that's only the 3rd time in the last 2 weeks that i've typed that sentence...it feels surreal cuz this all happened so quickly

2 weeks ago, she went to the hospital with extreme pain in her side...she's a dialysis patient (for the last 9 years) so frequent trips to the hospital were generally normal (she's 73)

but this was different. they found multiple tumors on her lungs, spine, kidneys and liver...and today, its confirmed that its in her brain

i flew down to Orlando twice in the last two weeks...when I saw her just last Wednesday, she was out of the hospital, on pain meds...walking and talking and laughing...going to Walgreens with me..watching her soaps and Jerry Springer...she was worried about the diagnosis but happy

then she took a sharp dive over the next few days...by yesterday, Monday, she was immobile and incoherent...she didn't know where she was or who i was when i spoke to her on the phone...i think i'm in a bit of shock

I was planning to go back on May 7 to stay for a while, but now i don't think she'll make it until then...i want to be there when she crosses over..i want to hold her face and sing to her...i want her to join her ancestors with joy and her family around her.

When i saw her last, she asked for her grandsons...so i need to fly them down with me this week, which i literally don't have the money for (my flight is set already).

if any of you can spare anything to help me, i'd appreciate it. my cash app and venmo are the same: vlynnmanning

i pray that you all get the privilege to be by your elders' side like this...i feel nothing but gratitude in this moment.

d


"i do more for both our communities than you'll ever know." - Heinz
"But rest assured, in my luxurious house built on the backs of people darker than me, I am sipping fine scotch and scoffing at how stupid you are." - bshelly