Today I am going to be cooking and celebrating with my family and counting my blessings for our grateful life we have. I pray that everyone has a safe and blessed Thanksgiving. I will also say a pray for those loved ones we have lost. This is my favorite day of the year to celebrate !
Santa was suppose to arrive today, but he now arrives at the mall the beginning of November and he charges money to sit on his lap. I hope he pays his elves a lot, or perhaps he has become as greedy as the rest of corporate America. You can call me old fashion as I don't agree with starting the Christmas season before Thanksgiving. As a child the excitement of Christmas started, when Santa arrived on a sleigh during The Macy's Parade. What has happened to tradition. I am glad that my children got to enjoy the Christmas season as I did. By the time I have some grandchildren, Santa will be at the Mall in July. LOL!
Well I better get busy and feed my hungry husband and count our blessings that we are survivors.
Blessings to all cancer survivors and their caregivers. You are amazing courageous people.
Life is beautiful !!
Elizabeth:)
Thursday, November 26, 2015
Monday, November 23, 2015
Life Is Beautiful !!!
I broke down and cried today with tears of joy. I have had a life time dream to have my own shop to display my own creations, and I never let go of the dream. With the encouragement of some dear friends I finally got my act together and had some fun sewing away. I previewed some of my creations today and within a matter of an hour I made my first sale. I am happy to say that part of the proceeds from the sales are going to cancer research. Never give up on your dreams. I am hoping that my on-line shop will be open by next week.
Thank you so much to my friends who have stuck by my husband and I through some difficult times. You are our inspiration. They say to follow your heart and it will bring you to your passion. The daily devotion of gratitude for all that is good in life has made me a believer in myself. I have had a plaque in my sewing office for a couple of years that says "Wish It, Dream It, Do It". Today I did it.
There is no turning back now. Life is beautiful !!!
Elizabeth :)
Thank you so much to my friends who have stuck by my husband and I through some difficult times. You are our inspiration. They say to follow your heart and it will bring you to your passion. The daily devotion of gratitude for all that is good in life has made me a believer in myself. I have had a plaque in my sewing office for a couple of years that says "Wish It, Dream It, Do It". Today I did it.
There is no turning back now. Life is beautiful !!!
Elizabeth :)
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Life After Cancer
I hope that people out there are remembering to acknowledge caregivers. If you know someone that is struggling with burnout or needs a hug while caring for someone try to do something nice for them. Caregivers are heroes that stand in the shadow of illnesses.
It has been a year now since I sought some medical help to get my hormonal system straightened out. I can tell you that I no longer feel anxious and that I am sleeping like a baby. In fact I am probably sleeping a little too much. It is time for the yearly tune up and I am hoping to find out if those cortisol levels have dropped. What a difference a year has made. My thinking is more clear and I am enjoying my life.
I like to reread my blog writings occasionally and I guess you could say that I am my worst critic. Our mind always has a way of remembering the negative things in life. We have triggers that remind us of awful things that we don't like to face. We however can change and learn from our mistakes. Of course, we are human and we all make mistakes. We have to forgive ourselves and move on.
My last blog writing, I made a statement that there was no life without my husband. Yes, there is life for me without him. It was not a wise choice of words. I love him very much and we have a fun life together. It is hard for any spousal caregiver to imagine life without their significant other especially when you are happy together. Cancer changes their life and yours. I have taken the advice of many health care professionals and I have worked on building my own support group. It has helped me forge some wonderful friendships with people who understand the pain of being a caregiver and the uncertainty of life.
I have not lost my spouse and I am proud to say he is a survivor. I have lost the life we had. Cancer changes people's life. It was not easy when the people and the world around you focus on the cancer patient. You stand quietly in the shadows It is easy to feel incredible guilt and anger for what cancer has done to your life. You are put into situations of dealing with new responsibilities, the after effects of the cancer treatments and the psychological burden it brings. It also brings financial burden and for some families bankruptcy. However, we must move forward and live each day.
I had a strong therapist that allowed me to grieve the loss of life as I knew it before cancer. People do not just grieve when faced with death, but they also grieve the loss of life as they knew it. For me it was giving up my job and loosing some friendships and adjusting to a new way of life with my husband. When you love someone, helping them through the tough times is worth it. I have learned that it is all right to ask others to help me. Most people like to help others and sometimes we need to point out what it is that we need. I think that is an important thing for a caregiver to learn. I wish I had allowed myself to ask for help sooner than later, but we learn from mistakes. Remember, we are human.
We all grow and we all change, and if we survive the changes then we know that anything is possible. So, yes there is life for me and I am enjoying a new adventure being myself and loving me! And of course, I love you my husband.
