Saying goodbye to a friend

The message said, "Gail, it's Steve. Give me a call when you can, it's about Claudia." My heart sank. It was just over a year ago when I got a call from them to ask about thyroid cancer. Claudia had just been diagnosed and she wanted to ask me some questions since I had dealt with it years ago. We talked several times over the summer as she went to a variety of doctors and hospitals for tests and treatment plans prior to the surgery. Unfortunately once they were in the surgery, they determined it was not thyroid cancer at all. It was lung cancer that had metastasized to other areas.

Claudia and Steve are non-smokers as are most of their family and friends so this was a complete shock. Claudia went for the aggressive treatment plan and they began right away. In May 2009 they moved back to North Carolina after retiring from the Department of Defense as school teachers on military bases in places like the Philippines, Germany and Guantanamo Bay. Plans of traveling to visit old friends and family not seen for a long time were all put on hold.

After a few months of intense chemotherapy and radiation, Claudia said they had succeeded in putting the cancer in remission. However, there was always a chance it would return and she would be taking a daily pill for the rest of her life to help keep it in remission. She explained it as a sort of continuation of the chemotherapy but in a lower dose. Our last conversation over Christmas sounded hopeful and full of promise. But that only lasted a short while.

I called Steve right away to learn that everything was going fine until about two weeks ago when she just lost all strength and couldn't get up. The doctors said it had returned "with a vengeance" and there was little they could do. Claudia has always been the one who took control of any situation and this was no different. She has made up her mind "it is time" and the doctors say maybe a few days at most.

Later that day, I called to talk to Claudia and we shared memories mixed with laughter and tears. I told her that I always remember our visit with them in Germany years ago when she made popcorn, smiling as she served it with several burnt pieces mixed in. "I hope it's OK, I like some of them burned." Since that visit, every time I burn the popcorn, I always say, "this is for Claudia," and smile as I eat them. I think I'm going to have some burnt popcorn tonight as well. We love you, Claudia.

Reach Gail Davis at RuhenstrothRamblings@yahoo.com or 265-1947.