Sometimes, the simplest things can be the most profound. So it was on this beautiful morning in June. It was nearly like any other morning in summer except for the peculiarity of the sunlight in my backyard. The rays of light streaming through the outstretched branches seemed to take on a special hue. An otherworldly glow from these reflections set the tone for the day. What a glorious morning, I thought, as I prefabricated preparations to take my wife, Mardai,to the hospital again.
It had been slightly over two years that Mardai, only in her thirties, had been battling cancer. There were many things we were planning for the years ahead. The strain and stress of the disease had taken its toll on the two of us, as well as the other members of the family. There had been a time when we visaged life bravely and took no thought for the pitfalls that might lie in our way.
It is my belief that one can become accustomed to anything.Thus it was with our continuing fight with the disease. Over the years the cancer had shown signs of retreating, only to return with a vengeance a short while later. Since Mardai had not been feeling too well recently, her physician insisted on her returning to the hospital for observation.
As the time to leave approached, we stated our goodbyes to the children. Malika,our daughter, held her brother Jonathan’s hand as we pulled out of the drive way. They are very special children, these two. Born approximately four years apart,they were both adopted at an extremely young age. They had brought much joy into our lives and now, at the ages of eleven and seven, were adjusting as ideal they could to the discomfort of our family dilemma.
The hospital was, perhaps, an hour’s drive from home. As usual, it was good to be alone with Mardai in the car. We spoke of the “good old days” and how kind they had been to us. We exchanged views on my work, the children,our friends and our future. Even though she laughed at my feeble jokes,I could see deep within her eyes the shadows of sadness. With guarded expectations we discussed plans for our twentieth wedding anniversary,which was only a week and a half away.
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