A Good Mental Shake
Dear Fred: Today has been a better day. I've had a few good conversations with myself and I think what I needed was a good mental shake. In the last few years I witnessed courage & determination that exceeded anything that I thought was possible.
The first example was given to me by my soul mate, C Cat. He was a magnificent long haired Persian/Burmese mix. He had been my companion through all of Nick's travels & all the rocky times our marriage endured. He developed an illness that our local vet could not figure out. He began losing his hair in huge patches. The patches would then become covered with a hard black scaley surface. After a year of trying all sorts of different things we were finally referred to a specialist in the Jackson Hole Wyo area. It was then we discovered he had been battling pancreatic cancer which had manifested itself in this very weird way. During the remainder of C Cat's time with us he displayed courage & determination to hang on to life & keep going. He refused help to climb our stairs & made it plane he would do it himself.... even if it took a while. No matter how sick he was he was never cross. Even the day we had to say good bye to him he made it plane he really did not want to leave. It's hard to put into words the courage and determination this cat displayed.
Four months after C Cat's death we found out that Nick (my husband) had advanced bladder cancer. He had been misdiagnosed by one of our local GPs for 2 years in a row. By the time we discovered the truth the cancer had completely covered his bladder. Once again I was given an example of extra ordinary bravery, determination & a strong will to live. In a series of operations Nick had his prostate, urethra and bladder removed & wore an ostomy bag for the remainder of his life.
He endured terrible pain & suffering. He never expressed anything but gratitude to his doctors & nurses. He pushed himself to do everything he was told including walking even when he was doubled over with pain. He fought for life valiantly.
In thinking off the examples these two dear souls have set for me I realize that I must be letting them down by being such a wimp. It is my sincere hope to remember their examples & find a more positive attitude towards life.
9/13/13 Darlene
The first example was given to me by my soul mate, C Cat. He was a magnificent long haired Persian/Burmese mix. He had been my companion through all of Nick's travels & all the rocky times our marriage endured. He developed an illness that our local vet could not figure out. He began losing his hair in huge patches. The patches would then become covered with a hard black scaley surface. After a year of trying all sorts of different things we were finally referred to a specialist in the Jackson Hole Wyo area. It was then we discovered he had been battling pancreatic cancer which had manifested itself in this very weird way. During the remainder of C Cat's time with us he displayed courage & determination to hang on to life & keep going. He refused help to climb our stairs & made it plane he would do it himself.... even if it took a while. No matter how sick he was he was never cross. Even the day we had to say good bye to him he made it plane he really did not want to leave. It's hard to put into words the courage and determination this cat displayed.
Four months after C Cat's death we found out that Nick (my husband) had advanced bladder cancer. He had been misdiagnosed by one of our local GPs for 2 years in a row. By the time we discovered the truth the cancer had completely covered his bladder. Once again I was given an example of extra ordinary bravery, determination & a strong will to live. In a series of operations Nick had his prostate, urethra and bladder removed & wore an ostomy bag for the remainder of his life.
He endured terrible pain & suffering. He never expressed anything but gratitude to his doctors & nurses. He pushed himself to do everything he was told including walking even when he was doubled over with pain. He fought for life valiantly.
In thinking off the examples these two dear souls have set for me I realize that I must be letting them down by being such a wimp. It is my sincere hope to remember their examples & find a more positive attitude towards life.
9/13/13 Darlene
Replies
Sometimes it is hard to find the strength, determination, desire to \"give it our best.\" This life we now live, we do need to do it the very best we can. With love and hugs. Call any time, my friend.