another awful loss...MJ is at peace

It was MJ’s husband’s desire to post all...That’s the way MJ was and I believe she would have approved.

To be honest, I was unable to on my own. 

I find myself still tormented about her passing. Long ago, I gave up trying to figure out why bad things happen to good people. It’s just that MJ touched a chord deep in my soul. I believe she did with everyone she met. The fact that she was legally blind and yet ‘saw(literally and figuratively)' more than most people and did not let her physical disability stop her from reaching out to others with her wisdom and beautiful heart.

love,

Steve

Steve, you so eloquently captured MJ's heart and soul in your post.  She cared about all of us and was always reaching out to help.  She gave me so much good information prior to my visit with MD Anderson that it made my visit go so smoothly.   You were right on target about her wisdom (Bill's too) and beautiful heart.  

Hugs,

Donna 

I just had a very nice talk with Bill...

Please let MJ's family know how much she meant to all of us.

Thanks Genie for posting the link.  She was such a beautiful person, inside and out.

Donna

I am crying thinking about her and the services have not started...

Genie, thank you for posting the obituary...I loved the picture of her...I hadn’t seen it until today..

I am going to introduce you to MJ’s friend.

looking forward to seeing you..

love to all,

Steve

On Tuesday just about the time of the one year Anniversary of MJ's death I had breakfast with her DH in San Antonio. It was a beautiful meal filled, at different times, with sadness, memories and laughter. I am very glad we got together and I was especially touched by the picture of MJ he showed me when she graduated with her Master's degree. 

He talked about the fact that MJ was an advocate for literally thousands of people in her long career. I can still remember her telling me when I first started helping her that "it is hard for me to accept your help because I have helped so many but I thank you for what you are doing for me."

MJ's husband shared with me the fact that he is just starting to feel better in the last few months and also how happy he is that he kept MJ's dog who is his faithful companion. The dog is about 5 years old, I believe, yet is "just like a puppy and she wakes me at 6 a.m. every day to be fed with her nose in my face and nose in my face again and wants to be fed at 5 p.m. Clockwork to the minute every day." Amazing, isn't it?

MJ was legally blind and was instrumental in getting oncologists to accept her dog at certain visits and also fought so that blind women with breast cancer could have their companions with them. 

It was very special to keep the connection with MJ and we agreed to stay in touch. He is a lovely man.

I especially remember a meeting of women with Metastatic Breast Cancer and the speaker made some ridiculous comment about chemotherapy and how all the expenses were paid for by the trial, which in many cases is simply not true if the patient does not have adequate insurance to pay for the scans, that are considered 'standard of care' and are often only paid for if you have adequate insurance. I made a comment that, with respect, I felt that in certain cases she was incorrect and she gave me a very snippy response that I was the one who was incorrect. MJ's husband, who was sitting next to me, took the microphone, and said "no, doctor our experience has been that we have had to pay certain expenses." MJ was sitting next to him and was nodding and that silenced the doctor. I turned to him and said "I am so glad you guys were here. Thank you." And that is the essence of what he is all about. We discussed continued injustices at our breakfast. He spoke simply, yet eloquently.

As I said, it was a lovely breakfast and shall be repeated, I hope.

I miss MJ.

warmly,

Steve