February, the train of events ran against a peaceful
ending.Therewasonepersonwhowasdisturbedbythis,
though, and who finally decided to intercede—Chuck
Morris,her primary carephysician. As her illnesshad
progressed through the previous year, he had left the
decision making largely to Sara, her family, and the
oncologyteam.Still, hehad seenher and herhusband
regularly andlistened totheir concerns.Thatdesperate
morning,MorriswastheonepersonRichcalledbefore
gettingintotheambulance.Heheadedtotheemergency
room and met Sara and Rich when they arrived.
Morrissaidthatthepneumoniamightbetreatable.Buthe
toldRich,“I’mworriedthisisit.I’mreallyworriedabout
her.”Andhetoldhimtoletthefamilyknowthathesaid
so.
Upstairsin her hospitalroom, Morristalked with Sara
andRichaboutthewaysinwhich thecancerhadbeen
weakeningher,makingithardforherbodytofightoff
infection.Eveniftheantibioticshaltedtheinfection,he
said,hewantedthemtorememberthattherewasnothing
that would stop the cancer.
Saralookedghastly,Morristoldme.“Shewassoshortof
breath.Itwasuncomfortabletowatch.Istillremember
the attending”—the covering oncologist who admitted
herforthepneumoniatreatment.“Hewasactuallykind
ofrattledaboutthewholecase,andforhimtoberattled
is saying something.”
Afterher parentsarrived,Morristalkedwith themtoo,
andwhentheywerefinishedSaraandherfamilyagreed
on a plan. The medical team would continue the