Caringbridge.org

Options
Hoya03mom
Hoya03mom Member Posts: 135
edited June 2014 in Recommend Your Resources

I have had two sister with cancer.  Mary was diagnosed in 2003 and died in 2005 of Ovarian and my sister Dianne is currently battling apendical and vaginal cuff cancer and is in hospice.

We set up caringbridge sites (www.caringbridge.org)  for both (site is free but of course they accept donations).  Mary was very endstage by the time we set up her site and I have to say the site was more a comfort to our family.  Hundreds of her students posted messages which we read to Mary each day and it was wonderful to see how loved she was and what an impact she had on so may people.  Mary was always the "quiet" and reading what others posted about her was so informative, conforting and inspiring.  The site was particularly helpful to her husband.

In 2008 my sister Dianne was diagnosed with two rare forms of cancer and we set up a site that helps keep us all up to day without the need to send multiple e-mails.  Dianne is a very good writer and often writes very inspirational posts.  Also on her site (might have to scroll through back journal posts) are her videos she had done (via Mayo Clinic and Luther Hospital).  This one for Mayo Clinic about hospice is particularly helpful:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy3-bTo8Vd0  (if you don't trust links...and I don't...just go to youtube and put in Dianne Rhein as search...2 n's in Dianne!)  Dianne said she would be happy if I would share her site so anyone who was interested could access.  Her main goal with the remainder of her life is to be as helpful to others as her "circle of friends" have been to her.  www.caringbridge.org/visit/diannerhein

anyway, even though I think you might have to provide e-mail to register they have never bothered me with spam, just once a year outreach for donations. 

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • exbrnxgrl
    exbrnxgrl Member Posts: 12,424
    edited May 2012

    Thanks for recommending caringbridge. Many of us have used it to keep friends and family updated on our health. Someone started a thread here several months ago saying caringbridge was a rip off because they never gave a cent to patients who had pages on the site. A few of us pointed out that caringbridge's mission is to provide free web pages not direct financial aid to patients! Thanks for reinforcing that message. I am so sorry that your family has had to go through so much. Caryn

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • steelersluver
    steelersluver Member Posts: 112
    edited May 2012

    I also set up a Caring Bridge site and have found it to be very helpful.  Making multiple phone calls had become difficult for my family, and we always worried about forgetting to contact someone.  The site allowed us to provide the same information to everyone at the same time.  I've also enjoyed reading the nice messages people post.  I recommend it to anyone going through a serious health situation.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories