Category Archives: Survival

Breast Cancer Awareness Month Guest Blog Posts

Recently I’ve had the honor of being asked to write some blog posts for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Even though I have these posted on my “Other Writings,” I wanted to give these special attention just because it is Breast … Continue reading

Posted in breast cancer, Cancer, Caregiving, Depression, Friends, Survival | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Finding Laughter in Dark Places

(Here’s the blog post I was working on last week when I realized that I needed to write something about mom’s last day of cancer treatment.) One of the main saving graces of this experience has been that I never … Continue reading

Posted in Abuse, Cancer, Caregiving, laughter, Survival | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

The Camaraderie of Caring and the Solidarity of the Sick

I truly believe that there is nothing worse than hearing someone you love has cancer, except perhaps hearing that you yourself have cancer. Who knows which is worse unless you are unfortunate to have both things occur. I do know … Continue reading

Posted in Abuse, Cancer, Caregiving, Death, Dementia, Survival | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

A Measure of Understanding

My dad died last week. A week ago Sunday to be exact. I received the phone call at 2:45 am and then had the task of waking up my mother and telling her what had happened. I got through that … Continue reading

Posted in Abuse, Cancer, Caregiving, Death, Dementia, Survival | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

A New Poem

This poem doesn’t seem to be about cancer or caregiving, but for many years I have helped my mother take care of my father. It’s been difficult because the past was always been there whether or not I wanted it … Continue reading

Posted in Abuse, Caregiving, Dementia, Survival | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on A New Poem

Times of Joy, Times of Sorrow

  “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” So begins Charles Dickens great work, “A Tale of Two Cities.” Those words perfectly describe my current situation. My mother’s health has greatly improved over the past … Continue reading

Posted in Abuse, Cancer, Caregiving, Dementia, Survival | Tagged , , , | 24 Comments