Happy (?) New Year

     Well, it is now 2016 and according to my horoscope I am supposed to have a great year.  As far as I am concerned, it can't get much worse.  Then again....
     As I said in earlier posts, my brother was diagnosed with terminal cancer this past fall.  He made it through the holidays but now it seems that he will probably not be around much longer.  He has been moved to a nursing care facility for palliative care.  I went down today and spent the afternoon with my brother and family.  He is unconscious now and being given morphine for the pain.  I have never felt so helpless.  I never thought my strong and healthy brother would be in this condition.  Seeing him laying there was one of the most difficult things I have done.  Seeing a brother dying is an awful thing to bear!
     Jim's sister has also been diagnosed with terminal cancer.  She has lost her hair from chemotherapy and was hospitalized from a severe strep infection due to loss of white blood cells.  She is back home and will be restarting a less aggressive chemotherapy.  Jim has been there helping and taking over with the care of their mother. Jim said that she is doing okay and is gaining strength.  My hope is that she will be able to regain her strength and hang around for a long time to come.
    Then there is the fact that my pre cancerous cells are back in force.  I will be undergoing treatment to "burn" the pre cancerous cells with acid every month.  Gads, it is painful!
     It wasn't too long ago that I thought I would be the first of my generation to die.  Now I am watching my brothers die.  It is such a difficult thing to do. 
     So, happy new year?  I hope it will eventually be....