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Dying young & alone Why?

I was diagnosed with IDC (breast Cancer) in August of 2007, I went through the chemo, the bilateral mastcetomy, My whole circle of family and friends were a huge support to me going through this. We had lost my father in 1996 to a brain tumor, he was only 49. In June of 2009 my oncologist told me that I have Adenocarcinoma effecting the inferior mediastinal nodes, on the outside on my lungs, he labled me terminal, 6 months to a year, I am now in my 8th month, enrolled Hospice since July. I am only (just)) 38. I have no one to talk to that understands what this is like, my whole circle for whatever reason, perhaps the burden of my upcoming death, have walked away from me. I ask my Hospice nurse "isn't there other dying people out there that i can talk to? Other terminally ill people that will TRULY understand my thoughts, my feelings?" She said simply, "no" So I decided to look online for a terminal chat room, and this is what i found. I am afraid to die alone, afraid to die when my Hospice people are not here. I need others that understand the harsh realities of being terminally ill with a very agile mind because i am young. I never married nor had any children, out of choice, I wanted to pursue my carrer in the arts before i settled down. I was able to have a final wish come true through The Dream Foundation, which was way cewl :)... At any rate, I just don't understand why everyone has walked away from me, it is my belief that my circle of friends and family are tapping their fingers "waiting for that phone call", i feel like a bad secret that everyone put in the closet..... Why can't birds of a feather flock together?- Why do the dying have no one to relate to? I feel very alone in my journey as my symptoms remind me everyday that i am Terminal...

Alone,

Terminal

  • Dear Tanya

    I'm glad you realise people here care. To feel like the flyers should be put out for you makes sense if you're lost, but you're not. Maybe to those people who could be with you now and aren't, well, they've got themselves to deal with.

    I know who you are, but don't and can't touch that lonely place in you. Saying that, I think all of us are trying to walk a road with you that we'll all walk alone one day. At some point on that road we can walk no further with you, but we're here now.

    It goes through my mind whenever I'm on this site that one day we'll all be echoes here, though some echoes will be heard (I'm thinking of you).

    Through the poem I wrote, you'll know I don't accept you'll die. I keep thinking that as long as you write, you're not lost.

    I remember back some time ago when you wrote of the self - contained person you were. Well, maybe it's only now that you could really be reached. I've seen myself as a person who doesn't reach out to other people. Maybe I will be no different until I am faced with my own mortality. Put me right with that if you want to.

    You say the cancer's been a long road and that maybe your body's getting itself ready. If your mind is saying different, don't worry, because my head says the same. And will your thinking catch up with your body (maybe it has)? To my mind, we haven't reached the end of the road.

    Kathy

  • Sometimes eating much and feeling OK doesn't mean things improve,

    and that body doesn't want to eat means it's saving energy for smth important.

    Which probably means the battle is not yet lost yet.

  • Dear Tanya,

    Re - read your message. One bit stuck out about your body getting ready. Thought you might be trying to get me ready. No need though, to lead me to acceptance. There is none. No such thing.

    Acceptance of death is impossible. How can something be possible that means we believe we will die? I think that's true for many people. Imagine treating every person you met on the premise they were going to die? It can't be done.

    So I have no acceptance of death, but I know that if pain and death battle. I'll hope death wins, because that is what a friend would do, and that it hurts to know a friend is in any kind of torment.

    I knew that before, but I didn't write it. Why? Well, I'm human and as such hate feeling guilty. If I were to wish any more than life and good health on you, I'd feel guilty.

    The truths you seek are the questions we all have one way or the other, I'm sure. Whatever the answers, they're all different according to who's telling you.

    Write soon. I'm thinking of you.

    Kathy

  • Dear Tanya,

    You haven't written for a couple of days now.

    Where's one of those thought - provoking pieces you're so good at?

    Kathy

  • Dear Tanya,

    Where are you?

    I'm not putting the flyers out yet, but I'm thinking about it.

    Kathy

  • Hi My Tanya,

    How are you today...I am putting out the fliers for my friend.

    Lost & Found

    Lost - One person on a journey that she doesn't particularly want to be on...

    Found - One friend who whilst on her own journey is helping a friend in need...

    Let me/us know how you are doing as we clearly care about you and will not be deserting you any time soon.

    Much Love

    T xxxx

  • Missing one carefree life of a young woman: i wish i could put this on every tree and in every shop window for you.

    Found one lady who has the gift to help others through her honest and heart felt accounts of this horrid disease

    NEVER feel alone as there are so many people all over the world thinking of you right now. Sending you a big big hug from the UK.

    Luckyus

  • my heart goes out to you xxx my sister is dying through cancer and non of her friends have left her they are the opposite smothering .. this takes so much pressure off my family knowing she can talk to others as its vitaly important to talk .. non of the family have taken it well and now the anger has surfaced its so hard watching the one you love suffer . crying is all we do .. i hope she does not suffer and goes peacefuly in her sleep.. cant realy imagine whats going on in her head she is putting her house in order so to say ... keep talking to anyone who will listen keep writing on here you are never alone xxxxxxxxxxx

  • Dear Tanya,

    You know how impatient I am. Please get in touch soon.

    Till' then I've been reading the messages you've received. They make me realise that good wishes and kind thoughts can be tangible (if that makes sense).

    I'm adding mine to theirs.

    Kathy

  • Dear Tanya,

    I never knew anyone who wanted flyers put out for them so much that they'd stop writing to let me know how they were.

    It's really not on, Tanya. If you come back saying 'my PC crashed for a few days,' I won't be surprised. Do try and write though.

    Kathy