What lovely, sweet thoughts devilwoman! Thanks you so much for posting this.
When my son was ill with brain cancer we went through a horrendous time during which we were so often told by doctors that he would survive, then that he wouldn't , then that he would again. The ups and downs of it all were unbearable. It was 10 days before Christmas in 1989 my son said he felt worse and I rushed him up from Devon to London to see his specialist. A scan showed that his brain tumour, which we had been told had calcified and stopped growing only weeks earlier, had suddenly attacked so fiercely that it had now taken over 3/4 of his brain. Kevin spent his last Christmas at home that year. On Boxing day an ambulance rushed us to the hospice 1 1/2 hours away, as I cold no longer control his pain. Kevin died in my arms on February 18th, 1990. So, Christmas is a very difficult time for me, as my family will always feel the loss of my beautiful son. I make every effort to make our Christmases happy and special, but there is always an element of deep sadness, even so many years on. It just doesn't seem to get any easier, in fact this year has been more difficult than the previous ones for me. Kevin and I were so very close and I am so desperately missing him. I am so lucky to have a loving partner (my darling RATTER) who doesn't mind mopping up my tears when I can't hold them back any longer.
So, on behalf of those who feel this sadness inside, thanks you so much for thinking of us devilwoman. You are a real star! Kevin wouldn't want anyone to be sad and so from him and from all of my family I wish you a Wonderful Christmas and a Healthy and Happy New Year. If you want to meet Kevin, you'll find him here - always smiling, always young, always so hansome:
http://serenehound.spaces.live.com/