Pechet Family News

To everyone who has been so amazing during this whole cancer journey and just great partners in life in general....

I share the news below, about my father-in-law. He was truly an amazing man and I feel so lucky to have had him in my life. 

Thank you for being there, always, for all of us. I apologize if you are getting this twice.

Marie

Dear Friends and Family,

We write to let you know that Dr. Maurice Pechet, beloved father, husband, physician and teacher, died in his sleep on Monday night, March 5.

There will be a memorial gathering of friends, colleagues and family this coming Friday, March 9, from 5-7 p.m., to which everyone is invited. The gathering will be held at: Lowell House Junior Common Room, 10 Holyoke Place, Cambridge, MA 02138.

There will be tea, sherry, refreshments, and an opportunity for us to celebrate Maurice in the House that has meant so much to him for nearly 70 years.

For those who wish to send something, in lieu of flowers we would ask you to make a donation to the Maurice Pechet Fund for Lowell House, made out to Harvard University, and sent to: Lowell House Office, Lowell A22, 10 Holyoke Street, Cambridge, MA 02138

We hope to see you this Friday.
- The Pechet Family

Prayers for a good chemo week

I hope you are having a wonderful weekend. It is glorious here in New England.

I return to chemo on Monday. I've only had three sessions so far but each round has been crazy hard for me. I recently realized that one of the differences from a year ago is that I used to write to you BEFORE I had chemo and ask for your prayers for a good session. Lately, I have been writing afterwards, which doesn't really give you a chance to pray and send good vibes.

So, for this round, I am writing BEFORE I go in, to ask for your prayers that the chemo kills the cancer cells, that my healthy cell stay strong and escort the cancer cells out of my body, and that I feel fine going through this round. (Feel free to make your prayers even more specific as you see fit.)

Thank you!

Often through my treatments, I feel like I am tracking with my 93-year-old father-in-law, who is not dealing with cancer but does have age-related issues. At various points in this journey, you might find both of us reclined in my family room, each needing a drink of water, but neither able to get up and get it. We would look longingly at the kitchen, which is just a few steps away but seemed to be at the other end of a football field. The silence was only broken by his words, "Will someone be here anytime soon?" We were so comically pathetic.

Each time, eventually, we both healed and were up and walking again. 

When I returned from my recent hospital stay, he had also returned from a hospital stay. Together, we spent a week on clear liquid diets. And once again, we both healed. 

The other day, he came to visit, and, on his way out the door, said something like, "I don't think I can hang on much longer." 

I told him that I've felt that way before, then joked that he should hang on at least another week because his son was coming to visit. He looked at me, smiled and said, "Okay, I can do that."

As he left, I realized that I need him to hang on, even if only because the parallels are starting to freak me out. Almost every single person I meet who has dealt with cancer or anything difficult inspires me to keep going. It is kind of like running a marathon -- when I see others moving forward, I take one more step forward. And if they stop, I suddenly lose my momentum, too.

Thank you for sharing your trials with me - it helps me to step outside myself. Thank you for continuing forward in spite of them, and thank you for managing them every single day - it inspires me to keep going. Thank you for cheering from the sidelines - it feels like roar of the crowds alongside the Boston Marathon. Thank you for living a joyful life - it helps  me to know that this world is full of so many good things. Every little positive action seems to magnify as it travels. Then you for sending yours my way!

Love,

Marie