Depression Support Group
Depression is a real and debilitating condition that is often misunderstood by family and friends. Its meaning can range from a prolonged period of sadness to an actual mental illness with specific symptoms. Find and share experiences with others who are going through the same struggles.
That's all I got to spend with my family this Thanksgiving. But it was enough. It was more than enough.
With my stepfathers diagnosis of lung cancer, I was lost. I felt no emotion. No anger, no sadness, no confusion. I was numb. My family is 711 miles away from me. I could do nothing. I felt like my world was tumbling down around me. Every time I got back on my feet, life threw a curve ball at me. And this one...this one was going to destroy me.
Days after the diagnosis and our announcement to family and friends, I got a phone call. My best friend had spoke to her aunt. Her aunt had lost family to cancer. Her aunt and grandmother wanted to help me. They wanted to buy me a round trip bus ticket to Georgia to see my dad.
A 17 hour bus ride to Chattanooga, Tennessee. Long, but I've done it so many times in the last few years. It was almost second nature. I left on Friday. Arrived on Saturday morning. Spent Saturday and Sunday with my family. My uncles had come down from Illinois. They had brought their families. I missed my cousins.
Upon arriving at my parents house, my very first course of action was to make my way straight to my parents bedroom and just hug my stepfather. And I did. I hugged him and I didn't want to let go.
I saw him. I touched him. I hugged him. I talked to him. It was enough. It broke through the numbness. I cried. But this time was different. I cried because I knew everything would turn out okay. I wasn't angry. I wasn't sad. I wasn't confused. I was SURE.
Monday afternoon, I was out the door again. Boarding another bus bound for Michigan. 24 hours this time. I'm home. I want to bawl. I miss my family. But I know this much. The next time I go down to visit, he'll still be there.
He WILL fight this. And he will win. My daddy is going to be okay. And I can feel again.
With my stepfathers diagnosis of lung cancer, I was lost. I felt no emotion. No anger, no sadness, no confusion. I was numb. My family is 711 miles away from me. I could do nothing. I felt like my world was tumbling down around me. Every time I got back on my feet, life threw a curve ball at me. And this one...this one was going to destroy me.
Days after the diagnosis and our announcement to family and friends, I got a phone call. My best friend had spoke to her aunt. Her aunt had lost family to cancer. Her aunt and grandmother wanted to help me. They wanted to buy me a round trip bus ticket to Georgia to see my dad.
A 17 hour bus ride to Chattanooga, Tennessee. Long, but I've done it so many times in the last few years. It was almost second nature. I left on Friday. Arrived on Saturday morning. Spent Saturday and Sunday with my family. My uncles had come down from Illinois. They had brought their families. I missed my cousins.
Upon arriving at my parents house, my very first course of action was to make my way straight to my parents bedroom and just hug my stepfather. And I did. I hugged him and I didn't want to let go.
I saw him. I touched him. I hugged him. I talked to him. It was enough. It broke through the numbness. I cried. But this time was different. I cried because I knew everything would turn out okay. I wasn't angry. I wasn't sad. I wasn't confused. I was SURE.
Monday afternoon, I was out the door again. Boarding another bus bound for Michigan. 24 hours this time. I'm home. I want to bawl. I miss my family. But I know this much. The next time I go down to visit, he'll still be there.
He WILL fight this. And he will win. My daddy is going to be okay. And I can feel again.
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/lung/cancer-survival-prognosis