– Tattoo of the Heart

excerpted from Kaiulani Facciani’s book, Whatever Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Strong.

November, 2013 – I had just been diagnosed with 9 leptomeningeal mets/tumors in my brain and given weeks to live. My son surprised me with this tattoo he had designed himself (my name with a breast cancer ribbon for the “a”). I said, “Oh, that’s so sweet, you’ll always have this to remember me by!” He said, “No, we’ll have it to help us celebrate in 20 years after you’ve kicked its ass!”. I’m now NEAD. : )

Then he posted on Facebook…

New Tattoo, by Jace

A little more than a year ago, I came back from backpacking the Amazon jungle and confronting my fears only to be faced with a new one. When I returned, I discovered my mother had been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and given a couple of months to live. Tumors up and down her spine crushed her vertebrae and hip, limiting her ability to walk. Doctors said she would never walk again, but anyone who knows my mother knows she’s as stubborn as she is loving and wasn’t gonna go without a fight. A year later, I am sitting here in Oahu, watching her surf the same waves she did as a kid. I am sooo thankful to spend another Christmas with my beautiful mother! I love you mom, and Mele Kalikimaka! My heart goes out to all the families who have lost someone.

I know, right? I should try to stick around for this guy, doncha think?

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