Can someone please tell me why?

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lost4ever
lost4ever Member Posts: 2

 I lost my wife to stage 4 breast cancer 5 weeks after diagnosis she was only 34 years old.  she passed away on Sept. 11 2011 . We had been together since high school for the last 18 years. We had a wonderful marriage. She had just completed her Masters degree in college. She did everything right we ate mainly all organic foods. She breastfeed all 3 of our kids up to a year each. she was a very healthy person. She developed some back pain and we decided to go get it checked out. What they found was beyond everything we thought it could be it was stage 4 breast cancer that had spread to the bones in her back. It originated from a tumor on her chest wall behind the left breast. Our life was turned upside down life expectancy 18 months to 5 years the doctors said.  5 weeks later  I lost her we did not even get a chance to start treatments, tests where still being conducted. There was no history of cancer in her family.

So the question comes to mind why her ? 

We have 3 little boys and they are just starting to to grasp what has happened. I am trying to help them adjust to a new way of life. Myself is a different story, I haven fallen so far down I feel i will never get up again. She was the love of my life we where supposed to grow old together and raise our kids and grandkids when they came along. If not for the 3 boys being here I would place myself beside her where i belong. People have said  she is with God and that she is without pain. Told me that God has a plan for her and it must have been her time. How do you accept thoughts like these that it was a plan to take her from her kids and her husband.

I have every emotion possible going through my mind and heart,I am Guilty ,Angry, Sad, Hurt ,Lost  and confused. People say I need therapy of some kind but I ask who can help me if they have never been in these shoes. Book smarts do not fix things. I can't fix it I can not bring her back.

any suggestions on what to do? 

Comments

  • sanbar8771
    sanbar8771 Member Posts: 281
    edited October 2011

     Dear lost,

    I am so sorry for your loss. I really don't know what to say. Your post brings tears to my eyes because I always worry I will leave my husband in this state. I can never speak for your wife but I can only understand how she felt when she was diagnosed. She was scared and worried... probably not that worried to die but more worried to leave you and your kids. I guarantee she is looking down and saying... "get up, dust off your knees, take care of our family." You are allowed to be Guilty, sad, hurt, angry...dammit, we are all angry. This is a sucky disease but remember that your kids need you to be as strong as possible right now. You wife will be looking down and be giving you a big hug & kiss. Again, I am so sorry for your loss. Please take care and I hope this helps a little bit.

     Gentle hug,

    Julie

  • CLC
    CLC Member Posts: 1,531
    edited October 2011

    I am so sorry for your loss.  I am so sorry for your sons' loss. 

    No one will ever be able to tell you what to do.  You will have to find your path using yourself and your sons as a guide.

    Therapy does not try to fix things.  It (sometimes) helps you find your way in the darkness.  It is still your way, your answers.  It may help you and your sons make a path through the hurt to seeing some light.

    I am so terribly sorry for your pain.

  • geewhiz
    geewhiz Member Posts: 1,439
    edited October 2011

    Dear Lost,

    Thank God your children have such a caring empathetic father. I am sure that your wife sought solace that she was leaving her treasures in good hands.

    My neighbor across the street died at age 42 about 6 months ago, leaving 3 young sons. They play outside daily, laugh, run and much of the community has rallied around. Life goes on. We can make all the plans we want, some work out...some don't.

    I dont know anyone who comes through life unscathed. For me, my darkest fear as a mom is not being here to watch my children grow up. I was watching my husband roll around last night on the floor giggling with the kiddos, and I knew that no matter what...life goes on.

    wishing you hugs and peace

  • boxcars072000
    boxcars072000 Member Posts: 43
    edited October 2011

    No One can tell you why. So sorry to hear of your loss. I am so sorry. I have been widowed myself, and now I am going through stage 3 breast cancer. Do try to  enlist the help of therapists, they can help you by giving you coping skills. You could also try to to go to ywbb which is a widows/widowers website for younger people. Once again, so sorry.

  • belleeast
    belleeast Member Posts: 653
    edited October 2011

    i am so sorry for your loss, there is no answer to your question why. all i can tell you is to be there for your children, i suffer from depression there were many times i thought i couldn't go on but because of my 6 children i did go on. now that they are raised, i continue on for them and my 10 grandchildren. as you know it is the ones left behind who suffer, your wife did not want to leave you and the boys, she wants you to raise your boys in a loving, happy home and for them to remember how much she loved them. they say time heals, i don't know if that is true but it does lessen the pain when you lose a loved one. but it does take time not 6 months maybe not a year but eventually it will and you will be able to remember the good memories without too many tears. hug your children everyday and remember to tell them you love them. together, you and boys will get thru this.