Life is Beautiful !!!
Elizabeth
It has been a year now since I sought some medical help to get my hormonal system straightened out. I can tell you that I no longer feel anxious and that I am sleeping like a baby. In fact I am probably sleeping a little too much. It is time for the yearly tune up and I am hoping to find out if those cortisol levels have dropped. What a difference a year has made. My thinking is more clear and I am enjoying my life.
I like to reread my blog writings occasionally and I guess you could say that I am my worst critic. Our mind always has a way of remembering the negative things in life. We have triggers that remind us of awful things that we don't like to face. We however can change and learn from our mistakes. Of course, we are human and we all make mistakes. We have to forgive ourselves and move on.
My last blog writing, I made a statement that there was no life without my husband. Yes, there is life for me without him. It was not a wise choice of words. I love him very much and we have a fun life together. It is hard for any spousal caregiver to imagine life without their significant other especially when you are happy together. Cancer changes their life and yours. I have taken the advice of many health care professionals and I have worked on building my own support group. It has helped me forge some wonderful friendships with people who understand the pain of being a caregiver and the uncertainty of life.
I have not lost my spouse and I am proud to say he is a survivor. I have lost the life we had. Cancer changes people's life. It was not easy when the people and the world around you focus on the cancer patient. You stand quietly in the shadows It is easy to feel incredible guilt and anger for what cancer has done to your life. You are put into situations of dealing with new responsibilities, the after effects of the cancer treatments and the psychological burden it brings. It also brings financial burden and for some families bankruptcy. However, we must move forward and live each day.
I had a strong therapist that allowed me to grieve the loss of life as I knew it before cancer. People do not just grieve when faced with death, but they also grieve the loss of life as they knew it. For me it was giving up my job and loosing some friendships and adjusting to a new way of life with my husband. When you love someone, helping them through the tough times is worth it. I have learned that it is all right to ask others to help me. Most people like to help others and sometimes we need to point out what it is that we need. I think that is an important thing for a caregiver to learn. I wish I had allowed myself to ask for help sooner than later, but we learn from mistakes. Remember, we are human.
We all grow and we all change, and if we survive the changes then we know that anything is possible. So, yes there is life for me and I am enjoying a new adventure being myself and loving me! And of course, I love you my husband.
Life is Beautiful !!!
Elizabeth
Friday, November 13, 2015
National Caregiver Month
November is National Caregiver Month. President Obama proclaimed November as National Caregiver Month in the year 2014. There are a lot of people in the US that are daily caregivers for their family members with various long term illnesses. It is nice to recognize these people for their daily devotion to taking care of their loved ones. It is not an easy job or one that most people sign up for. It is a job that many are thrust into as their parents age or their spouse or child becomes ill. Over the years I have witnessed the ever increasing awareness of the role of the caregiver. They should be applauded and recognized as many have given unselfishly to care and advocate for their loved ones. They are sometimes forgotten and lost in the midst of helping their loved ones. Stop and recognize a caregiver this month, because someday it may be you.
My caregiver journey began 20 years ago as my own mother's health began to decline. I watched my dad for years take care of her and I intervened when needed. I use to say he was a saint, he was always by her side even when we had to put in a nursing home for awhile. It took its toll on him physically and mentally, but he survived and he is still with us. Subsequently, I have become a caregiver for him. He has been through a lot this year and I have been right there with him. Today he graduated from cardiac rehab and he is doing very well and it has lessened my duties as his caregiver. He is of course one of my heroes.
My other hero is my husband, a three time cancer survivor. Our journey began in 1997. The anniversary date of December 2nd is coming quickly. That will mark 18 years for him as a survivor and for me as caregiver. We have been through a lot. He has always called me his angel. I can say that 18 years ago not much credit was given to caregivers. I remember not being allowed to be with him during chemotherapy treatments and being told by others that I had no right to express my feelings. He was in the care of his health care team and we are grateful for them. I was in the background supporting him. I still remember on one occasion sitting on the side of bed wrapping my arms around him after chemotherapy. He told me he couldn't go on and I reminded him of all the beautiful reasons we were meant to survive. I say we, because there is no life without him.
In 2010 when my husband was diagnosed again for the third time with NHL, I was thrown again into the role of caregiver. It proved to be a little harder this time. I don't know if it was because I was older or that I was not feeling well myself. We made a decision to go across the country to MD Anderson in Texas. We were told that they were the number one Cancer Center in the US. We both feared that the outcome of cancer again was not good and needed some expert help. I sit today and I happily say my husband is a survivor. It was not easy for either of us, but we survived.
