On October 5, 1979 my friend Linda went to the hospital to deliver her 2nd baby. On October 7, 1979 I went to the hospital to deliver my 2nd baby. She had a 2nd girl I had a 2nd boy.
In 1982 Jocelyn was diagnosed with
hystiocytosis x.
The histiocytes may attack skin, bone, muscles, and other important organs, including the liver, lung, spleen, and hematopoietic system. The disease is somewhat similar to
cancer, and treatment often involves radiation and
chemotherapy.
According to the
Histiocytosis Association of America, 1 in 200,000 children in the
United States are born with histiocytosis each year.
[2] HAA also states that most of the people diagnosed with histiocytosis are children under the age of 10. The
University of California, San Francisco, states that the disease usually occurs from birth to age 15.
At the age of 2 Jocelyn started tests and then blood transfusions. I went with Linda to the Childrens hospital in Gainesville FL and she told the nurse "Don't get blood on my dress" Linda had to make all of Jocelyn's dresses since she was on medications which made her tummy bloated so she could not wear pants or shorts because they hurt her. Linda decided that she was going to take Jocelyn to the Boston Children's hospital to see if they could determine if there were any other ways to help her little girl. In December of 1983 Jocelyn was weak. She was in the hospital with her mother by her side and her little body just couldn't take it anymore. The doctor and the staff revived her 3 times and even though they were hoping they would find a cure they had not found one in time.
This is Jocelyn and my son Corey at the beach in the summer of 1982 She had the curliest red hair and longest eyelashes.
This is so hard to even write about this.
Linda I will never forget her she was the cutest sweetest thing and I know she won everyone's heart as soon as she walked thru the gates.
I love you Jocelyn and I miss you.
