As I sit and wait for my Monday cat scan results, I got word last night that my friend in Albuquerque, Judie Framan, died.
She has had re-occurring cancer so we’ve been there for each other. She had been struggling with breast cancer and then ovarian cancer for many years. (I say that although the word ‘struggling’ was not in Judie’s vocabulary!) Judie had a stroke during chemotherapy about six months ago and was paralyzed on her right-side. She was still the most positive person I knew.
In September I was the keynote speaker at the Ovarian Cancer Survivors' dinner in Albuquerque. Judie was my friend and fellow survivor who set up that opportunity.
She was my guardian angel. Someone who truly understands what it means “When Cancer Returns.” She was my angel on earth and now I know for sure that I have a guardian angel in heaven looking over me.
When I went to Albuquerque to speak, she was not well enough to go to the dinner. This is how I started my speech:
“This is a very sad day for me. My good friend Judie Framan is not well enough to be here with us tonight. But today is also a great day for me. I took Judie to the spa today, and we got our hair and nails done. It was a great day because I was able to do something special for her.”
Two of our mutual friends, who knew Judie before I did, will be attending her memorial service. I will not—because of the timeframe (tomorrow) and it is across the country. One of those mutual friends is also from out of state (but a state nearby) and another one is from Albuquerque. I gave both of them updates repeatedly. Neither one of them ever called her or went to see her during the last two years. I was shocked. Now they rally that she's dead? Great lesson--and it makes me so appreciative for my friends who are there for me NOW while I am going through it all and ALIVE!!
I told this story, in a very distressed manner, to another friend and he cautioned me about judging people as we never how people can—or will—react to anything, let alone circumstances as difficult as this. No matter what, I’m glad for the time I spent with Judie and the friendship and mentoring (she was also in PR) that I received from her.
Blessings to her husband, Elliott and her other deep love--her horses! During her last 10 days at home, with hospice, her bed was arranged so she looked out the window at her beloved horses that she hadn’t been well enough to ride in over a year.