Timing
It seems as though we’re timing things as before Mike got sick, after Mike got sick, before Mike died and since Mike died. All our lives seem to be broken down into that right now. Peyton and I were talking about her friendship with a boy tonight and it was broken down into those terms without our really thinking about it.
They were mad at each other at this point, less mad at this point, back to being friends at this point — and all the points related to whether Mike’s pain was back, whether his recurrence was diagnosed yet, whether he was still in Cary with James or back here with us.
It’s like we tell time based on whether Mike was alive or dead, and what state his illness was at. That’s because time doesn’t matter when someone is dying. It’s ll focused on the person, and time passes only as it related to Mike.
The pain came back in October, the fluid was noticed the middle of February. The diagnosis came back the end of February. He came home two weeks later and died two weeks after that. Time has pretty much stood still since he died, There’s before Mike died and since Mike died. Everyting else revolves around that.
Patient Pals & Family Friends
Life o' Mike has a new peer support program for people newly diagnosed with chronic or serious illness or with a new disability and their caregivers.
Patient Pals are people who have experience with various illnesses and disabilities, who can help someone newly diagnosed or with a new disability work through the fear, frustration, confusion and grief often experienced in the first few months.
Family Friends are there to help caregivers and other family members grow into their new role.
People with new illness or disability fare better when they have a role model -- someone who can help them negotiate their new path in life.
We need volunteers, who are asked to donate a minimum of one hour a week. Training is free and includes information on active listening, ways to help and when to know more help is needed.
And of course, we need funding.
To learn more, call Leslie Boyd at 828-243-6712 or e-mail lifeomike@gmail.com.
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