Writing Tells You What You ’ ve Really Been Feeling Until I Wrote This I Had No Clue

BY NANCY SLONIM ARONIE

Last week my sister said “ I ’ m going to die in 21 days .” If someone tells you they will be dying in three weeks they ’ re either planning their own suicide or their doctor has told them this is how much time they have left as a result of their terminal illness . My sister is not planning her own suicide and does not have a terminal illness . She has breast cancer with some viable choices that could extend her life for who knows how many years , but definitely more than three weeks . She has chosen to not take them . “ I ’ m ready for the next adventure ,” she tells me . But she doesn ’ t ask if I ’ m ready .

Her oncologist , who is board certified with three medical degrees , is an unconventional M . D . Four years ago when she was first