Part I – Grab the Moment. Be Brave Just before Christina hugged me goodbye, her eyes sought mine. My horrified gaze stared right back, her question hanging in the air between us, “What? You didn’t bring your camera?” “No!” I shuddered, chills running down my back…. Read more“Grab the Moment. Be Brave”
Category: Cancer Caregiving 101
Six Ways to Prevent Caregiver Burnout
Cancer Caregiving 101: Take Care of Yourself and Prevent Caregiver Burnout “Now you must realize,” the doctor straightened the papers into the already thick folder as he finished summarizing the diagnosis, treatment protocol and prognosis, “with a best-case scenario, we’re in for a long haul. You two must take care… Read more“Six Ways to Prevent Caregiver Burnout”
What You Need to Know Before Spending the Night in the Hospital
Emergency! Time stood still while the lights of San Francisco flashed by the back windows of the ambulance. “How long until we reach UCSF hospital?” I asked the EMT. “It depends on traffic,” she answered, and then she continued to try to take Pedro’s medical history. “He has non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma… Read more“What You Need to Know Before Spending the Night in the Hospital”
How to Find What You Really Want on Google
Use Google to narrow your search from 3.8 million results to a manageable number. Fourteen years ago, when we shared Pedro’s cancer diagnosis with our church family, the advice flowed in like the tide. “Carrot juice enemas!” the sweet church lady patted my arm and clung to it at the… Read more“How to Find What You Really Want on Google”
Four Tips for Being the Bookie (Caregiver Bookie, That Is!)
“He’ll need a Port-a-cath installed, we’ll schedule that for this week,” the doctor droned while my mind whirled with the shock of my husband’s non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma diagnosis. “We’ll follow the CHOP-Rituxan protocol.” “Chop rituxan? Sounds violent.” I thought to myself. “And I’ve heard of Port-A-Potties, but a port-a-calf? Protocol? Isn’t… Read more“Four Tips for Being the Bookie (Caregiver Bookie, That Is!)”
Six Tips for Balancing Boundaries (#4 Was the Hardest for Me)
“I could have done that!” my friend grumped as I carried a stack of laundry into Pedro’s hospital room. I cringed inwardly and smiled outwardly. “I didn’t have a lot to wash.” I set the neatly folded and wrapped stack of clean clothes in my suitcase and shoved it into… Read more“Six Tips for Balancing Boundaries (#4 Was the Hardest for Me)”
