Taken – the Sadness of Cancer

So many families have had loved ones taken because of cancer. Unfortunately, the truth behind cigarettes and tobacco products hadn’t come out for so many before it was too late. Even watching old black and white television shows, I Love Lucy, for example, everyone smoked. The popular show was even sponsored by a cigarette brand – Phillip Morris Cigarettes. Even up until the 1980s into the early 90s, I remember as a child, cigarette ads were featured in so many prominent magazines as well as commercials on television shows. Brands such as Camel, Marlboro and so many others until finally, a stop was put into such ads and warnings were and still are featured. Again though, the truth behind tobacco wasn’t found out for many until it was too late with such an addictive product.

With tobacco causing cancer in millions upon millions of people throughout the decades, so many have lost friends, family members, and those closest to them. I lost a grandpa years ago at the younger age of 69. His loss impacted so many of his large family. Recently, I just lost my grandma. She passed away just after her 86^th birthday but what saddens me the most is she won’t be able to meet her great-grandchild. She was given six months to live by doctors about five months ago and her decline was quick and sudden even though we expected it sooner than later. So saddened to see such an ailment take so much out of someone in just a few days. I’m very fortunate that she did survive to see her great-grandchild via photographs, video and video chat after she was born just two months ago. She didn’t think she would live long enough to be able to see her but as thankful as she was able, I do wish they could have met in person. A couple of months ago, I asked my grandma what she wanted me to tell her great-grandchild when she got older and she said that she wished she could have been around to see her grow up. I’m heart broken. If it wasn’t for the stage 4 lung and throat cancer, my grandma would likely have lived long enough to have been able to meet her great-granddaughter... her only great-grandchild that made her so happy when we told her the news we were having a child. I’m very heartbroken. Only if she hadn’t smoked for six decades or so, cigarettes and electronic cigarettes, she may have lived longer than she did.