Have You?

Have you researched drugs and treatment options (even the holistic remedies that western medicine scoffs at) and presented them to the doctor?

Have you driven to apothecaries and natural food stores searching for something, anything that might help with nausea or fatigue and isn’t another chemical solution?

Have you walked someone through treatment?  From the severe anxiety beforehand to the side effects afterwards?

Have you provided for their every need whether it is unmentionable items at the drug store you never thought you would be buying or running out late at night for ginger ale to soothe the stomach?

Have you been the shoulder to cry on or had to bear the brunt of their rage and frustration because it’s easier to take it out on a person than on the cancer?

Have you sat for hours in the hospital waiting room worried as every second ticks by that something has gone wrong?

Have you held your child as they cry out of worry for their dad?

Have you pried the tough questions out of your child because they are afraid of the answers?

Have you “held the fort down” because that’s what you do when your spouse is sick?

Have you swallowed your feelings and emotions to protect yourself and your partner?

Have you cried and vented with a friend all of those things that you are afraid to say out loud for fear of them coming true?

Have you done things that are terrifying because they need to be done when you would rather run and bury your head in the sand?

Have you had the tough conversations like “Hey, instead of having a beer together let’s do something else.  I want your liver to be as healthy as possible!”?

Have you talked about death and funerals and odds?

If you have, then you can judge me or claim to understand.  If you haven’t, then you are so very lucky indeed.

xoxo

Robyn