Cancer patients need your friendship and love more than they need encouragement in their fight. Telling them to be strong is the same as telling them you dont understand the courage it took simply to bear the news of the doctors diagnosis. Or, how brave they are to accept the chemotherapy when they know going in how devastating will be the side-effects. Cancer patients fight this battle alone, no one else can do this for them. So, expressions of love are welcome, but ones of sympathy are not for they carry an implied message of defeat. Cancer patients go in this fight to win or they would not do it at all. So, give them small treats such as foot massages and nail treatments, small gifts that tell them you love and support them. Come sit with them but dont act as if its business as usual. Dont expend their energies with tales of your problems; rather sit quietly with them and let them know by your presence how deep is your love. Remember that entertaining guests takes strength they might not have. Take cues from the voices of the patients, listen for weakness and say your goodbyes early when you hear it. Keep in mind how fragile is their appetite so ask in advance of your visit what you can bring. Prayers are always welcome, but large prayer groups can be overwhelming. Call ahead to the care-giver to ask if its okay to visit and recognize in advance you might be told that today is not a good time. But, dont let that be your last call. Tomorrow might be better. Cancer patients dont want to be treated as being different somehow, they are still the same person you know. But, energy is now a weapon in their fight and they need to expend it wisely. They recharge through rest and the love they receive from us. God bless.
Posted on: Tue, 05 Aug 2014 17:25:22 +0000
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