I was contacted recently through my RainyGenes blog by a man named Cameron whose wife was diagnosed with mesothelioma 8 years ago. He asked if I would share is story on my blog. I am more than happy to spread awareness of any type of cancer whether it be breast cancer, lung cancer, brain cancer or mesothelioma. Cancer doesn't discriminate no matter what form it comes in.
Here is Cameron's story...
How My Wife's Cancer Changed Our Lives
My wife Heather and I were an ordinary couple with an infant daughter Lily in November of 2005. That was when our life took a most unexpected turn after Heather was diagnosed with mesothelioma. It was a frightening time, since neither of us knew how the disease would proceed, but I did my best to stay strong for her and to support her as best I could as she began to undergo the necessary treatments.
A cancer diagnosis throws a monkey wrench into a typical life. Instead of going to work every day, our hours became consumed with traveling to see doctors and specialists for consultations and treatments. It was time-consuming and scary, and Heather had to endure the physical challenges of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Meanwhile, I had to take care of her and Lily and provide her with the emotional strength that she needed in order to get through this difficult period. My perspective changed, and my ideas about what was important in life altered radically.
Throughout the whole process, I became much more aware of how precious time with our loved ones is. Now that Heather has miraculously come through her ordeal and is cancer-free, I treasure every moment that we have together. I also have taken the opportunity to return to school and study Information Technology, a challenge for which Heather's illness equipped me, since I learned so many lessons about time management and dealing with stress during her illness.
I also learned that as much as I wanted to provide everything that Heather needed, I could only do so much. That is something that every caregiver should keep in mind, especially when an illness comes up unexpectedly as this one did. I had no qualifications or expectations that I would be assisting my wife in this manner, but it became my daily reality. While I don't regret that for a minute, I learned that a caregiver has to be willing to count on others for support during these times. We would have had a hard time managing if it hadn't been for all of the friends and relatives who generously offered their time and resources.
Allow others to help in a time of crisis is not weakness. It is merely a part of being human. As terrible as Heather's cancer was for both of us, it brought us a deeper appreciation for the bonds of friendship and love that exist among us and so many other people. Despite the terrifying odds that come with a mesothelioma diagnosis, Heather is still here, healthy and cancer-free over seven years later. She refused to take her diagnosis as a death sentence, and because of that she has been able to see our baby daughter grow into a beautiful little girl. We are so thankful for everything we’ve been blessed with, and we hope that our story of success over cancer can be a source of hope and inspiration to all those currently fighting cancer today.
My wife Heather and I were an ordinary couple with an infant daughter Lily in November of 2005. That was when our life took a most unexpected turn after Heather was diagnosed with mesothelioma. It was a frightening time, since neither of us knew how the disease would proceed, but I did my best to stay strong for her and to support her as best I could as she began to undergo the necessary treatments.
A cancer diagnosis throws a monkey wrench into a typical life. Instead of going to work every day, our hours became consumed with traveling to see doctors and specialists for consultations and treatments. It was time-consuming and scary, and Heather had to endure the physical challenges of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Meanwhile, I had to take care of her and Lily and provide her with the emotional strength that she needed in order to get through this difficult period. My perspective changed, and my ideas about what was important in life altered radically.
Throughout the whole process, I became much more aware of how precious time with our loved ones is. Now that Heather has miraculously come through her ordeal and is cancer-free, I treasure every moment that we have together. I also have taken the opportunity to return to school and study Information Technology, a challenge for which Heather's illness equipped me, since I learned so many lessons about time management and dealing with stress during her illness.
I also learned that as much as I wanted to provide everything that Heather needed, I could only do so much. That is something that every caregiver should keep in mind, especially when an illness comes up unexpectedly as this one did. I had no qualifications or expectations that I would be assisting my wife in this manner, but it became my daily reality. While I don't regret that for a minute, I learned that a caregiver has to be willing to count on others for support during these times. We would have had a hard time managing if it hadn't been for all of the friends and relatives who generously offered their time and resources.
Allow others to help in a time of crisis is not weakness. It is merely a part of being human. As terrible as Heather's cancer was for both of us, it brought us a deeper appreciation for the bonds of friendship and love that exist among us and so many other people. Despite the terrifying odds that come with a mesothelioma diagnosis, Heather is still here, healthy and cancer-free over seven years later. She refused to take her diagnosis as a death sentence, and because of that she has been able to see our baby daughter grow into a beautiful little girl. We are so thankful for everything we’ve been blessed with, and we hope that our story of success over cancer can be a source of hope and inspiration to all those currently fighting cancer today.
For more information on mesothelioma:
Heather, Lily and Cameron
Cameron, Lily and Heather
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