A new direction…
They, were an older couple and they were lost.
There were too many hallways, stairs, elevators and doors surrounding them and you could tell by the look on their faces, cancer had entered their world. So they finally asked how to get to the outpatient waiting room at the cancer center.
“It’s our first time and we don’t know where to go.”
A nice young woman pointed them in the right direction; first hurdle crossed, I thought.
They will become so accustomed to that route, it will become as routine as walking into the living room at home.
They’ve stepped into a different life now with new rooms and new faces.
August 1, 2013 @ 7:17 pm
I hope they have a good support system….kids, grandkids, friends, a church…to help them through this. As we know, it is a confusing and often a scary place when you are newbies. Being older only complicates the matter because they are probably not medically savy, don’t know who to really trust, what to do or not to do so most likely they’ll follow their doctor’s advice..which could be good or not so good. Often kids and grandkids are lost in this cancer maze plus they have other issues of daily life to deal with. Not that they don’t care or worry but they too don’t know where to turn for help to get help for their parents. Wish there was a way to help them and support them. They’ll forge ahead doing the best that they can but it could be so much easier and better for them.
I am of their generation. I now read in books and hear on TV that I am elderly…really, elderly!!! Yes, I am old…70..but elderly. When I go to doctor’s appts, I see and hear that I am indeed elderly. At church, I can see in other’s eyes that they view me as elderly. But I don’t feel elderly… just lots of the parts don’t work well and some are broken and held together by bolts, screws and pins. I am slow but I get things done eventually. I have a wealth of experiences in the cancer world to share but will most likely never be asked to share them now ’cause I’m viewed by most as elderly. Shame. But when asked, I readily volunteer what I know and go out of my way to help those who ask.
I fear for the older couple that they’ll be viewed as elderly and maybe are not given the very best that medicine has to offer “you are too old to take this chemo. It is too harsh”…. “But I am willing to try it even with the side effects.”Perhaps they’ll be somewhat marginalized when compared with other younger patients. I hope that this is not true but I fear that with many decisions being made by “doctor panels and committees” we can see the future and it is not pretty for any of us, especially if you are elderly.
Best of luck older couple. I wish you well.
Signed,
An elderly friend.