And the reason for my absence?
The Saturday before last, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, we received one of those phone calls that chills your blood.
My mum and dad rang to tell us that mum has cancer. It sounded bad. Mum had been sick for 3 weeks. Vomiting. Now I am no doctor, but vomiting for 3 weeks straight doesn't sound good. Especially seeing as mum has a transplanted kidney, and needs to have a certain amount of fluids to keep her kidney happy.
My sisters and I decided to go up. To Charter's Towers. 1000 kms away.
My sis Clare arrived at my place at 9.30 that night from Brisbane...not too sure what she had packed, as she had managed to leave the house within an hour of hearing the news.
My husband arranged to work just school hours so he could have the kids before and after school. He never even hesitated. He just said 'you need to go', and he took care of everything.
Sunday morning at 6am, we set off.
So boring. So scary....not knowing how mum would be, nor if we were even welcome! (yeah, we left without mentioning we were coming)When we arrived, mum was sick. Really sick. She rallied around and we had a lovely time sightseeing up at the look out that evening. Feeding the rock wallabies and seeing a beautiful sunset.
But that was the end of the rallying.Mum couldn't keep any food down. She had no energy. All she could do was sleep.
It was scary to see her so sick.
As we were getting no help from the doctors and the hospital up there, we moved her back down south. Dad quit his job without even a second thought, and they flew down to Brisbane.
My brother and his wife arrived in Charters to help with the packing. They drove 2500km from Canberra in 2 days.
This week has really shown me how important family is. When the chips are down, family is awesome.
Bills have been paid, an entire house has been packed, and every tiny detail has been taken care of. Mum and dad have somewhere to live in Brisbane for as long as they need whilst treatment is received and beyond. Truly, this week I have seen love in action.
I am beyond proud to belong to this family of mine, and have never been more grateful to have been one of 5 children! Imagine organising this on my own!!!
I am now back home. And we wait.
Mum is now in hospital in Brisbane, and we are all anxiously awaiting the results for this newest series of tests, as they are still trying to identify what her primary cancer actually is.
So, please pray for my mum, we just want her to be happy and healthy. She is so so so loved.
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