The Permission to Dream

by Jane
(Texas)

Hi. My name is Jane and my mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the fall of 2010. In a stroke of timing, a news story on Randy Pausch and his Last Lecture caught my eye shortly after we had received the devastating news of mom's cancer. I immediately sat down to watch the video, and then ordered his book of the same name, The Last Lecture.

Randy's candor, humor, and vulnerability tugged at my heart. We are in uncharted waters with mom's disease and reading Randy's story somehow gave us the courage to know that we could get through, no matter what the outcome.

Mom is fighting hard, and her one prayer is that she handles this journey with grace and dignity. Knowing that Randy gave the lecture as a way to leave a legacy for his children has inspired us as a family to make mom's life count.

Our greatest dream would be for her to completely recover from the cancer. The doctors have advised that she is terminal. Randy's words speak volumes to us, "We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand." And we are playing the hand one card at a time for now, because "time is all you have...and you may find one day that you have less than you think."

We are journaling mom's experience in our website, www.pancreaticcancerjourney.com, and have found a certain purpose in sharing her fight. In the scheme of all things cancer, pancreatic cancer counts for just a small group of cancer patients. But what it lacks for in numbers it makes up for in it's vicious and lethal attack.

Randy Pausch gave a honest glimpse into the world of pancreatic cancer through The Last Lecture. More than that he gave us the permission to dream and a road map to pursue those dreams with graciousness and dignity.

In His Grace, Jane

IWoW Your mom sounds like a very brave woman. I'm truly sorry to hear that she (along with you and your family) are having to battle this terrible disease. It's good to know that Randy Pausch and his words are helping you through this very trying time. What he said is so very true... time is all we do have, so we should make the most of every minute of every day because you never know when that "time" will end.

My prayers are with you and your mom. Thanks for writing.