Warrior….Hero
What makes a warrior?
Where does their strength come from? They show it just by walking into the treatment rooms, ready to face another day of chemo, radiation or surgery. It suggests to me that they are brave beyond words. They are fighting cancer, something that should make them buckle at the knees and yet they march on.
Don’t tell me they’re doing it because they want to live, because they want to see another day. I get that, but there is so much more that goes into the making of these warriors. Like a soldier who puts his life on the line to save another soldier, these warriors are doing the very same thing. What they are going through might take their life too, but they’re doing it to help save the next guy.
Cancer warriors don’t get medals, but they sure do save lives.
September 9, 2013 @ 5:10 pm
The lady who has pancreatic cancer asked me on my last visit, why was I so willing to talk about my journey in the cancer world. I said that I have been blessed to survive, for at least this point in time. I knew all along the way that I would try to help others in whatever way i could. I’d share the good, the bad and the awful so that others could get themselves prepared mentally and emotionally for what lay ahead for them. I also try to let them know that there are second opinions and choices that we all have. It may seem that we are not in control when in fact we are. Loss of control, helplessness, at the mercy of the doctors and institutions affects us and weakens us. All cancer patients have an “inner warrior” even the infants and children. So we need to find that thing in us to mobilize, energize the “inner warrior” and say out loud to ourselves “Not today cancer, not today”.
She had a biopsy to her stomach and her liver. Her doctor says that the biopsies are inconclusive. I don’t know if her doctor is being fully truthful with her just to try to keep her spirits up. But she has been told that she is not a candidate for any further treatment so she has an idea. She just hasn’t admitted openly to herself yet and that is OK. I don’t want to see her spirit broken. She really has no one to talk to about her situation except my daughter and me. She keeps trying to “push us away” saying that she is just a bother and that we have other things to do. We’ve told her that we are here for the long haul. We can see in her eyes that it is comforting for her to know that she will not be alone. Yes, I visit a “cancer warrior” each and every Friday. I stand in awe of her courage as she looks the beast in the eye knowing that she’ll lose the fight. Say a prayer for Alice if you are so moved. She appreciates them all.
September 9, 2013 @ 8:00 pm
Al..you and your daughter are angels indeed. It makes my heart soar to think of how you have been connected to this woman in need.
September 9, 2013 @ 9:01 pm
Here’s to Alice the Awesome! A warrior for sure.
L