She’s stopping treatment for good and entering hospice. I read the text from my big brother three times, but my mind struggled to understand.

My sister-in-law. Her biggest, brightest blue eyes that don’t miss a thing. Her sharp intellect. The way she throws her head back and laughs with her whole body. How the sea and sand bring her so much joy. Her love of food. Her natural beauty. Her tenderness toward animals. Her dedication to the most vulnerable among us.

She has lived 5 1/2 years with terminal cancer. We, the ones who love her, have lived those years, too. Surgeries and chemotherapies and radiations and experimental trials. Prayers and hopes and worries and tears. 

She has LIVED 5 1/2 years with good days. So many good days. And we, the ones who love her, have lived those good days, too. Graduations and medical school and work and travel and being moms and dads and sisters and brothers and friends. Sharing meals and holidays and laughing and loving. 

This week, she made the hard, right decision. A clear, empowered choice. She chose presence and comfort and good days, which treatment was no longer giving her.

We, the ones who love her, are heartbroken and scattered and shattered. And, we support her hard, right decision with every ounce of our beings. We’ll find empowerment in her empowered choice. We’ll be there to hold her hand and laugh and cry and lean into the good days, hours, and moments. She’ll know how much she’s loved…to the moon and back.