A Sad Day

I got a sad call from my mom this evening. Her dear friend Lolly Nelson lost her valiant battle this evening with cancer. Lolly was diagnosed in April with a very aggressive cancer that had metastasized in her body. It was a cancer that created large tumors and unfortunately did not have a standard treatment protocol. She underwent surgery followed by aggressive chemo. It seemed the chemo slowed the cancer but sadly within weeks of the treatment's end it was back as aggressive as ever.

Anna and I had the pleasure of spending a few hours with Lolly on October 11 at a tea party my mom had for Anna at the Dunn Brothers in Mankato. It was so good to see her and although this was Anna's first time meeting Lolly in person, she was quite taken with her. Lolly generously gave Anna a bag of goodies including princess related items. Anna was thrilled. She quickly made a thank you card and sent it off. Only days after the tea party, Lolly's condition deteriorated rapidly and she was hospitalized for several weeks. Amazingly however she recovered and it seemed might be holding her own. She actually went back home for a bit. Sadly this didn't last long and the pain of the cancer took her back to the hospital and eventually to a nursing home. Anna drew a picture of her and Lolly and mailed it off to try to cheer her up and Lolly was included each night in our special blessings.

What wonderful blessings that Lolly got to celebrate her birthday, have Christmas and New Years with her family and celebrate her only son's birthday this past Thursday. My thoughts and prayers go out tonight to her family and her extended family of friends as a wonderful wife, mother and friend may no longer be with us in person but surely she will remain in spirit in their hearts and memories.