Social Worker
As a General step regarding Cancer by Myrtle
TODAY
I have often sat with patients and their loved ones to hear with them the "news' that they are suffering from some form of cancer. Of course their doctors have big titles, and there has always been a wait in the waiting room, and always those fearful few moments of wondering what their doctor will tell them, and then the big, BIG, words. We leave intent on looking up those words. Marveling at the ability of a physician to say in just a few words what will not just change one life, but will impact so many. We leave look up the BIG WORDS. Sometimes talk of doctors and their abilities in positive vein, sometimes in not so positive. And then my "patient" goes home with my card in hand to call if needing anything.
In coming weeks or days, months, and even years there are many questions. There are many needs. Simple things like how to get your prescription for Ensure filled, to the hard ones of how to wait three to five years for Social Security to approve your Disability Benefits. The answers are never easy if sometimes the solutions are so hard to handle for certainly chemo therapy or surgery are not easy. The sharing is not so hard, and watching famililies and friends, their medical staff, is a wonder of chaos made into hope. My best moments are when it is satisfying for my patient, their family, and friends to come to one conclusion. "It is time to get on with living!"
Time to get on with living. Time to leave the terrible BIG Words behind. Time to leave all the talk of tests and treatments behind. Time to not plan those final moments. Time to leave the drama of dying and everyones remorse behind. Time to get on with living.
Of course none of the above goes away, or ever will. Yet getting on with living is for anyone the old standby of one day at a time. This day, today, the sun warm, or the weather turning with falls chill. This day with the children or grandchildren. This day with those we love and even those we might not enjoy so much. This day spent enjoying, this day spent loving, or this day spent resting. This day the rest of our lives. Today it's time to get on with living.
