Well I think I have over done my share of seeing people I know leaving this mortal coil in 2008. The last three months has seen three people I know die of oesphagous cancer. The latest person was a client through my befriending care work for a local cancer charity. Over the last four years I have had a number of clients who lives have been affected by this illness. Somtimes its the difficult acceptance of a person passing away and the coming to terms with their new life as a 'I' rather than a 'we'. Sometimes the cancer is treatable and the person realises that life goes on, and they reassess what they want to do with their life. Sometimes its the end game and that is so hard to know what to say and do. Accept be honest and go with your inner feelings. Harder still when no family support seems in evidence. However, finding the right words is not the point, engaging with ther person and acting as normal as possible is a way forward. I found myself asking for this person's last wishes and then thought I am not sure where this is leading...however it was a reasurring moment and the person readily opened up and I digested the whole story without need for pen and paper, it was going to stick in my mind forever and at least I told the estranged member of the family. So I attended another funeral, feeling that I granted part of the person's final wishes and hoped he would be given God's grace in passing.
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