endurance
Cancer…Part 3
Originally there wasn’t going to be a part 3, however, this morning I woke up feeling compelled to write for those who have passed or are fighting now and will not win. Although I wrote about cancer previously and the mindset I needed to have in order to overcome, I do not want people who know people who have passed of cancer to start questioning them and their fight. Battling cancer is one of the hardest things a person can ever do. Although, for me personally, every person but 1 that I knew that had cancer, gave in. As soon as they heard they had it, they gave up. They truly felt like they were not able to beat it, they did not want to go through what it took to fight and they had accepted their fate and simply worked on getting things ready for their passing. I know this is not always the case but often it is. I want to say, in my opinion, this is ok. I know what that battle looks like. I know the pain you endure on a daily basis that never seems to subside. I know the sadness, fear, and guilt one feels when diagnosed and fighting. I know what most people think and go through and I do not blame anyone for choosing to give in. I am all about choice. I am a fighter and always will be. I want to defy all odds no matter the situation, but not everyone is the same. I feel like if you want to fight and win….well, all things are possible with your Hero Within.
On the flip side, there are people who are diagnosed and don’t have a chance to fight. A lady, who I considered like a second mom, from diagnosis to death was around 2 weeks. Sometimes you are not given the chance to fight. I was diagnosed stage 1 originally so the opportunity to wrap my mind around it, fight, and win was definitely possible. The one thing I can always say, never let a doctor determine your time left. I feel that when people know that, they make it come true.
The long of the short of it is, praise all who are going through or have gone through cancer. Allow their fight, whatever that is or not, to be their choice and support it. Celebrate the ones who beat it as their cancer free day is more important than any other day of the year.
Before, During and After Illness
For those of you who have been, or are ill, I’m sure you will completely agree and understand. For those of you who never have been, I’d like you to understand.
There are basically three different reactions a person has when it comes to illness.
The first is the “I hope I never…” reaction. This comes from a person who has never been seriously ill and has never had someone close, like a child, be ill either. They listen to people who are ill tell their story and say “I’m so sorry…” And in their head say “I hope I never….”
The second is the “Wow! You are so amazing. I’m so amazed. You are so strong…” reaction when you meet someone who has overcome a serious illness. As a cancer survivor I hear that a lot. Others tend to praise these people, over the top, and look at these people almost like hero’s.
And then there’s the third. It’s the “I’m so sorry for you…” reaction. It’s the reaction you give when you hear about someone being ill now. It’s the pity I hear almost daily having the brain tumor I have. It’s the pity and sadness you feel for someone and wish you could heal them as they are going through something so terrible.
For those who are ill but have found there hero within, they don’t need your pity, they need your normal. For those who are ill but haven’t quite found there hero within, they don’t need your pity, they need encouragement to find it. I for one, as someone who is sick, I don’t need your pity. I am strong. I have my Hero Within. I like encouragement and simply want to help others:)
The Hero Within 