Blog Layout
Surprises From Life - Death Date
My own struggle and celebration! Please click link below to hear more of my personal story and help you realize how life is so very special. Celebrate!
None of us have any idea about our own end. I share the story of my cancer diagnosis and survival in the link below (recently published on www.whatnext.com - a helpful cancer info site)
I credit several things to my healthy survival –
1. My husband and I have been 3 times a week workout partners since we were dating (about to celebrate anniversary 27). I kept working out until I was just too weak. Frequently I still went to the gym with him and brought a book. It took work but my workouts are great.
2. I refused a feeding tube. I knew that swallowing would always be an issue and I realized that not needing to swallow at all would just prolong my recovery. My oncologist agreed reluctantly but wrote a weight on a piece of paper – handed it to me and said “if you get to this weight I am shoving in the tube. You will have no choice.” I came within .5 of that weight.
3. I never let myself spend a full day in bed other than the final three in the hospital.
4. I started a caringbridge.org journal online log to keep people informed which most of the time I completed myself.
5. My husband loved me unconditionally giving up his own life for mine. He was the best nurse I could have ever asked for even if he did cook onions once (for himself) and the smell sent me hiding in a faraway closet corner.
6. I wanted to live life fully including the ability to taste red wine. My lead doctor had said “sorry Deb but you will most probably not be able to discern red wine after all this.” My response was “yes I will. I will bet you.”
7. I agreed to have amifostine injections to both protect the kidneys from the harmful effects of cisplatin and to decrease dryness in the mouth caused by radiation.
8. I kept making plans for my future! Sure I had to cancel things, but as of January 2013 I was getting back in the saddle full steam ahead!
9. I held my own celebration party in June 2013 including people from all walks of my life. It was glorious – the only binding of the group was “me” – and everyone shared hysterical and heartwarming testimonials about me in their life.
Your call to action!
1st make sure your kids and grandkids and neighbor’s kids get the HPV vaccination https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/parents/index.html
2nd listen to your body. Do you own research.
3rd keep living life to the fullest every day.
4th believe you can do anything.
Everyone has a story. Love is all around us. Take good care and remember that planning for a great life will help you live each day the best and fullest that you can. Talk about and plan for death since it, too, is part of life. You will feel more content and able to face the end when it rears its inevitable head.
also
We have countless jokes online and in person about nonstop phone calls at all hours begging you to extend your car warranty - even when you don't own a car! But we don't talk about death. AND we all have death in common!
Upon death, even if your legal paperwork is completed will there be problems? Tell others about your wishes. Make changes as often as you want but be sure your loved ones know. Problems arise when loved ones disagree. Money can do that to wills.
You don't have to discuss death daily. Yet you need to face that we all will die. Give yourself a rest sometimes but remember that each day is precious.