Kindness and Decency in Law

Patti's Journal

The dark, open water, and wind: Three of my greatest fears.

My husband must have been a pirate in a previous life, because he all but *forced* me to take up sailing. To say I was a nervous student is an understatement. The terminology was all new, being in a slow moving boat seemed to serve no purpose, and my fears gripped me so tightly.

Taking a Day Off

I finally took a personal day off. It was 2014 and my son and I were getting ready to go to Grandmas for the weekend. He asked, “Mommy, why do you have that big bruise?” I stuttered, trying to find a way to conceal the truth but never to lie to my son. “I just had a little needle. It will be fine.”

Negative Self Talk

The doctor placed my infant son on my chest and I breathed a sigh of relief. My husband trembled slightly as he cut the cord. Our son closed his eyes. He did not take a breath.

The Path of a Law Mom

“It appears that the cancer cells may have already invaded the lymphatic system. We are referring you to the Cross Cancer Institute for a treatment plan. I’m very sorry.” The pathologist hung up the phone. My world stopped turning.