The chemotherapy left Dorothy minus her eyebrows and eyelashes, and with fuzz in place of her once long, brown hair. Some days she felt too sick to get out of bed, but did because her son, Jimmy, needed her. He was her strength and her joy.
In spite of the surgery and treatments, the last tests showed new cancer. Her close relatives were gone and her friends were unable to assume the responsibility of raising a child. Who would take care of her seven-year-old son?
Dorothy approached two adoption agencies, but they denied her plea to choose Jimmy's new parents. In desperation, she sought the help of an attorney. With his assistance, they devised a plan for legal adoption where she could make the decision of who would raise her son. After interviewing several prospects, she chose a loving couple who dearly wanted her boy.
Unsure how to tell her precious son that after losing his father, he was going to lose her as well, Dorothy searched deep within for the strength to do what must be done. Later that afternoon she took Jimmy to the beach. Most of the day visitors were packing up their towels, hats, umbrellas, coolers and suntan lotion to go home with sun-reddened skin and sand chaffing inside their bathing suits.
Barefooted, Dorothy and Jimmy wore jeans with the pant legs rolled up and matching sweat jackets with the hoods pulled down. Jimmy ran ahead, picked up a seashell and held it high as he raced back for Dorothy to admire it. Together they strolled along the water's edge, digging their toes into the wet sand. They sat on a flat rock watching the waves' lacy edges embrace the beach.
Dorothy took a deep breath. "Honey, sometimes people go to heaven when they don't want to leave the people they love."
The boy nodded. "You mean like Daddy."
"Yes, like Daddy." She watched Jimmy play with his seashell as the sun slid lower in the sky, coloring the dancing waves a golden hue.
"I'm going to visit Daddy soon. While I'm away, I found a nice couple who will care for you."
Jimmy looked out over the ocean and smiled.
Dorothy followed his gaze to see a lone seagull silhouetted against the horizon. A second gull appeared and together they flew toward the glowing sunset. Tears trickled down her cheeks.
Jimmy took her hand. "Don't cry Mommy. You can hug Daddy for me."