In July my Mom, Agnes Chua, was told she has 6 months to live.   She refused to believe this and participated in a trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering as a last attempt to save her life.

Fast forward to November 15 (supposedly 2 months left to live), my Mom was able to celebrate her 70th birthday with her friends and family.  See the photo above?  Yes, my Mom made her doctors look like fools!  This is not a picture of a woman dying, but instead living her life to the fullest surrounded by people who she loves the most!  Death seemed like the furthest thing from the truth.

Fast forward just TWO DAYS after my mom's 70th AKA the party that would rival any teenage girl's dream of the perfect sweet 16 (Yes, I need a little humor to get me through writting this and to share what happens next), and my mom began suffering pains that even her prescribed pain killers couldn't subside or alleviate. 

Fast forward to December 14, my mom  has endured three surgeries in less than a month's span.  Unfortunately,  none to prolong her life.  Each surgery instead intended to make her life more comfortable.  To a certain degree, I guess you can say it has worked.  She requires a morphine drip every 10 minutes to help her deal with her pain.  She can no longer sit up by herself, stand or even walk unassisted.  My sisters and I have lived in Hotel Sloan for the past month and still manage to work full time jobs.  Not once, we have left my Mom's side. 

Fast Forward to the truth and what we need from our closest friends and family near and far!  When my Mom leaves Sloan she will be in hospice care at my sister Arlene's house who has taken a family medical leave of absence to care for my Mom full time.  My sister, Stephanie wants to do the same.  Both of my sisters are taking a leave of absence without pay.  You see nothing matters now to us except for making my Mom feel loved and as comfortable as possible.  I've set up gofundme of 5, 000 to help ease my sisters' financial burden so they can continue to help care for my Mom at home and not at a facility.

I've lived the last 6 months in denial that my Mom is dying.  It may sound like I'm still in denial with my next few words.  Choosing hospice doesn't mean giving up hope to us.  Choosing hospice to us means no more multiple hospital admissions, chemotherapy, radiation, surgeries, invasive tests, or a miracle trial.  We are focusing instead on the quality of my Mom's life not the quantity.   Help us be there for my Mom and live her life to the fullest as she has tried her best since day one of being diagnosed with cancer.  My Mom's bucket list is simple.  No fancy vacations, just more time with her family.  Please help us make her wish come true.  No donation is too small. 

The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention- Oscar Wilde