I've never been a person that has a ton of friends - instead I have only one or two really close friends that become intregal parts of my life. Deb is one of those people for me, and has been for almost 7 years.
Years ago there was a student in our program that couldn't say "Deb" and started calling her "Bob" instead. (The same kid called me "Neo" and Cindy "Indy", which also stuck). Bob has worked at Werner since the school opened, and was one of the pioneering staff members to bring an inclusionary program and philosophy to students with severe and profound disabilities. We call her "Saint Deb" because she's so sO SO patient and good with students (she seriously makes the rest of us look bad, that bitch.)
Deb has been with me through the most momentous occasions in my life - she was on the comittee that hired me for my job, she was one of the first people I told when I got engaged, she stood next to me as I got married as my maid of honor, she supported me through our infertility, she rubbed my belly, threw me showers, and kept me motivated during my pregnancy, and she is the best, most excited honorary aunt a boy could ask for now that River is here. The most important moments of my adult life have Deb somehow intertwined into the experience.
After being an 18 year survivor, Deb found out that she has breast cancer again. It was devestating, unfair, sad, and scary.
On April 10th, Bob will have a double masectomy and reconstruction. It will suck for her and it will suck to watch her go through it and not be able to do anything to fix it. But I'll be there for her, like she's been there for me. River will do his part with some baby therapy. And because she's one tough bitch, I know she'll be just fine. But god it hurts to watch people you love go through things outside of anyone's control.
There's no smooth way to wrap this one up. Fuck cancer.
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