Cecile Elizabeth Walton Diaz

June 16, 1938 to October 12, 2012

Surest Measure

Some measure their lives by days and years, 

Others by heart throbs, passions and tears;

But the surest measure under the sun,

Is what in your lifetime for others you have done.

                 

                                  --Ruth Smetzler

Mom gave the above poem to Robert for his 13th birthday.  It struck him as something mom wanted him to remember.  He's kept it to this day.  

Dear Friends and Family -- lucky us -- as we were the others of mom's lifetime.

Mom passed away on a Friday, at home, surrounded by her family, after a valiant and spirited battle with cancer. 

Cecile Elizabeth Walton Diaz was born in Smoot, Wyoming, the youngest daughter, and second youngest of five brothers and sisters: Howard, Ralph, Doris, Hazel and Floyd.  Her lineage came to America from Great Britain, when Thomas Walton sailed here sponsored by the Perpetual Emigration Fund, a corporation established by Brigham Young to bring Mormons to America to work.  

Robert Raymond Walton and Edith Francis Lindberg brought mom to the world in June 1938.  The Germans had just invaded Austria and America was n the mode of sacrificing for the war.  In the small town of Smoot Wyoming, mom grew up farming on the family’s land where she milked the cows before going to school, and sometimes walked three miles in the snow to get there.  

After graduating from Star Valley High School, Cecile began her lifelong adventure consisting of career, travel and, most of all, family.  After moving to San Francisco as a bright-eyed 18 year old, she lived with her sister Doris and experienced what she described as culture shock…not because of Doris though.   The 50’s were an era of beatniks, big cars, television and James Dean…not to mention that  coming from a town of less than 200 people was a little different than this big city.  But she took the risk and stayed.  She worked for Farmers Insurance followed by a 25 year career as a long distance telephone operator for Pacific Bell where  she experienced first hand dramatic changes in technology.

    

She and my dad met on a blind date facilitated by his brother Walter and my mom’s girlfriend and roommate Jan. She’d often gone over to the Diaz house with Jan, and had seen my dad’s picture on display.  He was away – in Japan in the airforce during the Korean war.   He often describes their meeting as an answer to his prayers.  “I had to travel the world to find her” --   from Puerto Rico to San Francisco to Japan and back to finally meet the girl of his dreams.  On February 8, 1958 she married the love of her life, and soon after the family came.  

First Rhonda, then Robert, then Denise.  We remember her saying she had “three under three,” but loved fulfilling the calling of her life…because it was with family that she was her happiest.  She was a homemaker during the day and a working girl at night, leaving dinner ready for us kids when Dad came home.  

Education was very important to my mom and dad, both formal and that of the arts and music.  Growing up, it was never a question of whether we were going to go to college or beyond, just a matter of which university it would be.  She and my dad gave us music and dance and scraped to make sure we kids had those lessons, and practiced regularly.  She encouraged -- didn't make -- us practice our music, and so practice -- while still a lot of work -- was also fulfilling.  She taught us discipline and the will to succeed.  She, along with my dad, propelled us kids to believe we could actually   achieve anything.  

After surviving the tumultuous ‘60s of San Francisco – hippies, riots, protest, peace and love and school busing -- We moved to Hayward in the early 1970’s.  The country girl was back in the country again.  She proudly attended our high school graduation and college graduations, guided us through becoming young adults and bittersweetly let us out into the world.  

She and my dad spent every wedding anniversary together in special celebration. On their 25^th, we threw them a surprise party   where dear Bishop Sylvester was there to renew their wedding vows.

Upon retirement, mom enjoyed her status as a member of the AT&T Pioneers, and started a successful real estate investment company.

They packed a full life into their 54 years together. 

One Phd, weddings…and Grandkids followed.  First with my son Seth, and then her dear Danielle and Connor from Denise and Curt.  She prized these grandchildren.  After retirement, she and my dad became real travel buffs, and brought their grandchildren on many trips…Disneyland, Hawaii, Yosemite, Grand Canyon and Puerto Rico.    It was important that they spent time building good memories and adventures together.  She loved going to their sports games, concerts, plays, and any other event.  Buying them a special treat was always worth the smile.

My mom was a real adventurer…and maybe that’s why she signed up for the crazy adventure of marrying my dad.  She married into this spirited Puerto Rican culture and cast of characters.  She loved it though, and hosted many family gatherings and holiday celebrations.

They traveled the world together – from Cabo to New York.  From the snow tipped mountains of Banff Canada to the beaches of Hawaii.  From the pyramids of Chichen Itza to the pyramids in Washington DC.  One of her most cherished trips was a family vacation we all took together to my dad’s homeland of Puerto Rico.  Another was our last family get together in homeland Wyoming at the Walton Reunion at Cottonwood Lake.  

These two -- They lived life.  From the humble beginnings of a home with no running water to their home on the hill…she figured out how to dance the dance of life beautifully.

She was an adored aunt and great-aunt.  As far as I can tell, she was an aunt or great-aunt to over 20 nieces and nephews. 

We are all thankful for the years we were blessed with her tender heart, her gentle ways, her love of nature and the kindness she showed to all creatures great and small.  She lived a life of elegance, grace, courage, integrity and dignity.    We will never forget the lessons she taught us.  

She was truly a triumphant choreographer of a life well lived.  

In accordance with Cecile's wishes, the family asks that any donations be made to Stanford Cancer Institute

3172 Porter Drive, Suite 210, Palo Alto, CA  94034. www.sanford.edu/help/gift.html

 Please specify that the donation be applied towards research in non small cell lung cancer in memory of Cecile E. Diaz.  

Dear family and friends,
It's been a while since our last post.  We've had quite the summer.  Much of it seems surreal. There is no one answer for cancer.

