In late 2004 I decided to go back to school. I wanted to study Graphic Design. I was doing graphic design for our Noteworthy Crafts site, but wanted to learn more and have some other marketable skills. I was planning my escape from my job that I had been at for 15 years.

I started school in January of 2005 at Northlake in Irving. I'd go to school on Tuesday and Thursday and fly Friday-Sunday. One day in painting class my phone rang. I looked at it and it was my mom. I wondered why she was calling me since she knew I was in class. She told me she had an appointment with an oncologist and then she segued into something else. I was like, wait what? Go back. Did you say you have an appointment with an oncologist? She replied "yes," and kept going with whatever else she was trying to change the subject to. I asked what type of cancer she was being tested for. She replied, "Myeloma," and changed the subject again. Then got off the phone. I went to the bathroom and cried. Pulled myself together and went back to class.

I knew it was a rare type of cancer but didn't know much else. I looked it up. I thought to myself "Dear God." Got home. Called her back. And asked 1001 questions. I asked what she thought. If she thought she had it and if she had symptoms. "Oh, no" She replied. "You don't need to come home now." I knew she was lying. But I still couldn't bring myself to come home. When she was diagnosed a few weeks later she called me in class to tell me. And hurried off the phone. It was Thursday. I went to work the next day. Got back Sunday. Flew to OKC. She was sick. I was devastated. I couldn't believe it. I usually came home every month but hadn't since I was in school. I was shocked that she had deteriorated so much since I had been home in February. It was August. A week before my birthday. And I was crushed that no one told me.

For the next few months, she would be in and out of the hospital. For the first few weeks or so I couldn't cope. I couldn't think clearly. I was in shock. Then one day I went and bought a sketch pad and started drawing. My thoughts became clear. And we did everything we needed to do. We were told she had two to three years. I knew that was not accurate. She was deteriorating rapidly. Turns out I was right. She had lymphoma as well. She died peacefully while my cousin Mike and I sat by her bed on June 23rd, 2006.

This is one of the drawings I did in her hospital room. I titled the series my "HR" series. This drawing is titled HR 5. March is Myeloma Awareness Month. Do something to help if you can. Volunteer. Donate.