Sunday, August 29, 2010

"I need to forget-and laugh"

The title of this post was taken from the book I am reading called, "help me live-20 things people with cancer want you to know" by Lori Hope (title is lower case on book cover). In this chapter the author speaks of  therapeutic humor.  She quotes a cancer survior who says she chose joy. Because much of a cancer patient's days and nights are filled with unpleasent experiences often times including constant pain; emotional and physical this survior found hope in laughter. This survior tells how she felt less fear and anxiety when she was laughing.  She realized that comic distraction made her feel "normal".

Strange, Dad shared on this subject with me just this week when we checked into the hospital for cycle number two.  He said that when people called he wanted the conversation to be normal.  He didn't want to necessarily talk about cancer and treatments and the like.  He just wanted to talk...talk about whatever you'd normally call him and talk about.  So at that moment I knew I needed to take personal note of what he was sharing. I too, even as caregiver, need to remember that Dad is more than the cancer and that I need to treat him kindly, not differently. (subject of another chapter in the book)

Soooo.  I just spoke with him a little while ago.  He is extreamly fatigued. In his words, "wiped out". He says he has felt nothing like this ever before. I told him I bet he couldn't blow a feather away right now-he laughed.  He mentioned that he has trouble sleeping at night.  I offered to call his doctor tomorrow and ask for something that might help him sleep. We then talked about how he has never had trouble sleeping. As a matter of fact he says family use to tell him that he slept too much.  I reminded him that I too have that issue.  We laughed even harder. After a few more memories shared I announced, "Ok Dad, I need to let you get  off the phone so that you can rest.  I know you'll be yourself again in a few days. I'll call you tomorrow. I love you." His response, "I love you too".


Video: Christmas at my house 2006

A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22 AMP

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