The one thing I have learned about being a caregiver is that I am allowed to have feelings also. I have wants and needs and deserve to get help also. I am also my husband's advocate and my own. We are on this journey together and the caregiver needs to be acknowledged and heard also. The caregiver plays a very important role in the patient's recovery. I am proud to say that my hero husband and I made it through a lot of hard work, strength and courage. We made it here today together. We made it in sickness and in health until death do us part. I love you my husband always and forever!
Life is beautiful !!!
Elizabeth:)
My caregiver journey began 20 years ago as my own mother's health began to decline. I watched my dad for years take care of her and I intervened when needed. I use to say he was a saint, he was always by her side even when we had to put in a nursing home for awhile. It took its toll on him physically and mentally, but he survived and he is still with us. Subsequently, I have become a caregiver for him. He has been through a lot this year and I have been right there with him. Today he graduated from cardiac rehab and he is doing very well and it has lessened my duties as his caregiver. He is of course one of my heroes.
My other hero is my husband, a three time cancer survivor. Our journey began in 1997. The anniversary date of December 2nd is coming quickly. That will mark 18 years for him as a survivor and for me as caregiver. We have been through a lot. He has always called me his angel. I can say that 18 years ago not much credit was given to caregivers. I remember not being allowed to be with him during chemotherapy treatments and being told by others that I had no right to express my feelings. He was in the care of his health care team and we are grateful for them. I was in the background supporting him. I still remember on one occasion sitting on the side of bed wrapping my arms around him after chemotherapy. He told me he couldn't go on and I reminded him of all the beautiful reasons we were meant to survive. I say we, because there is no life without him.
In 2010 when my husband was diagnosed again for the third time with NHL, I was thrown again into the role of caregiver. It proved to be a little harder this time. I don't know if it was because I was older or that I was not feeling well myself. We made a decision to go across the country to MD Anderson in Texas. We were told that they were the number one Cancer Center in the US. We both feared that the outcome of cancer again was not good and needed some expert help. I sit today and I happily say my husband is a survivor. It was not easy for either of us, but we survived.
The one thing I have learned about being a caregiver is that I am allowed to have feelings also. I have wants and needs and deserve to get help also. I am also my husband's advocate and my own. We are on this journey together and the caregiver needs to be acknowledged and heard also. The caregiver plays a very important role in the patient's recovery. I am proud to say that my hero husband and I made it through a lot of hard work, strength and courage. We made it here today together. We made it in sickness and in health until death do us part. I love you my husband always and forever!
Life is beautiful !!!
Elizabeth:)
Sunday, November 1, 2015
A Cancer Journey Never Ends
We are all going to be terminal someday. Some of us learn our fate at the doctor's office, some of us have fatal accidents, and some of us never wake up. The main thing is at some point we realize that we are not immortal and that every day is a precious gift to do as much as we can. I was at one time focused on the future and trying to decide at what point something was suppose to happen. After living with my husband and his cancer, we both realize that today is the future and we love this very moment. We are no longer saying someday we will plan for our remaining life. We are living our life right now. Cancer has changed our thought process and made us stronger than ever.
I just finished reading an article on the MD Anderson facebook page. It was an interesting article that my husband and I could relate to. The article was called "If you think cancer ends with surviving, think again," by Rhonda Wendler. It can be viewed on the MD Anderson facebook page and is well worth reading for all cancer patients and their family and spouses. This article was validation for us that we are not alone with the many difficulties that we had after my husband's treatment ended. Life is not and will never be the same. We are still to this day dealing with the uncertainty that cancer has brought to our life. It has made us aware that we are strong and we have a beautiful life. The material things no longer seem to be important and that is not to say that we don't dream or have a wish list. We have accepted that our life is just a bit more challenging most days. The recurrence of the cancer is always on our mind even if unspoken and it does take front seat in all our major life decisions.
My husband and I were pleased to read in the article presented by MD Anderson that a doctor in the Lymphoma department has played a major role in acknowledging that a cancer patient's journey is never over when their treatment ends. I am happy to learn that this doctor has been pivotal in bringing awareness to the physical, emotional, and psychosocial needs of survivors. My husband had asked his doctor after his treatments ended about a survivor ship plan. He was told there was no such thing. I read in the article about something called the "Passport to Health". This would have been beneficial and would greatly help my husband when visiting his PCP. I encourage all cancer patients to read the article on facebook.
We can not change what has happened in our journey with cancer, but we can educate ourselves and others, so that our journey with life is what we want. It is not up to someone else to decide what our life story should be. It is our story and we get to tell it the way we see it. I hope that the movement to help cancer survivors and their families deal with the many issues they face will become a routine part of the care they receive.
Life is beautiful !!
Elizabeth:)
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