Long, sad day

Today I took Aunt to the hospital to see the doctor. They said what I suspected from our phone conversation. There's nothing that can be done. She has malignant tumors in her abdomen. It's too advanced.

There's some treatment they can give her to improve her quality of life however. She'll start next week. Her insurance refuses to cover any part of her care. They say she lied on her form. She didn't. They ask if you've had cancer (among other things) in the last 10 years. She hasn't. She had it 30 years ago. But they're notorious in this country for refusing to pay for things they should cover. We're still trying to get them to pay something for the Prince's tests back in March.

I don't know how I would have gotten along without Aunt 5 years ago. When the kids and I lived here before I didn't have a car. She would drive up here every week to take me grocery shopping. That involved taking a couple of toddlers with us as well. She worked horrible hours at the airport. She was usually exhausted when she got here and still would do it.

She cared for my MIL while she was sick and continued to cook and care for my husband and his sister and father up until the day my FIL died last year. She continued to cook regularly for my SIL, even though she's a pretty good cook herself. It's just what Aunt does.

I'm going to cook for her and her brother once a week. Between me and one of her sisters we should be able to keep them fed. Right now they're ordering out which Aunt hates to do. But they both have cancer, even though he's doing very well right now. But he's not a cook and she's too weak. I owe her some, I'd say.