An Update

This is Lauren, Rachel's older sister. It has become evident that the end of Rachel's miserable battle is near. As we've spent our time today holding her hand and talking about all of the mischief she's made, I picked up her computer and started to read some of the things she has written. I thought I'd share some of those in this post, and will continue to do so. Before I do that though, I want to share something that we (Rachel and I) didn't get around to in her last post.

Rachel has always loved Christmas. So much so that she began sewing her first Christmas quilt this year at the end of March. Allow me emphasize: first Christmas quilt. She went on to finish her second one in July. Rachel loves Christmas because she loves giving people gifts, and she always gives the best and most thoughtful gifts. She also always gives everyone at least one gift (usually more), even when we have drawn names. Our family, and I'm sure many of her friends are used to being put to shame every holiday. Rachel decided that our family was going to have early Christmas this year, on August 25. Just after our brother Devin returns from Alaska. Ever since this decision, she has been online shopping and pestering everyone non-stop to help her accumulate her Christmas for everyone. I would love to make a list here of presents I know she has procured for other family members, but I can't risk ruining any surprises. To describe her mountain of gifts as extravagant doesn't do it justice. Rachel has always been completely selfless, even during these last few miserable weeks.

Here is a peek at some of the things Rachel wrote that have made me laugh today:

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger is not true or poetic to me, sorry Kelly Clarkson.

When we were little we were in the Scrabble club. We weren’t in it because we liked the game of Scrabble, or even that we knew how to play it. We were in it for the sugar. But every once in a while, the only candy that was left was Atomic Fireballs. Sometimes all that life has left to throw at you is the hot and awful stuff.

I was speaking to the scouts and asked them what age they think people normally get this kind of cancer and they said 89,41, etc. I told them 6-7 year old boys before I could even think about it and got some pretty wild expressions. I guess that’s why they tell you it’s important to remember who your audience is.