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jumptheshadow

(3,314 posts)
14. Evoman...
Sun Oct 28, 2012, 10:23 AM
Oct 2012

Last edited Sun Oct 28, 2012, 12:41 PM - Edit history (2)

...Even the strongest treatments, the ones that kick you in the guts both physically and emotionally, have windows of time when you can fortify yourself. We began to look for those opportunities to build her up again. Sometimes it started with just one hard-boiled egg -- enough protein to make her regain her strength both physically and emotionally -- then we would build up the protein in her diet. The resulting strength, in turn, enabled her to communicate with distant relatives by Skype. We would keep the topics light. (She is a natural comedian.) After an hour of sharing childhood reminiscences and jokes with relatives, she would sleep more easily and feel much better.

She did opt to go on anti-anxiety medication. It has helped a lot and, after she settled in with it, I started to see her old personality again. When my brother was diagnosed with Stage 4 squamous cell cancer, he started Skyping my partner. On good days, they find companionship in a shared experience. Recently, he was hospitalized with an infection and blood clot related to his chemo port. After two weeks, he came out of the hospital looking skeletal and defeated. He started to build his protein intake -- it was hard for him to even smell food at first -- and now he is asking for seconds and thirds of Mom's home-cooked meals. His emotional outlook is vastly better this week. Physical and emotional strength seem to be deeply intertwined.

It helped a lot that we told relatives and friends that humor would be one of the best healers for us. It was more difficult than we anticipated for us to establish this policy, but now everybody goes along with it. That precedent helped when my brother was diagnosed. Skype is your friend, too, and enables you to conduct "living room" conversations with family and friends who can boost your spirits.

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