Bad things come in 3s

Bad things come in threes. I've been told that ever since I was little. Every time something really bad would happen, I would hold my breath and wait for other two things to happen. Today is the third bad thing. My divorce, my kidney stone, and my mother-in-law’s cancer.

My mother-in-law (MIL) rents out the other side of my parents' duplex. My mom and MIL are best friends. They go grocery shopping together, take walks, see each other every day. My father takes care of minor repairs for my MIL, brings her to get her car inspected, mows her lawn, etc. It was a strange situation in the beginning but now it’s become the new normal, and it works out well for everyone. The kids love going to visit their grandparents, they get to see all three of them in one place.

A few months ago my MIL found out that she has bladder cancer, most likely caused by years of smoking. Today my MIL had major surgery. She had her bladder, one of her kidneys, some lymph nodes, part of her urethra, ovaries, uterus, inner wall of her vagina and appendix removed. I spent the majority of the day in the hospital with my husband and my sister in law waiting for the surgery to be finished. Very strange to be sitting in a waiting room with the man that broke your heart, cheated on you for so long and ripped your family apart. But I knew I had to be there or I would have never forgiven myself. And you know what, it actually wasn't that hard if you just put everything aside and don’t focus on it. Shut your brain off from everything except the reason why you are there. 

My MIL’s surgery went well but she will have a lengthy recovery time in front of her.

You never know how strong you are until you don't have really a choice. Keep waking up and putting one foot in front of the other. The 3's will be over soon and we will all be on our way to better lives.