Lately, we have lost some remarkable people due to battling cancer. Today, we lost Stuart Scott. Everyone knows Stuart Scott the man famous for Booyah! in his ESPN commentaries. Many fans have tweeted the contributions and actions of his life. And I too, am touched as we loose even more creative outlooks and sayings in sports.
But, what do you do when you loose a love one to cancer? How do you feel? What do you say to the spouse, children and other love ones? Great questions. I think we all deal with grief in our own way. We must feel our feelings and let them pass through us. But, we must not be stuck in our feelings so bad that we can not live. Expressing our feelings to our love ones may be an option. As well as expressing our feelings to friends aware of the love one passing. The proverb that speaks about a village raising a child can also be applied here as it sometimes takes a village to help someone heal from a love one's loss from a disease.
In my past, I have had love ones to pass from cancer. Each one battled cancer differently and lived their life the way they chose to live. I honor and respect my love ones and their journeys as it prepared me for my journey with AML. I can recall my aunt Mary asking for my niece and myself to come and see her prior to her passing. I was scared and nervous that day. She asked me what was wrong and I replied in a light voice...nothing. She could understand my pain as I felt like I knew she would be leaving me some day. She spoke to me about the good times we had and I began to become overwhelmed with tickled laughter. I am so happy I had that moment with her. It was one of the many memories of her to help during the time I mourned her death.
Overall, I think the best way to deal with the loss of a love one due to cancer is to celebrate. Yes, celebrate the life of that person. Celebrate the good times you shared with them and the magic moments they made. Be grateful you had the person in your life. I am not denying to mourn or grieve in your loss. But, just add in listening to their favorite song or swapping stories with other love ones. It as if you are honoring their legacy.
"When you die, it does not mean you lose to cancer. You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, & in the manner in which you live. So live, live, fight like hell. And when you get too tired, lay down, rest and let someone else fight for you. “This whole fight, this journey, is not a solo venture. This is something that requires support." Stuart Scott. Well, said my cancer survivor inspirer...well said.
But, what do you do when you loose a love one to cancer? How do you feel? What do you say to the spouse, children and other love ones? Great questions. I think we all deal with grief in our own way. We must feel our feelings and let them pass through us. But, we must not be stuck in our feelings so bad that we can not live. Expressing our feelings to our love ones may be an option. As well as expressing our feelings to friends aware of the love one passing. The proverb that speaks about a village raising a child can also be applied here as it sometimes takes a village to help someone heal from a love one's loss from a disease.
In my past, I have had love ones to pass from cancer. Each one battled cancer differently and lived their life the way they chose to live. I honor and respect my love ones and their journeys as it prepared me for my journey with AML. I can recall my aunt Mary asking for my niece and myself to come and see her prior to her passing. I was scared and nervous that day. She asked me what was wrong and I replied in a light voice...nothing. She could understand my pain as I felt like I knew she would be leaving me some day. She spoke to me about the good times we had and I began to become overwhelmed with tickled laughter. I am so happy I had that moment with her. It was one of the many memories of her to help during the time I mourned her death.
Overall, I think the best way to deal with the loss of a love one due to cancer is to celebrate. Yes, celebrate the life of that person. Celebrate the good times you shared with them and the magic moments they made. Be grateful you had the person in your life. I am not denying to mourn or grieve in your loss. But, just add in listening to their favorite song or swapping stories with other love ones. It as if you are honoring their legacy.
"When you die, it does not mean you lose to cancer. You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, & in the manner in which you live. So live, live, fight like hell. And when you get too tired, lay down, rest and let someone else fight for you. “This whole fight, this journey, is not a solo venture. This is something that requires support." Stuart Scott. Well, said my cancer survivor inspirer...well said.