The End of January

My daughter, Valerie, and one of her favorite poems. She died one year ago today, after a very brief, very brave battle with cancer. (All photos and montage design by Lindy Thibodaux.)

31 January 2023

Dear Valerie,

I woke up very early this morning. When I looked at the time, 5:00 a.m., I realized it was only half an hour until the exact time that you took your last breath one year ago. Starting on December 29, 2021, when together we heard your devastating final-stage cancer diagnosis, the month that followed was utterly different than either of us had planned. It now seems impossible…