The struggle is real......cancer is a thief....

I popped on Facebook this afternoon and I see a friend who's young daughter is battling Leukemia. I read her posts and it brings me back to when my Daddy was diagnosed. The terminology she is using that I never even knew existed or couldn't pronounce brings back flashes of memories when I had to learn what those foreign words were. Sometimes we see victories as I have a friend who recently rang the bell that she is,after many many months of treatment, cancer free. I also have a friend who recently told me she was battling again for the second time. This disease that steals, cheats, and destroys so much, is present and real and just about everyone I know has been affected in some way.


 When someone you love is diagnosed understanding doesn't come, this makes no sense, but somehow some way you just keep pushing forward doing what you need to do. Its a hard reality to get a grip on because this person could have, not so long ago, been a "healthy" able and fit person, you never dreamed this would smack your family in the face, never dreamed that you would take your loved one in for what you thought was the flu or a cold, or in our case Daddy hurt his wrist, and find out that they have a life changing disease. When the doctors say "your father, daughter, sister, wife, mother, son, grandma, has cancer" time stops, you lose your breath, you feel as if someone took a 5000 lb bowling ball and hurled it at your chest. You have a moment of denial, maybe even several moments, and then as you are surrounded by your family and the doctor the person who was just told they had cancer speaks up, "it'll be OK, we'll get through this" they become the STRONG one? Being tough and unbreakable for the family so they don't scare them. To give the family  the hope that YOU WILL fight with all your might! I know from my friends own words that this was the case with her young daughter, the daughter is being strong for the mama and the rest of the family. My Daddy tried to hold it together and be strong for us. I think it's the flight or fight mentality, I'm so very thankful that those who surround me have chose to fight.

We focus on the patient, because that's what you do. And we DO need to focus on that person, but somewhere in the midst of all the crazy that ensues after a person is diagnosed the caregivers get lost. Being a caregiver for a  loved one who is suffering from cancer or any life altering disease is probably one of the hardest things I have ever done and have ever witnessed in my entire life, and I must admit I wasn't there 24/7 like my mother was. I had many overnight stays, hospital visits and stays with Daddy too, but there is something about taking care of a person 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Something that wears you down unlike anything you have ever experienced before, even being a new mother to a newborn can't compare. I watched my mother turn into a nurse literally OVER NIGHT. She saw what needed done and did it. I've watched my friend do the same thing with her little girl. 

Sometimes you don't come out on top, sometimes the end result is not getting to ring the bell, but instead you are planning a funeral.. Instead the disease that you fought so hard against wins. But during the fight you learned so much, maybe you can put that to good use somewhere else down the road. Maybe The Master God of the Universe The Alpha and Omega has a better understanding of why.

There are so many things we could do. We can help with other family members if need be, we can help with meals, we can sit with them, we can love them, but most of all we can PRAY for them. So I've made a promise to anyone who is fighting or  has someone fighting this disease, and to those who will some day hear the dreaded news.  I will fight with you, I will support you,  I will be there when no one else is. I will focus on YOU as a person and not the disease that has decide to try to consume you. I will continue in the fight to find a cure, I will continue to pray for those affected caregivers and patients alike. I will cry through the trials with you, I will dance and shout during the victories with you.

So here we go.....

I've been told many times that I need to write. Who knew I had what some might call a "talent" for writing. I only write down sometimes what runs through this busy mind of mine. A few things you should know about me and the blog I plan to write:

1. Who knows how frequently I will post a blog, could be everyday for a while, then nothing for months. I guess it just depends on how my world is turning.
2. You will mostly like hear about my family, my job, my opinions and or things going on in my life. Read if you want, don't if you don't :)
3. I am always up for a good debate but I do not tolerate bullying or bashing of religion(don't care what kind) or political discussion that leads to offensive behavior.
4. I love to eat and cook so you will most likely get some recipes!!
5. I also like to craft so you will also most likely see some DIY or craft projects!
6. It's my blog I will post about what I want when I want. 
7. Be prepared for random thoughts.

So here we go a new adventure for me. We shall see what the world of blogging holds for me!

Welcome to Meandering Thoughts & Other Stuffs!