Josie's Memorial and Funeral Service

 

 

For those of you who don't know me my name is Jamie Duran. I am the daughter of Josefina B. Duran. A loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, coworker, caregiver, etc. She was my best friend, and I would do anything to have her back. Back in 2017 my dad suffered a brain aneurysm that altered our lives forever. He didn't recover the same. While holding a full-time job and being a full-time mother to 3 ( I say 3 because my dad was definitely a baby too, iykyk). She did a great job of holding everything together. She was the glue to our entire family.

 

My mom was diagnosed with stage 2a MKT Cell Lymphoma in May 2021. It was a whirlwind from there. Many people didn't know about that because my mom wanted to keep it a secret because she didn't want people to worry more than they had to. On top of dealing with my dad's brain aneurysm (from July 2017) our family dealt with a lot. She began treatment for her Cancer at Stanford Medical Center. We were a part of clinical trial that used the drug Pembro. Which utilized your own immune system to kill off the cancer. It consisted of 4 infusion treatments and intensive radiation for almost 30 days. My mom powered through that like a champ, and her cancer went into remission. She healed well. Although, the radiation made her lose her sense of taste she was hoping to eventually recover that.

On December 1st, 2021 my mom began infusion again at Stanford Medical Center. As a maintenance to ensure whatever remains of the cancer would be cleared from her system. All vitals were checked prior to each and every single treatment. No stone was left unturned. The first week after her infusion she was fine. Happy and healthy. The following week we noticed a decline, but my mom just kept telling us she's ok she's always tired from her infusion treatment. But my mom would always have intense stomach pains. Which were not associated with acid reflux according to the doctor's. I even took her to the ER to make sure everything was ok, and they said that everything was normal. She even tested for Covid several times and was negative every single time. Closer to the last week of her life she was still driving to Jamba Juice, going for walks in the park, she even had to take me to work one time because I couldn't find my keys lol... On mommy. The last week of her life she was still cooking and making empanadas. However, she couldn't really drive anymore because she was so cold. My brother dropped the food off to her friends before he went work. And she asked me to bring her Jamba Juice on Friday before I went to work, and I did. She asked for Carrot Juice. Dropped it off, and I went to work. I visited her again afterwards, and she was still telling me she was fine. Her sisters and mom live with us, and we all urged her to go to the ER, but she didn't want to. She kept telling she was ok and everything was going to be fine. Saturday she was still smiling and happy. My dog would not leave her side. She was on her bed, and for once my mom did not push her off. I should have thought that was a sign, but I thought she gave up because my dog loved my mom so much. Despite my mom not loving her hahahaha...

 

Sunday 12/19/2021 when I got home from Christmas shopping I noticed she did not look good at all, but she insisted she was fine, and could make it to her infusion treatment Monday morning at 8am at Stanford. She said I'm going to take a shower I know that will make me feel better. So I prepared her clothes for her, and I helped her into the shower. I washed her hair and her back. Helped get her dressed and brushed her hair. Had I known this would be my last solid interaction with my mom I would have never ever left her room. My dad would bother her all through the night because of his brain aneurysm. He had a routine that needed to be followed, so I told him dad stop bothering mom can't you see she is sleeping... And I checked on her and said mom are you ok, are you sure you don't need me to call 911?? And she said, and I quote "it's ok. I'm fine, anak. I will let you know what it's time, but it's not time now..." I said ok mom, good night I will see you in the morning. There are a lot of should have, could have, would haves from here on out, but I know my mom would not want me to dwell on this because the thing she hated the most in this world would be for anyone especially her children to worry about her.

 

Monday 12/20/2021 6:59am. I go into her room, and shake her leg.. mommy, it's time to wake up. Come on get up mom it's time for your appointment. She wasn't responding I touch her arm, and she's cold. I yell for my fiancé, babe please my mom isn't waking up please help. He checks her and she still isn't responsive. Then I scream for her sister.. Tita donna please my mom she isn't waking up. I call 911... they rush over, and at 7:22am on Monday, December 20, 2021 they pronounced my mom dead. My brother and I are 24 and 27. Never in a million years did we imagine we would lose our mom before we experienced all our life events... marriage, babies, etc. I felt so incredibly lucky because god blessed me with my dad still being able to be alive, so why did my mom have to go? Did he really need my mom so much more than we did?

 

Until today we are still waiting for answers on how she died. My mom's primary physician and her oncologist spend all of Monday talking to the Coroner's office because they didn't feel it was necessary to do an autopsy as she passed in her sleep, but I strongly believe it was not her time yet. Thankfully, her doctors were able to get them to do the autopsy. We are still waiting for answers.

 

She rang that bell, the cancer was in remission, everything was ok.... She was not sick, she's the healthiest person I know. Healthier than me... As we wait for answers on what happened we have begun planning her funeral. Because our family didn't anticipate something like this to happen so soon we were completely unprepared. Not only do we have to pay for her service we had to buy a plot of land for her as well. She did have life insurance, but it is not enough to cover the funeral costs because after taxes and everything it's close to around 43k...

 

If you guys have any means to donate to this cause and help my family and I give my mom the funeral I know she deserves because she is the most selfless person I know. She would always help even when she had nothing. My mom always gave and gave and gave. So if you can find it in your hearts to donate please do so, if not please share this! We have to pay for her services 2 days before the day off. Please contribute in any way you can, and if not please share. Again, thank you so much in advance to all of you and for your generosity and love.

 

God bless you and happy holidays <3