  • J-Bug
    J-Bug Member Posts: 626
    edited October 2011

    I am with sanbar, looking at what she would want for her beautiful family might help you get going a bit.

    However, your whole body has suffered a big hit, and I would check into what you can do for nutritional (supplements) and psychological support. It may be that short-term use of an antidepressant starts you down a path of becoming more functional. Working with a psychiatrist for short-term could help you understand the brain function changes that you have just gone through with this huge emotional hit.

    It is a totally devastating loss. However, I think that you will find that there are many others of us out there that have also experienced some extreme losses (including myself). They may not have walked the exact same path, but they can relate in many ways to what you are experiencing. When you call a counseling place looking for help, I would express those concerns. Tell them that you would like to find a therapist or psychologist with a lot of experience with grief counseling or male or female or one who has experienced a big degree of loss themselves.

    The language that I hear you using makes me think that you need to make this call TODAY and show your sons how important it is that you take care of yourself so that you can be present for them. They need you so much right now, and not just a non-functioning shell of yourself. No one is asking you to not feel sad and angry and all those other things that come with this. But, you need to reach out to someone in your community for help and working on getting yourself functional.

    In the longer term, the counseling could help you work on how to balance this life with three sons and only one parent and the discipline and teaching children good behaviors, etc that husbands often leave up to their wives. I have known several men who have been through this and remarried right away into marriages that were just a huge mistake and it left the children with issues for the rest of their lives. One of these was my stepfather. He lost his first wife to cancer and had three small children. His second marriage was extremely rushed and the kids from the first and the second marriage are all grown now and still have so many issues. He is in his 80's now and that was a long time ago. I know that counseling has brought him a long way in his third marriage with my mom, but it was just not something that men did back then. Love these children and take care of their only parent!

  • sandiessoldier4
    sandiessoldier4 Member Posts: 27
    edited October 2011

    Hello!

    I lost my mother the day after Christmas and while I know it is 2 very different types of losses, it's the pain my dad is going through that gives me a small picture. I cannot imagine what this is like for you! She was so young and died so quickly! How does anyone make sense of that! It doesn't make sense and it isn't fair to her, you or those little boys! I still can't make sense of never seeing my mother again. People want to try to make you feel better with comments like it was her time or now she's at peace and you don't want to get upset with them for their good intentions but we both know that neither of those statements make it any easier. I know you're in a really dark place and don't know how you will ever feel happiness again. You have a right to feel angry and sad and hurt but I do hope the guilty is one you can get rid of because you did nothing wrong! It was G_ds plan and you had no say! Be mad at that, be sad but please try not to feel guilty because you did nothing wrong. And if it's because you're thinking about "all the times you could have been a better husband" blah, blah, blah....we all do that. My dad does that, I have done that as a daughter.

    The only thing that is going to help you get throug this is your boys and time. I have twin daughters and they have made this bareable. I do go to therapy and can tell you it helps. They don't fix things. They give you a place to sort through your feelings and learn coping mechanisms.

    Please try to take it one day at a time. We get caught up in how we're going to get through the holidays without our loved one and next summer even but we really can only manage it one day at a time. I'm sure getting up in the morning is the hardest part knowing you have to face the day without her. But each day might bring a friend who comes to support you or a moment with your boys where you may actually feel ok for a few minutes. So don't try to manage it anymore than one day at a time.

    I am so sorry for your loss! The bottom line is it really just f*&%ing sucks!!!

  • JbugJr
    JbugJr Member Posts: 4
    edited October 2011

    Just keep living, one foot in front of the other, makining it through the day should be your goal. The way you talk shows she was your true love, you loved her more than most could love anyone. You were lucky to have her and i hate to think you lost her. she was your only one. keep going and trying. she wouldn't have wanted you to give up. Hold your boys and treasure them. never lie to them or hurt them. don't try to "protect" them by lieing or "shielding them from the truth".

    One Foot in Front of the Other

    Good Luck

    I'm Rooting For You

    If anything try antidepressants and GROUP theripy. the anti deppresants will get you out of your rut when your ready to be. they are like picker-upers (should be short term: around 1 year). Gorup Theripy is nice because its not some person going "i know how you feel..." or "how do you feel about that". It's REAL people with REAL problems that get you and understand that you need REAL comfort.

    Just Dont Give Up

  • Megadotz
    Megadotz Member Posts: 302
    edited October 2011

    I'm so sorry for your loss.  None of us can tell you why, cancer never plays fair.

    I wish I knew somethig to say to have it make sense, or to ease the pain.  There are no words.

