Very sadly, my hubby's brother lost his 6 year battle with cancer (multiple myeloma) on Sunday, January 20th.

My hubby & his sister were able to fly out to San Diego on Sun the 13th & spend a couple good days with him before his final trek to Kayser Permanente Hospital late Tues the 15th. 
I know in my heart that Jeff was very grateful for that time with them.  And I can't even tell you how glad I am that they had decided to make the trip out there.
On Wed the 16th Jeff made the decision that he no longer wished to fight.  He was then given oxygen & a continous IV morphine drip & lapsed into a state of unconsiousness until his heart finally gave up & he took his last breath in the afternoon of Sun the 20th.

His parents & other brother & myself had flown out there on Wed the 16th. 

There was a beautiful service for him on Thursday the 24th, with a packed room full of friends & loved ones coming to pay their last respects to a very strong, very good man.  A man who will be very missed, & very fondly remembered by many. 

You know, even when you know that a loved one is terminally ill, you are never ready & completely accepting.  I guess you just hold on with all your might to hope.  You keep thinking that, miraculously, one year will turn into another, then another, then another ... you're never ready for the end. 

Jeff had four good years in remission.  I feel good in knowing that he lived that time to the very fullest.  I think that once he accepted that his time was limited, he became determined to make the very best of the time he had.  And God bless him, he did!

I didn't spend a lot of time with him.  We lived so far apart & I only saw him once or twice a year in the ten years hubby & I have known each other.  But he was the kind of guy who immediately made an impression.   You didn't need to spend a whole lot of time with to feel close to him.  He was so personable, & so real & down to earth that he made me feel like I'd known him forever.  And the endless, heart warming family stories I've heard throughout the years about his childhood touched on some of my own childhood memories.

He made an impact on my life.  On the lives of all who were fortunate enough to have known him.

Rest well in peace Jeff, I love you