I Lost a Friend

I've lost a friend. Janet. Cancer. She was a courageous fighter.

Janet was fighting cancer three years before I knew her. She was mentioned in a Sunday School class I attended. I started doing what I do best. I wrote her a note. That was in May of 2010. I've been writing her notes ever since.

It was a number of months before we met. We scheduled a date at the Starbucks in Mt. Airy. I sat there for two hours listening to her share about her life and the opportunities God had given her to witness for Him. I was spellbound.

I continued writing notes and sending emails, listening to her heart as she continued to battle for her life. One of the things we did together was make "Hope" pouches. I had been making "Hope" pillows for a few years to give away, but not pouches.

My friend, Gail, sewed up the pouches for me from the pretty "Hope" material from Longaberger, and Janet made a list of what to put inside. She knew exactly what someone would need when they first began to take chemo. Then the pouches were delivered to the cancer center where she receives chemo to give to people undergoing treatment for the first time.

Janet joined me for a retirement breakfast with other women in my church. I didn't know if she'd be able to attend and was pleasantly surprised when she arrived. She's the first one on the right.

I also met with Janet, and our friend, Shari, (second on the left) a few times for breakfast. Those will be special memories for me. And the Saturday we had an open house at my Mom's home in Rockville, Janet and her husband, Eric, came down to find some treasures.

Our relationship has mostly been through cards, emails and texting. The last few years she was under extreme pain and agony.

The other week she was able to join her team, the Thursday Teal Troopers, for the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition Walk in Frederick. Although she couldn't participate, God made it possible for her to attend a few minutes to cheer on her team. In her email message to her friends last February, she said: "My team, the Thursday Teal Troopers (all of us patients currently in treatment) are on a mission to raise awareness and promote education about ovarian cancer in our community." They raised $68,000.

It was very difficult seeing her before she died. She was asleep, heavily drugged. But I took her hand and thanked her for being my friend. I told her I'd see her in Glory.

I've lost very few loved ones and friends in my life. I've considered that a number of times over recent years, and thank God. But I know more friends and loved ones will be passing on as my year's continue to add up. This ain't going to be easy.

Janet was a friend. I only knew her a short time. I'm sorry to lose her. She was saved and is meeting Jesus before me. There isn't any pain in her body anymore. She still shines as a blessing in my life!

Jo loves her toys. She carries them around, bringing them to us to show off. Jerry caught her asleep on the couch with her paws around her rope.