Thank You For Being There

Thank you for being with me through this roller coaster of my life.

This little blurb is for those that are on the other side of this horrendous Disease. Last night as I sat and watched my husband in obvious discomfort, I experienced several different emotions. I went from fear to helplessness to anger to shame to worry to annoyance to relief to concern to fretting; the cycle kept repeating itself.

Then, I thought how difficult it must be for those that go every day observing the list of symptoms you go through, at times, every minute to every hour of the day. How angry and helpless they must feel. Just sitting back and not being able to do anything to help you. Then, when you are in the Emergency Room and trying to explain what is going on with your loved one and not being heard. While you are asking questions or adding to what your loved one has said, it is as if you are not there, totally ignored. For those that have not made a trip to the ER, great for you! However, for those that have whether it was for your wife, children, parents, etc. know what I am speaking about-it’s as if it’s just a one-way discussion.

Let me explain when you are sick and vomiting or something similar, you are not thinking clearly. So, wouldn’t it seem that the person that has been taken to the ER is not quite all there? Yes, it is important for the nurse or doctor to know how the patient feels and what is bothering them but what about the other important things. Like, if they are allergic to a particular medicine. I mean, as I asked the ER staff what he was prescribing, I received this look. He answered me, but I felt a small sense of disdain that I asked. However, with our previous experience in the ER’s and hospitals, we each have learned to ask questions and not to make assumptions. We have learned that we need to be our own advocates. Besides that most important point, last night was quite a learning experience for me.

What I learned is that is so so very difficult and tough to be sitting on the other side. It takes a certain amount of not only strength but patience, serenity, and compliance. I found it much more difficult to be on this side than the patient. So, take the time to thank your husband, mother, daughter, and friend—Stop and say:

Thank You!!!

Thank you for helping me feed, clothe or bathe myself. 

Thank you for sitting by me and wringing your hands.

Thank you for standing outside the door worrying while I am vomiting horrifically.

Thank you for being with me through this roller coaster of my life.

Thank you for hanging with me through all these years, months, days.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!