I got a hard phone call today, from the sister of a woman I worked with in the prison system for about 20 years.

We had a strange relationship. Kim and I disagreed on just about everything. Matter of fact, we only agreed full on two subjects: duty, and covering each other's backs.

I remember two incidents Kim and I were involved with, among a number of lesser matters. There was an incident with what turned out to be 15 inmates over a radio. An officer seized it, and the inmates tried to take it back. Kim intervened, the other officer ran, and I came charging in. It ended up with she and I back to back, fighting the inmates until backup arrived. Kim stayed. She could have run.

The second and more serious incident was during a riot. I had to secure a potential breech in the perimeter. My best choice was to put two officers with shotguns there, and myself between them to give orders. Kim was one of the two I trusted with a shotgun at my back.

Back to the call-Kim has been fighting breast cancer for several years. They've operated, done radiation, and chemo. Nothing really worked. Today the doctor told her she had run out of options, and the he would continue chemo if she wanted but it was likely of no further benefit.

Kim is now refusing all treatment other than palliative, and is in and out of consciousness. It's just a matter of a very brief time.

Please say a prayer for the most hardheaded, disagreeable, argumentative woman I ever cared about.

Will do.

Your words say a lot about both of you.

Done, and you're right.

Saying prayers for Kim and her family…

A prayer for Kim. She sounds like a wonderful person.

Yes, cancer does suck.

Done. She sounds like a woman who knows her own mind.

Done.

Sounds like she's definitely one of the good ones.

Kim will be in our thoughts and prayers.

I’m sorry to read about Kim. I pray for comfort to both her and those who will feel her loss.

She’s in my prayers.

I’m actually laying in my lady’s hospital bed right now. She is over laying in the bed and is laying on the couch. Double mastectomy yesterday mid-day. She is so ready to leave. BP is still too high. Surgeon so t let her go home.

I'll pray for her, too.

So sorry to hear of your friend's battle. It does suck.

I am receiving the prep for radiation therapy starting sometime next month for prostate cancer. We caught mine early, so hopefully it will just be 28 treatments and then monitoring it UFA.

Cancer murdered my sister, a very good, lifelong friend and the man who cut my hair for over twenty years, I still wear the wristband everyone in the family received when my sister was diagnosed, it says ‘CANCER SUCKS’. I HATE cancer!