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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

  • Yo TT,

    How goes it?

    T xx

  • Hi Tanya,

    What's the weather like there...time for an update for all your fans

    Much Love

    Your T xxx

  • Hey Dear Friend, stop ignoring me...

    Just sent you an email last night so hope you got it okay?

    Just thinking of the grilled burgers and broccoli and cheese...yum!

    Much Love

    T xxx

  • The dog days of summer...... On so many levels, a friend that, through texting, tells me she can't "care" or be my "friend" anymoreIs there no guilt? "I DO have other friends that are just as important", my reply; "They do not superceed THIS friend, I'm dying, they aren't". Did she say those things because I am no longer "Fun"? I am of no use to her? In afterthought of those hurtful words; it reinforces the fact I'm not needed, wanted, looked up to, nothing is expected of me, I AM that aweful monkey on everyone's backthat burden that drags on day after day~"Die already! I can't live with this black cloud over my head every single day!" Never said but might as well have been.....How aweful to feel that I mean nothing to any of my family & friends....Actions speak louder than words. I just wished people in my life wanted to understand this, wanted to learn....I am starting to trip over my piles of wishes...

    However, with a new creative Social Worker, we will call her "Becky"; she has helped me to focus on the positives in my life. I had always wondered why I had so many talents/hobbies, now I know why: I get bored with one of them I can move on to another. I have recently added a new hobby to my arsenal of positives; Calligraphy, concentration & patience is key to creating those beautiful words. With drawing, writing poetry & stories, crocheting, knitting, plastic canvas, playing Time-Management type of games, culinary creativity on my "better days"Blueberry Buckle with a huge dollop of whipped cream Tony it keeps me sane. I wished you all lived closer, I could mail out warm slippers & blankets for the upcoming warmer months, beautiful washcloths, scrubbies that WON'T scratch your pans, a "Your Name" poem, etc. mailing overseas is so costly though :<, disability doesn't pay well that's for certain.

    Upcoming is my 15th month of being in Hospice care; my RN tells me, "I want to see a decline in you the next time I visit because it makes me look bad"...Well, just give me a syringe for the day I smile or laugh or put on a couple of pounds! I feel like everyone is against me, I'm THAT person everyone wants dead; it's all my fault...I know my body & although I have 3 visable tumors now, this is & has already been, a very long road. I just wish I knew why I deserved such a harsh ending. Sure hope going through all that I have will have an awesome ending, one I am still here to see that is.....

    Something Becky had taught me that may help some of you; People walk away, get angry & say horrible things to the one that is sick because they are going through the 5 stages of grief, something i thought would not happen until after I passed; Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression & Acceptance. The friend that told me she couldn't care anymore? Her Birthday was on the 19th, also the day Becky was to visit; I asked my Mom, "Should I be the good guy & wish her well on her Birthday despite the hurtful things she said?" she said, "Yes, be the better person & call her"... Becky said, "Haven't you been 'The Better Person' throughout all of this?" I said yes, she said, "It's time everyone else stands up & becomes the better person to YOU, it's terrible they believe you should have to apologize for your actions or words, you, of all people, are allowed to be selfish, cold, emotional, angry with no judgement!" ....I didn't tell her Happy Birthday & I don't feel bad about it.

    I'm off to create & work on more of my positives!

    Wishing you all a splendid new month...

    Terminal Tanya

  • it posted twice, web is having a few issues today.....sorry about that

    Message was edited by: Terminal

  • Dear Tanya,

    Glad to hear from you.

    I believe we've got Tony to thank for that. He never gives up (thank God), because if he's not giving up, it looks like you've got to keep going.

    Best wishes,

    Kathy

  • Hi,

    YOU ARE NOT ALONE, OK? not while you are on this siite, I am just a mere bloke, but if you need to chat about anything, maybe we could put the world to rights, I am here

    George

  • Hi Tanya

    Just started reading some of your posts the other day and was so not surprised to read your latest one about 'friends' (if those are the right words).

    Since my gorgeous partner James was diagnosed, the majority of people we know - including my family - have treated both of us like lepers. I even had one 'friend' who on hearing I had actually saved his life when he was so desperately ill say " I would have just left him" (long story - I kept bugging him to get himself checked out when he was getting ill , he stormed out to his place - we were half living together at the time - when it got to the point when he didn't return my calls one day, went round and broke the door down and found he had collapsed). This same person a year later stayed with us because they were having their house decorated - two weeks they stayed!! Yes I suppose I was on that occasion the better person, but no more. Now my time and energy is devoted to him, when I am not working, doing household chores or researching the net for updates on treatment. He's doing OK at the moment. He is lucky he has had the best treatment available and has a good consultant but deep down we know we are now in the realms of playing Russian roulette.

    Becky is soooo right - you have the right to be all those things and I cannot blame you and you should never EVER apologise or feel guilty. You are special in that you have no choice but to deal with all this and face it and you deserve so much more. Please stay on this forum as much as you can. I would love to hear from you.

    On a lighter note, advice please - he keeps making fun of my driving and reckons I should be driving a cartoon car I can still get mad at him1

    You take care!

    Hugs, Christine x

  • Hey Tanya,

    Stop ignoring me and playing hard to get! I am getting a complex..

    How is the calligraphy going and what of the eating, any new recipes to share?

    I am so amazed by human nature that time after time on here I hear of people that just don't get that the world does not revolve round them. Can they not see that just for a short while people with cancer just want to be the centre of their world...it is not much to ask and even less to do!

    Anyways I am here...I am your friend...I will not desert you!

    Do you have skype? If so send me via email your skype name, we need to meet and chat...I am on line ALOT so will always make time for you my friend...I have seen that smile in your pictures!

    So how is Becky doing is she still working with you on the positives and what new ones have you found.

    Blueberry Buckle with whipped cream, yummmmmmmmmm! now you are just teasing me when I am off the sugar....for all you who don't know what a blueberry buckle is.... go to this website and scroll down a bit...

    ihavetocookanyway.blogspot.com/.../blueberry-buckle.html

    I have been back at work for the first full set of days in about 8 months although I am off work tomorrow (Friday) so I can have an occupational health check for work. Drinking green tea at the moment whilst typing this and wondering what time it is over there.

    Don't forget us my friend.

    Much Love

    Your Tony! xxx

  • Dear Tanya,

    I've found it a bit hard to write lately (a bit down) , so I decided to read one of your thought - provoking posts.

    What do I find when I get here? Nothing.

    Pull your socks up and get writing, Tanya.

    Kathy