My sister was diagnosed with lung cancer about six months ago. She went to her doctor with a concern about her shortness of breath and a chronic cough. The doctor had her admitted to the local hospital for diagnosis, which I am certain was only a formality as her symptoms clearly pointed to an advanced lung cancer.

Janice Lynne Macleay 11/9/1949 – 11/28/2017

She called me a few days later from the hospital, talking in a very scared voice to confirm she was at stage 4, the most serious state possible. She was released to home and scheduled her first chemo later that week. We talked about what to expect from the chemo, as I am a cancer survivor myself with three years of chemo behind me.

A month ago we were talking about moving her from California to live with my wife and me in Kentucky. She was all for it, and we started planning to make it happen. But it didn’t as she was back in the hospital with a serious infection in her digestive system. When she was released from the hospital she and I talked about her future. She said she wanted to go home and live what life remained with her son and grandson.

Three days ago, she was at home and very upbeat when we last talked. Then, I got the call from her son. Yesterday afternoon, she was drowsy and took an afternoon nap. Her son tried to wake her, but although she was breathing, she was not responsive. He called me a few minutes later with the news as the EMTs arrived. She passed from this life into the next peacefully in her sleep.