan of attack with her oncologist, and was going to be doing radiation 5 times a week and chemo 24/7. A grueling form of attack, but something my mom said she was willing to do. Let me rephrase not willing, something she knew she HAD to do. She wanted to make it to my older brothers law school graduation. So once again my mom set mini goals and was determined to fight back.

"Whatever life gives you, even if it hurts you, just be strong and act like the way you always do because strong walls shake but never collapse."

Bad news won't keep her down...

My Mom with her new laptop! The night before her Whipple Surgery. December 21, 2011

December 22, 2011, another day embedded in my head. The night before we opened our big Christmas presents from my mom so she could see us (she would be in the hospital recovering from the Whipple). Christmas was my moms FAVORITE holiday. She not only loved decorating our entire house, but she loved the joy on each individuals face when she gave them their presents. There are so many fond memories I have of my mom decorating our big christmas tree with my dad, and putting up her christmas village and carolers. She created so many Christmas traditions in my life, that I am determined to continue.

My Mom's Caroler Display Christmas 2011

 My whole family drove my mom into Brigham and Women's hospital early December 22, 2011 to be with her before her surgery. I remember waiting in the waiting room for her to be taken to pre-opp. We all listened as all the doctors came in and told us what was going to happen during the surgery. I couldn't help it, and started to tear up. It's a scary thing, when a loved one goes in for major surgery. We were told the surgery would most likely take around 11 hours. When the doctors were ready, we had to say goodbye to my mom. We all hugged and kissed, but the thing I remember the most was the crying. Right then and there, I knew how scared my mom was. I cried as I hugged her and told her how much I loved her. She told me "If anything happens, make sure you take care of the house". I told her I'd see her in recovery. Then she was wheeled down the hallway and my family and I went to the surgery waiting room. Time passed so slowly. Before I knew it, a woman came over to us and said the surgeon will be down to talk to you if you could follow me into this room. We all looked at each other puzzled. How could this be? She has only been in the operating room for about 4 hours! What is going on? We took our seats in a small conference room and waited for my moms surgeon. He came in and looked so upset. He started explaining a bunch of different things that I cannot remember exactly, but the one thing I do remember him saying is "We couldn't get the tumor, it was too close to a main artery". Once again a feeling of pure anger and sadness swept over my body. We all cried as my Dad asked the toughest question of all, "How long do you think she has?". The doctor said every patient is different but most likely 6-12 months. 6-12 months?! This is my mom, my best friend, and I am hearing I only have 6-12 months with her?! I was crushed, but put on a fighter face for my mom, because that is what she taught me. 

When my mom woke up in recovery she looked around then up at her surgeon and my Dad and before the doctor could tell her anything she said "Sh**". Her sense of humor was evident even in the worst of times. She knew right then and there that they could not remove the tumor. From that point on though, she fought through the hardships of her aborted whipple, and was determined to get home before New Years Eve.  She wanted to rest, because she knew she was going to have to fight even harder now. Her strength once again was shining through this horrible time in her life. I would always ask her do you want to keep fighting, and her response would always be, "You gotta do what you gotta do"She made it home a few days before New Years Eve another goal to check off her list. She did it, she got home from the hospital, and began to recover. Before we knew it she was out shopping (something that she loved to do). She went back to work, and then went back to Dana Farber and mapped out a new plan with her oncologist. She was ready to fight. She was ready to find a new goal. She was not going to let Pancreatic Cancer define who she was...

“Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.” –  Vincent Van Gogh

An Inspiring Woman...

Team Chris: Pancreatic Cancer Walk 2011

So many people know someone who has/had cancer. For me this person was my Mom. A woman with so much knowledge as a mother, a wife, a friend, a sister, but most of all a teacher. She created a world of good, and I want to follow in her footsteps. I am Kirsten Iacovino and in this blog I will be taking you on the journey my mom went through with her fight against Pancreatic Cancer, and how I want to bring awareness to this horrible disease. Let me begin by describing my family, and my Moms' first 5 months fighting against Pancreatic Cancer.

My Mom (Christine Materia) was a woman who touched so many lives. A loving wife, daughter, sister, aunt and friend, an amazing preschool teacher and director for 32 years, but most importantly she was a remarkable mother to my older brother,  older sister, and I. She was a teacher not only to her students but to her family and friends as well. 

July 7, 2011, the day my family started this long journey. I remember the day quite vividly. My sister, aunt, uncle, and my moms best friend waited in the hall as the doctors talked to my mom and dad. I remember the doctor leaving the room and nodding to us. I was the first one to walk into the room. My Dad, holding a tissue box as he and my Mom wiped away tears. I knew at that instant the news was not good. My Dad told us the diagnosis. "Chris (Mom) has pancreatic cancer" Those words are words, no father should ever have to say to his family. I remember being so angry, not understanding why this was happening to MY family. Crying I sat next to my mom, and she hugged me and whispered to me, "I am going to fight, because that is what I have to do". She was discharged from the hospital the next day, with a plan to begin chemo at Dana Farber in Boston. She went through 16 rounds of chemo with little to no side effects. Her oncologists could not believe how well she was handling the chemo, they had never seen a patient like her. She continued her regimen chemo every other week. When she finished her last round of chemo in early December, my mom went in for a CAT scan that would be the deciding factor on whether or not she was a candidate for the Whipple Procedure. After waiting for the results, my moms oncologist and surgeon told her that it was a go for the Whipple. She was scheduled for the Whipple on December 22, 2011...

"Really great people make you feel you, too, can become great"-Mark Twain