The second line of chemotherapy treatment proved to be a draining and exhausting experience for mom.  She is now seeing a lung cancer specialists at Stanford Hospital.  Last Wednesday she had a second biopsy to test for different types of mutations of the cancer that may provide for targeted cancer treatment options.  We hope to hear back next week.

Your prayers, thoughts and continued hope are very uplifting and meaningful. Thank you.

Rhonda

Mom finished her last chemo treatment several weeks ago.  She's patiently looking forward to the therapy doing what it needs to do and funneling out of her system.  Maybe she'll start to feel normal again, although we all know that the normal of the past will never be the same.  That's how life is.

In the next few weeks, she'll start on a new drug treatment that is in it's final trial stages.  This treatment is conducted in only two places in the country...and we are lucky that it happened to be taking place in our backyard, and that the timing for new entrants seemed to align with her recovery.

There was an interesting article in the New York Times this week about these new types of cancer treating therapies.  You can check it out at:  http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/03/health/research/in-study-drug-delays-worsening-of-breast-cancer-with-fewer-side-effects.html.

My dad's cooking skills seemed to have held up.  I've never seen anything more touching in my life than the way this man cares for her. Humor and laughter are great therapies as well.  With spring, they've been entertained with new bird nests and bird hatchings, along with a frisky, rambunctious fawn in their backyard.

Appreciate the good thoughts.

Clearer Skies

Dear family and friends,

Just a quick update on mom.  We received some promising news last week.  The treatment is working!  Her doctor said he was amazed at the results of the most recent scan which showed a reduction of cancer in her bones, and a reduction of the tumor in her lung.  All of the hard work she's been bravely enduring is bringing some hopeful news.  While not fully healed, she is on the right path.

Dad has been the most amazing caretaker.  He's always veered on the side of optimism and positive thinking...and that focus along with prayers and lots of love have enveloped the house with an uplifting, radiant energy.  He's learned some new skills...and is especially proud that he's learned to make his mother's famous Puerto Rican beans...and I must say, he's pretty good at it.  Just ask him!  He's happy to share the recipe because he's got it down pat.  Actually -- they're so good, he's considering taking them for evaluation to the empress of PUerto Rican beans..my grandmother.  He hasn't quite yet, as he is perfecting his technique -- and we enjoy them in the meantime as does mom.   ...Don't even get him going on his cream-of-wheat culinary adventure!

While mom has a way to go on this road to recovery, we thank you deeply for the prayers, chants, positive thoughts and supportive words you've sent her way.  They really do make a difference.
Lovingly,
Rhonda Robert and Denise

Fresh Air

Mom looked good this last week..with a lot more energy.  She completed her second chemotherapy treatment last Thursday, and those days following are really challenging.  But with the rose back in her cheeks, and the clarity back in her eyes, we are encouraged that something is working.

This process for treating cancer is amazing and surprising at the same time.  It's all packaged up and bundled --  ready-to-go.  We feel that mom has some great professionals and healers tending to her, and helping her with the intelligence her body and cells need to find their path to healing.

We are of course bombarding her with suggestions and secret potions, herbal supplements, vitamins, etc to try out.  Aloe vera, green juice, asparagus juice, wheat grass, chinese herbs, chlorella, acupuncture -- you name it!  She's been pretty patient with all of that, and we know that it's best that her intuition  lead her to the right treatments that work for her.  There's so many things out there that purport to being a magical cure.

... the best magical cure though is the love and the good energy being sent her way.  That and good medicine are leading the path to her recovery.  She is strong willed. 

New Tattoos

One month ago on this day, mom checked into the hospital. With all that has happened, it seems like a long, long time ago--test after test, then results, information and treatment strategies. More appointments, and more test. It's a full time job for her.

Yet the solutions modern medicine provides are truly remarkable. When mom needed some help with her blood counts after chemo...a blood transfusion was set up the next day. One wasn't good enough, so she got two. We jokingly called them infusions of a bottle of Cabernet and another of merlot. While sitting around or checking in, one of the nice things is the stories that come up. I reminded Mom of the story she used to tell us of how she'd have to walk three miles in the snow just to get to school. "Well, I didn't mind it at all," she said. "It was so pretty. After we got home we'd have to climb over the hills to collect the cows...sometimes as far as Dock weed Flats. A beautiful place full of dock weeds."
Well, as many times as I've been to Afton, I'd never heard mention of Dockweed Flats...let alone a dock weed. We're looking forward to taking that hike together.

This week is the start of radiation...little zaps that go on every day for ten days. Mom got some new "tattoos" to mark the targeted zap areas. We eagerly cross each day off the calendar as we go forward... knowing this too shall pass. She's doing better.

Thank you for your thoughts, prayers and good energy.
Rhonda Robert and Denise

Sweet Mom -- putting on the boxing gloves

Dear family,
Thank you so much for all the prayers, thoughts and good words that have poured in for mom.

A quick update is that mom began her therapy last Thursday.  Her  oncologist is confident this is a fight worth fighting...and so mom put on her boxing gloves to began her chemotherapy...a magic potion of cancer fighting therapies that she'll get every 3 weeks.  It's modern day alchemy, and the process has progressed substantially in the last six years.  The therapy takes place in an environment of comfortable lounge chairs in a community room forum with other folks getting their own personal magic potions.  Courage, and love and determination are in that room.  Shared stories, new friends and triumphs  have emerged.  Sweet mama came out of round one with relief that the afternoon was over and that the process of telling the  confused cells in her body to get the hell out had begun.

She's resting.  Exhausted as expected ... and thankfully no nausea.  No nausea is truly a blessing.
Rest for the body to heal.   Love, the strong will of a country girl, and your continued thoughts and prayers of sending healing light to her are integral gifts.

Love and light.