    One foot in front of  the other is good advice. Finding a counselor to help you find your way through this morass is a good idea.  Here is a number to to get you started: 1-800-813-HOPE (4673)  It's for cancercare, they have onocolgy social workers who understand the journey for patient and loved with this terrible disease. 

    All the best for you and your boys. 

    Irooting for all of you.

    *hugs*

  • elimar86861
    elimar86861 Member Posts: 7,416
    edited October 2011

    I cannot answer why it happened to her, but it happens to one in eight women so this disease is responsible for prompting a good many questions of "Why?"

    Your wife had the misfortune to get B/C six  years before the age the ACS recommends getting the first screening.   The lump was deep on the chest wall, so it must have gone un-noticed even if she did home exams or had it done by a doctor.  With nothing to give her a clue, it was not possible to detect it earlier.  She did nothing wrong.  Neither did you.  This is one of those "when bad things happen to good people" events.

    I know it is a very devastating loss, particularly because of her age, the suddeness, and the three little boys she left behind.  I agree with the others who have told you that for now, you have to take it one day at a time.  Let yourself be helped.  Let family and friends know if they can do something for you.  Don't isolate yourself out of pain and grief.  Do you have some close family members?  Did she have a sister that you were close with?  Someone who you could cry with, if needed?  That is very normal.  If you feel that the despair and depression is getting the better of you, do get a doctor's help for it.  A support group of people who have lost spouses might be good, if you have an outgoing nature and would be comfortable with something like that.  You honor your wife by grieving, but I think the others are right in that she would not have wanted this to destroy your life, or have a bad effect on the boys' lives either.  As hard as it might be, try to keep the boys' routines the same, as much as you can.  Even if it might feel odd and like you are just going thru' the motions, the kids will find it reassuring that everything in their lives does not change.  

    Time is a big part of the healing process.  For a while, it will feel like it is only crawling by at a snail's pace.  But the day will come when your screen name will no longer fit  you, and you will have found yourself again, and have accepted that there might not be an answer to "why?"

    My sympathy to you and your family.

  • lost4ever
    lost4ever Member Posts: 2
    edited October 2011

    Thank you all for the kind words and advice. She has been gone for a little over a month now. I speak to her all the time as if she can hear me. I hope and plead that I would hear something or a sign of some kind that she has moved on and is in a better place but I hear and see nothing. It makes you wonder does heaven really exist and will I see her again? 

  • PLJ
    PLJ Member Posts: 373
    edited February 2012
  • PlantLover
    PlantLover Member Posts: 622
    edited November 2011

    People have said she is with God and that she is without pain. Told me that God has a plan for her and it must have been her time. How do you accept thoughts like these that it was a plan to take her from her kids and her husband.

    I don't! 

    Your post truly has me crying like crazy.  I am so sorry for your loss, so very sorry.  Please don't be lost forever.  She wouldn't want that - I'm sure of it.

    Yes, I think talking to a professional would be a very good idea.    Also message me anytime and I'll listen!  I wish I could do more.

  • mdg
    mdg Member Posts: 3,571
    edited November 2011

    I wish I had the right words.  I grew up without my dad.  He died of a massive heart attack at home when I was 2.  My brother was 4 and my sister was not even a year old.  I missed my dad throughout my life, but my mom was always there for us. She gave us a great life.  I don't know how she got through it but I found out when I was older and we talked about it.  She threw herself into raising us kids and making a great life for us.  I have memories of a great childhood with my mom.  I so wish I knew what to say. I guess I tell you these things because I want you to know I am OK despite my dad not being here.  I can't even begin to imagine the greif and sadness you feel.  I am so very sorry.  I know there are no words. Breast cancer is a disgusting disease and you were robbed.  You have a right to feel angry, sad, mad, whatever.  It's not fair. It never will be.  I am so very sorry.

  • Momhelper
    Momhelper Member Posts: 11
    edited November 2011

    Lost4ever,

    I sometimes wish I had faith and believed in God, which I do not most of the time, I am an agnostic. But I believe in life, even if it sucks. The trick is to let the bad things that happen make us strong. Your boys need you. The 4 of you have a long road ahead of you, Grieving is something kids should not go through, but what can we do? Whether you give in or face it, it shall pass either way. Put up pictures of your wife all over the house, cherish the time she had with you. Don't talk about God's plan or anything. I lost a brother when I was 5 and I hated God for a long time after that. I kept saying whay us?  Assume life was unfair to you, but don't let that shape whou you and your kids are. Look for professional help!

    I wish you the best under the circustances.

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