Dear Family and Friends,

In late October, my mom went to Hawaii for a vacation. She had been struggling with unexplained nausea for about fourteen months and still wasn't feeling well, but she followed through with her plans so that she could spend some time with her son.  After visiting my brother she traveled to the Island of Kuaui. On November 8th, in Kuaui, she suffered a stroke. My brother JD and his long-time girlfriend Anne flew to where she was and took care of her for a few days after she was released from the hospital. She then flew home to California where I took care of her for the next couple of weeks. She didn't have any apparent long-term physical effects from the stroke, but she was a little mentally unstable, just something you couldn't put your finger on.

 

On December 5th she was admitted to the hospital because she had difficulty breathing. That was a Friday. On Saturday a CAT scan revealed a mass in her chest. The doctors suspected cancer and were pretty sure of their suspicion. On Monday she had some an episode with her heart that mimicked that of a heart attack, but later it was determined that it was not actually a heart attack.  During the "attack" I was notified at work. I immediately left my job and raced to the hospital. When I saw her she was alert and reached out to me and said she loved me and that she was so sorry that I had to go through all of this. That was the last actual conversation we had. She became incoherent later that same day, December 8th, and was unable to communicate in any meaningful way ever again. A few days later the doctors confirmed that it was, indeed, advanced stage lung cancer. Ironically, though, the cancer cells were that of breast cancer. Her breast cancer had come from 30 years previous and lodged in her left lung; the same side as her breast cancer. It was inoperable and the doctors determined she was far too unstable withstand any treatment.

 

On Wednesday, December 22nd, just before 2:00 a.m. my mom was called by the Lord and took her last breath. She was then carried away by the angels to be with Jesus, which is where she wanted to be. The last two days that I was with her she was in a very deep sleep and not agitated in any way. She responded to voices of my Aunt Kathryn and my brother JD on the telephone when I put the phone to her ear on her last day. My mom's many friends and neighbors were generous with their time and sat with her bedside many days.  Her pastor from her church that she loved so much came to visit her as well. A small group of us joined him in prayer over my mother and he reminded her that everlasting life was waiting for her and that if the Lord was calling her, she was free to go. I'm certain that that was a piece that she needed in order to be free. It gave me incredible comfort and I know in my heart it comforted her as well. At last she is at peace. 

 

My brother and I loved our mom very, very much. She was a strong woman and had to fight her way in the world with two young children all on her own. And she did a damn good job. We are very proud of her and will miss her immensely, but we are so grateful that we had her. And if letting her go meant serenity and no more pain for her, we were at peace with the idea. Only now we grieve for our own loss and that of each other's.

 

I know this isn't the Christmas letter you expected to receive, and I'm very sorry to have to deliver this very sad news, but I wanted to do my best to let everyone know. I received all of my mom's Christmas cards and couldn't let them go unanswered. My brother and I thank all of you for your kind words in the days recently past, the loving support we've received from family and both her friends and ours,  and for your sympathies. But fear not, we know my mother is living it up right now high above the clouds. I remember being at the river with her, one of her favorite places, and she always said, "It's five o'clock somewhere!" Well, it's five o'clock for her every day all day and she can be joyous and rested for all eternity.   It's going to be wonderful to see her again someday!

 

Per Joan's request, memorial scattering of ashes in the Pacific Ocean to be held in Hawaii in 2011. Date to be determined. All are welcome.

 

Warmest regards,

 

JD and Victoria Guerrero