Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Hallelujah! We're Actually Having a "Normal" Day!!!

When your family is affected by cancer, it seems like the word "normal" puts on a completely different definition. One that neither Webster's nor Wikipedia can define. You have to live with cancer as patients, caregivers or family members, in order to understand just what I mean.

All of us take so much for granted, until something tramatic enters our lives. What once seemed high priority, is now very trivial in the overall picture of life. I remember two years ago after my husband came home from the hospital with the three month longevity, to say it was a traumatic time, would be putting it mildly. That is why today, I have the greatest of respect for anyone dealing with cancer, as well as their entire family. My having to work everyday to keep our family business going while leaving my husband at home, certainly didn't help with my level of anxiety, but you step up to the plate and do whatever needs to be done at the time. I remember longing for just a brief moment back then, to have things return to our normal way of life. I'd give anything to have my husband just walk through the door after a day at work, and I'd be preparing supper, as would be the scenario before any of this happened. We'd been married for almost thirty years when our lives suddenly came crashing down on us, and to just have one small moment of normalcy again, was more than I could ever hope for.

After several months of convalescing at home and his introduction to a new cancer d rug, would you believe he did return to work? I remember his first day at work without me hovering over him and his return home later that day for supper. As I heard him unlock our front door, our dog barking to welcome him home and I in the kitchen preparing supper, I realized in that instant that we were experiencing a "normal" moment in our lives! Many months earlier, we never would have thought it was even possible, but miracles do happen if you keep the faith!

Enjoy your "normal" moments and days....we are proof that they can happen!!!
Posted by Deb at 1:18 PM I throughly enjoy reading your postings. This not only relates to those affected with cancer, however other families affected by other illnesses.
Look forward to your postings.

September 9, 2008 at 6:57 PM Andre said...

I can totally relate to what you have just said...when my wife was ill with pancreatic cancer and our lives also turned around 360 degrees, I wished at many times that we could experience that true normal feeling again.
God Bless you both.

September 10, 2008 at 11:52 AM I too have a new appreciation for the "normal" days. During the week just before he goes back for a treatment I can almost believe he doesn't have cancer.

September 12, 2008 at 6:25 PM Hi Debbie:
Through all of the dealing with cancer in our 29 year old daughter who is not, thank God, in remission x 3 years, I have come to a realization, a firm and strong realization.
Love is a strong bond. I weathered the storm of our daughter's war wih cancer, then she went into remission, but only after she had been in remission for two years did my remission start. My husband was ahead of me. I truly think I kept the guard up, and to a degree still do. Loving her so desperately caused great heartache and I could not deal with it until she had two years of remission under her belt. It is a quirky psychological thing that I have seen others go through. Now I know of what they spoke.
Getting better at it though. It just requires good 'soul' time.

September 12, 2008 at 8:00 PM Debbie, you have done an exceptional job with this website! I check your postings daily and look forward to reading them.

I think we all take a lot for granted, until something like this happens. We should all live life to the fullest because we never know what is going to happen from day to day.
I wish your husband all the best. He is truly blessed to have a wonderful caregiver like you.
God Bless you and your family!

September 14, 2008 at 8:59 AM Kidney Cancer Awareness Ribbon Remembering Cancer Warriors "Keep the Faith" Visitors To My Site Faith Hope & Love

These are the words that my husband lived by! Voice for Caregivers
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