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On Caregiving

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Front-Ranger:
Hi friends, this is a new topic to talk about caregiving, share stories and resources, gripe when necessary, and be chuffed about the successes.

I am currently helping a friend through throat cancer treatment. I've never had anyone close to me with cancer before so I'm learning a lot. Today I'm sitting in the chemo room with him while a machine drips saline and chemicals into his veins. Teal colored faux leather chairs line the room and aside from the drip machines and monitors, it's a cheerful place. Every once in a while someone comes in with a therapy dog or performs music on a dulcimer. The nurses are very professional and friendly. Overall it is a much more pleasant experience than you would think. And on top of that, I've met some really extraordinary people. Just regular people who've been slammed with the diagnosis of cancer and have matured in the process. These people have more hope than I can ever hope to have, especially the young people who have been stopped in their tracks by this unexpected monster. They are staring it down and vanquishing it. Whoever invented that saying, "Whatever doesn't kill me makes me stronger" must have been a cancer patient, because when you are receiving treatment for cancer you are literally fighting for your life.

Jeff Wrangler:
Oh! What a lovely and helpful idea for a thread! Thanks, Friend!

(I just updated my dad's situation--and mine--on my blog, so I won't repeat it here.)

CellarDweller:
Very good idea for a thread.

I consider myself lucky, as both my parents are in great health (in their 70s) and they both believe in preventitive care, so at the earliest signs that something isn't right, they're at the doctor, as well as getting their regular check-ups.

Front-Ranger:
That's great to hear, friend. But you never know about these things. Me, I have always prided myself on my health and the fact that I didn't need to take any medications. When my doctor started me on high blood pressure meds, I felt strange taking them. Shortly after climbing Brokenback Mountain for the first time, I decided to ditch the meds and regulate my health through exercise, diet and lifestyle. Fortunately, I've been able to keep the blood pressure in the normal range. But in spite of that, I find myself juggling pill bottles, ordering meds and knowing far more than I ever wanted to know about prescription drugs. Why? Because my elderly mother and friend have to take them and are not savvy enough to go through all the mumbo jumbo to monitor them safely.

Now, I could have several different attitudes about this situation. I started out being resentful. "Here I am in perfect health, and yet I'm burdened down by all these chemicals," I would say to myself. But over the 4-5 years I've been doing this, I've come to have a different attitude. I believe divine Providence gave me health and a good mind for a reason: so I could help and protect my loved ones from harm. Adopting this approach has given me more peace of mind and thus I'm more cheerful in carrying out this crucial task.

Front-Ranger:
Today in church the minister talked about Uncle Mordecai's words to Esther and they resonated with what I tried to say in my post above. Here are two interpretations.

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