Update on Grandma Peppa

I have sad news.

As you may remember from this blog post, David's grandma has been battling lymphoma. She was originally diagnosed about three years ago, went through chemo, was declared cancer-free, and everything seemed fine. She's always been very healthy and active--yardwork, housework, volunteer work.

This 30-second video of Zuzu laughing with Grandma Peppa is from the June of 2013 (before we painted the kitchen!) Grandma Peppa had completed her chemo treatments, but she and Zuzu were both bald at the time.

This summer, her lymphoma recurred and she went through chemo again. Once again, she was declared cancer free, and in early October she came and stayed a week with us. She was feeling good, her hair was coming back, and she had a new boyfriend (!). They have been planning a trip to Hawaii in January, along with a group of friends.

Unfortunately, she was hospitalized at the end of October with abdominal pain and it was determined that her cancer has come back suddenly and aggressively. Treatment has not been effective, and she has decided to begin hospice care this weekend.

David was essentially raised by his grandparents, as he and his mom moved back in with them when he was a year old and his parents divorced. He's really close to his grandma. He'll go back down there this weekend and we plan to take the girls to see her over Thanksgiving. I hate that they probably won't remember her. I wish I would have taken more photos and video last time she was here.

It's sad news at a time of the year that is already heavy with loss.

Grandma Peppa with baby Zuzu

Grandma Peppa with Baby Coco