Lets hear about good things from family and friends

Snoopsmom
Snoopsmom Member Posts: 119
edited June 2014 in Mental Health: Because Cancer Doesn't Just Affect Your Breasts

I've been reading so many threads about family members, friends, co-workers, etc. who say or do thoughtless things or who cut off all contact with you once they learn about your diagnosis. Well, I'd like to hear about those who came through for you, or who just touched you in a positive way.

My sister will be taking me to the hospital at 5:30 tomorrow morning for my lumpectomy. She also insisted that I spend tomorrow night at her house (I'm a widow and live alone) just in case I have any problems. My brother and sister-in-law (who live out of state) sent me an "after surgery care package" with tasty munchies, a word puzzle book (my favorite!), and a fragrant candle. My other sister, also out of state, has called me frequently to see how I am doing. I just got an email from an aunt and uncle wishing me well tomorrow. My next door neighbor, a nurse, made me promise to call her if I needed help with any dressings, drains, etc. or if I just have questions. My best friend just called to wish me well. I could go on and on. Am I just lucky that I haven't had any negative or thoughtless reactions? I'm sure there are lots of other stories like that, aren't there??? Please share!

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Anita333
    Anita333 Member Posts: 45
    edited January 2012

    Just one example of many - I had 8 chemo treatments. My husband hold me for hours in his arms during the times I felt nauseated. He had so much patience! 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Iz_and_Lys_Mum
    Iz_and_Lys_Mum Member Posts: 126
    edited January 2012

    Ooh love this! My mum and husband have been amazing, as have my closest friends. My best friend has truly been incredible - shes been there every step of the way, from hospital appointments to showing up with rubber gloves and cleaning my toilets.



    Ive been very blessed and cannot ever express to them enough how much i appreciate them all.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Snoopsmom
    Snoopsmom Member Posts: 119
    edited January 2012

    I'm glad to hear such great stories...I'd like to think that there are more "good" tales than those of negativity, betrayal, ignorance, and denial!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • CLC
    CLC Member Posts: 1,531
    edited January 2012

    My best friend has been there every step of the way...in simple practical ways...cooking, cleaning, child and dog care...and big, grand ways...seeking out the right pt, researching every step of the way, holding my hand, listening like no one else can...

    My husband has never been good at the emotional things...but he has pulled through in every step...holding me when I cry, cooking, cleaning, child and dog care, rearranging pillows and being sure I know that he still thinks I am beautiful...

    My neighbor, that I'd never met before, was a nurse on duty on my floor after surgery.  She made sure to check in on me after that and offered any help I wanted.

    Everyone at work has been very supportive, offering and providing help in so many ways...

    My children's teachers watched over my children at school during surgery and immediately patched in the call to let them know all was okay.  They wiped away a few tears, too.  They offered to let the kids stay late if we needed help to cover appointments...

    I hope that I have not left out anyone.

    I learned how to accept help from this experience and I am so grateful to all of them for making it so easy for me to learn how...:)

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Carolanne03
    Carolanne03 Member Posts: 42
    edited January 2012

    My co-worker donated personal hours for some time I've had to take off, a friend who came to my consults took notes and made me a pink binder w/ typed pages from my reports and a notepad for me, my brother came to the plastic surgeon w/ me, friends have lended be button up blouses , cooked for me , and listened to me when I'm down for the past 3 months, my husband cooked with me for a whole day, freezing meals ahead, and..... the grand finally... my mom has someone coming to clean my home the day of my surgery.... whew... havent even had surgery yet, I consider myself to be a very lucky girl w/ all of these wonderful people.      

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • CookieMonster
    CookieMonster Member Posts: 1,035
    edited January 2012

    DH and DS have been amazing. Supportive, helpful, and kind.

    We've had an overabundance of people (DS's classmates' parents & my colleagues) wanting to provide meals for us - we're well beyond the point of really NEEDING them, but we still have a few more to come because we didn't want to exclude anyone.

    Most of my colleagues have been incredibly supportive as well, and many tell me to make sure I take the time that I need.

    And my students - some send e-mails to check in on me, and seem happy to see me when I do pop in on campus.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • vamom
    vamom Member Posts: 56
    edited January 2012

    i was recently re-united with my mom & entire family after 21 years apart. my mom came 1100 miles to take care of me after PBMX 12/8/11.  i don't even have the words......she's still here, & i'm going to hate to see her go. also, my daughter is a senior in H.S. she made a card & friends, classmates, teachers, even the bus driver signed it!  my boyfriend has been great throughout this. totally the opposite of what i expected. i'm the one that makes things happen around here so it was really hard for me to not be able to. they all have done a fantastic job. i'm going to miss the help LOL!  i am truly blessed to have the support i have. i'm very grateful.  

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Snoopsmom
    Snoopsmom Member Posts: 119
    edited January 2012

    All these posts brought tears to my eyes! There are so many really kind, thoughtful people out there...it's too bad we usually just hear about the opposite ones!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Iz_and_Lys_Mum
    Iz_and_Lys_Mum Member Posts: 126
    edited January 2012

    OK, Ive just posted on the 'dumbest things...' thread, so I shall even things up now with some positivity! My mum has been incredible, looking after the children, cooking, cleaning, hugging and being there the whole time for all of us. Its been the hardest year for her (my nans funeral was the day before my diagnosis, and shes just been made redundant after 30 years of working for the same company) but she has been our rock through it all.



    Ive loved reading all the stories of kindness above, sometimes with the pain and frustrations of having treatment I think its easy to get caught up in what upsets us more that being thankful. Its nice to rebalance that with taking time to think of all the good stuff.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mdg
    mdg Member Posts: 3,571
    edited January 2012

    My best friend lives 5 hours away and she is a nurse that works for a breast surgical oncologist.  When I had my BMX she came the day I got released from the hospital and took time off work to help my DH care for me.  She taught him how to strip my drains and help me.  When I just had my areola/nipple surgery, she came again and took more time off work.  She took me to surgery so my DH would not have to take a day off work and she stayed for the weekend.  She works and is married with two kids so it took lots of juggling for her to come and help.   I have had many people let me down but she's the BEST!  I know I am blessed by having her in my life. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • fitzdc
    fitzdc Member Posts: 1,467
    edited January 2012

    Cheers to my DH who took a week off from work to look after me.  He spent much time moving pillows and adjusting the recliner each time I needed to get up.  Cooked, cleaned, and even did the laundry.  The best - he made me cream of wheat each morning and brought it to me on a tray, and he hates cream of wheat!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • suemed8749
    suemed8749 Member Posts: 1,151
    edited January 2012

    I'm a high school teacher, and my students were amazing. The teacher next to me later told me that she had to go back inside her room with tears in her eyes on the first day I wore my wig - the students were all so supportive greeting me and telling me how great I looked. My seniors formed a Relay for Life team for a colleague and me; they gave me a collage of pictures of all of them that I still have up in my classroom.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories