Care-Givers...the forgotten ones

Between the phone calls, floral delivery's and e-mail, it's often hard to keep up with all of the fan-fare that surrounds you when you are first diagnosed with an illness like cancer. However, sometime between dealing with your new "reality" and your new "normal" life as we know it goes on for the rest of the world, often leaving you with a feeling of loneliness and alienation. For some, the new found quiet is deafening. The silence is unbearable. Personally, I relished the idea that life would go on as normal, it somehow made what I was going through less real or even secondary. It was a good cover; the first person to blow my cover was my husband, because if you ask him...he'll probably say that cancer often came first. Whether it was anticipating the next chemo, the next doctor's appointment or scan...cancer was always there.

You can add the job of care-giver to the ever-growing list of the most under appreciated jobs in our country. They often feel scared, helpless, and frustrated... and in need of their own personal escape from reality. Their new reality. Only there's no escape...they're in it for the long run and the long haul. Just when you don't think you can't go any further or when you're not sure if winning the battle is worth fighting the war...they're right there beside you cheering you along the whole way.

I remember going to an Ovarian Cancer fundraising luncheon with my husband. They asked all of the Ovarian Cancer patients to stand up, followed by all of the survivors. They then asked that all of the care-givers stand up. Wow, the care-givers...this underrated, awesome group of individuals that never tire. I had chills. I held back my tears, because once I get going there's no telling when things will simmer down. It was at that moment that I first realized that this is their battle too. As the patient you often get consumed with all that you have to endure and the reality that something like this is actually happening to you. Too often we forget to stop and take notice of those around us. Those who make this road we're on a little easier to travel..

So when we celebrate, we can't forget our biggest champions. We can't forget how much harder this fight would be, without them by our side.

We're all looking and longing to be free... each in our own way.