Welcome to Colleen’s Corner. This is a column meant for fun and some information About myself: I am a Freelance Photographer you often see me on the side of the road or in various places taking photos of different things animals, birds, places, people etc. l have lived in Lumby for over 8 years, you have seen my photos in the newspaper (Lumby Valley Times) and once in awhile in the Vernon Morning Star, and the Lumby Art Gallery. Photography is my passion. Disclaimer: The information on some of my photos that I write about a lot of times come from the Internet or books I research them, hopefully the facts are as close to the truth as I can come.
By Colleen Fielding
When the Lumby Valley Times comes out this week, my older sister will have passed away in Ontario. I haven’t seen her in person since 2016 when this photo was taken in the Ontario town she lived in. We talked on the phone about once a month, or sometimes we texted. For birthdays and special holidays we always made sure to call each other, texting is just not the same as talking to people.
I think we thought the same thing as a lot of people do, “there’s always tomorrow”. But then there are the times when you discover that “tomorrow never comes”.
Sometimes we hide things from the ones we love, we don’t tell them how sick we might be because we don’t want them to worry.
A couple years ago she told me she had COPD, she was still good then. We would laugh and tell jokes, and at times there were tears for whatever reason. She quit smoking the day before her birthday last year, but that was too late, the COPD had already worked its way into her lungs.
When we talked and texted last month she didn’t tell me how sick she was. Then on Thursday April 23, 2026 my sister texted me to tell me she was in the hospital. I of course called her right away. Her COPD had become worse. I told her I would fly down to be with her, she told me not to bother as she didn’t want me to see her this way as she has too much weight only weighing about 93 pounds now. She took a breath then told me that MAID Canada would be coming to the hospital on Wednesday April 29, 2026 to assist her. In the hospital they also found out she has stage four stomach cancer.
My sister wanted to tell me so that I wouldn’t get a text or phone call from someone else to let me know my sister had passed away. Now, instead of talking and texting to my sister every month or more, I only have a few days left to let her know how much I love her, and I already miss her. Of course my thoughts are that we should have got together more often over the years, we could have flown to Ontario, or she could have come here. But, that never happened for whatever reason.
MAID Canada is Medical Assistance in Dying. It became legal in Canada during 2016
I wish that she would have told me sooner as you have to apply about 90 days ahead in Ontario, but “she didn’t want to worry me”. In that length of time she can change her mind and not have the MAID Canada assist her, but she won’t do that, she will carry through with her plan.
Of course I would have worried, she is my sister, she told me not to cry, I said I wouldn’t, but of course I have and I will.
Is it better that she waited until days before she was dying to let me know, or would it have been better to know sooner? In her mind I suppose later was better. In my mind, I would have liked to know sooner, I could have had more time with her, even if it was just on the phone.
As we were talking the other day she sounded happy, her pain would be leaving her. She said she would meet up with our mom and stepfather and have some drinks with them and go dancing just like she used to.
When something is going wrong with you, and you might possibly die from it, don’t wait too long to tell your loved ones, of course they will worry but they can be with you even if you are far away, in person, on the phone, on video chat or whatever. Remember, “tomorrow never really comes”.
To my wonderful sister Sharon. R.I.P. I have always loved you, and I will always miss you.
When we see each other again, I will go dancing with you. In the meantime I hope you find some great dancing partners wherever you are.
