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How has this illness affected your family in a positive and/or negative way?
It has brought us together more often and a little closer for sure. The negative would definitely be the stress, worry, and frustration it has and still is coming.
What has been the biggest challenge or struggle during treatment?
Too many to mention, but the biggest would have to be pain management.
How have you and your family stayed mentally and emotionally healthy?
Humor and distractions (ie: movies, music, puzzles, and art work) Mostly for me: physical movement, working and trying to maintain consistent normal schedules and meals, washing, activity.
What has brought the most joy or fun to your family’s life during your treatment?
The small things like being able to walk to the mailbox, drive the car, the ability to stand and give/receive a full hug at the generosity of family and friends.
What was your first reaction when your family was chosen to receive help from our Rainy Day Fund?
Elation! Finally someone understands my struggle.
How has this illness affected your family in a positive and/or negative way?
My family had become more supportive and understanding after my diagnosis.
What has been the biggest challenge or struggle during treatment?
The mental and physical fatigue and financial stress.
How have you and your family stayed mentally and emotionally healthy?
By remaining active and listening to my own body. Read or watch positive stories.
What has brought the most joy or fun to your family’s life during your treatment?
To be able to eat and enjoy a delicious meal.
What was your first reaction when your family was chosen to receive help from our Rainy Day Fund?
I felt very grateful to receive the help from the Rainy Day Fund.
How has this illness affected your family in a positive and/or negative way?
This illness affected my family in a negative way. I lost my job and my income.
What has been the biggest challenge or struggle during treatment?
The biggest challenge is with my finances. I have to attend Hemodialysis three times per week and I can’t work.
How have you and your family stayed mentally and emotionally healthy?
We prayed a lot to stay mentally and emotionally healthy.
What has brought the most joy or fun to your family’s life during your treatment?
That my wife stayed with me during this difficult time.
What was your first reaction when your family was chosen to receive help from our Rainy Day Fund?
I was very happy that I received help from your Rainy Day Fund.
How has this illness affected your family in a positive and/or negative way?
It has affected us in a negative way as all of my family and both of my children are in Manitoba and I am here to receive quality treatment. This is my third cancer diagnosis since 2007.
What has been the biggest challenge or struggle during treatment?
My biggest struggle has been financial this will be my second Christmas alone without my children and family.
How have you and your family stayed mentally and emotionally healthy?
I have great friends in Alberta where I stay.
What has brought the most joy or fun to your family’s life during your treatment?
When we got to see each other in October. I have been a single mom for a long time and even though my kids are grown (20 and 21) we have always lived close.
What was your first reaction when your family was chosen to receive help from our Rainy Day Fund?
I was so grateful! Foundations like yours are a true God send! Thank you for all that you do… It truly does make a huge difference!
How has this illness affected your family in a positive and/or negative way?
My family has been through a lot of stress.
What has been the biggest challenge or struggle during treatment?
Getting back and forth to my appointments I have no car.
How have you and your family stayed mentally and emotionally healthy?
It’s just the way we are. We accept things that are out of our control.
What has brought the most joy or fun to your family’s life during your treatment?
Knowing that I am getting help.
What was your first reaction when your family was chosen to receive help from our Rainy Day Fund?
Joy! Thank you all!
How has this illness affected your family in a positive and/or negative way?
I do not see anything positive, but I am grateful that there were no findings after the last operation.
What has been the biggest challenge or struggle during treatment?
Going to radiation every, day for weeks, 33 times and chemo every Monday. My head was bolted down in a helmet. After radiation I experienced a lot of pain.
How have you and your family stayed mentally and emotionally healthy?
I just say “well soon I can eat” and the pain will come to an end!
What has brought the most joy or fun to your family’s life during your treatment?
Nothing really, except I never lost my silly sense of humor, I can still make people laugh.
What was your first reaction when your family was chosen to receive help from our Rainy Day Fund?
I was surprised and very grateful, I have looked into other avenues and was rejected. My family is grown up and live in Ontario, my daughter calls me almost every day.
How has this illness affected your family in a positive and/or negative way?
Positive way – made us more close as a family and we feel we are stronger together to face the journey. Negative way – we felt unsure of the future because of the illness.
What has been the biggest challenge or struggle during treatment?
How to be strong and remain patient especially when confined in the hospital.
How have you and your family stayed mentally and emotionally healthy?
We believe that if we stay positive and accept whats to come then we will be able to face all challenges ahead.
What has brought the most joy or fun to your family’s life during your treatment?
My wife is always there for me in all my appointments and we make the most of the time when we are together.
What was your first reaction when your family was chosen to receive help from our Rainy Day Fund?
I felt that even with things coming that are not always good, still there are other people and organizations that are generous to help and ease our problem.
How has this illness affected your family in a positive and/or negative way?
A lot of stress emotionally and financially.
What has been the biggest challenge or struggle during treatment?
Travel at least every 2 weeks for treatment to and from hospital which takes an overall 7 hour trip plus a 2 hour treatment which makes for a very long day.
How have you and your family stayed mentally and emotionally healthy?
We try to stay positive and continue to do our day to day commitments as best we can.
What has brought the most joy or fun to your family’s life during your treatment?
We purchased a home 3 months previous to rediagnosis and trying to maintain the home has given us some joy and has taken our minds off our illness somewhat.
What was your first reaction when your family was chosen to receive help from our Rainy Day Fund?
The help was very much welcomed because the bills and expenses keep piling up and every little bit helps.
How has this illness affected your family in a positive and/or negative way?
On edge sometime and very tired a lot of times. Bound family together against the illness.
What has been the biggest challenge or struggle during treatment?
Out of energy after the chemo.
How have you and your family stayed mentally and emotionally healthy?
We will prevail!
What has brought the most joy or fun to your family’s life during your treatment?
Visit of our family member was marvelous.
What was your first reaction when your family was chosen to receive help from our Rainy Day Fund?
Relief that some stuff is taken care of.
How has this illness affected your family in a positive and/or negative way?
This illness has put a large amount of stress both financially and emotionally especially on our only child. Since both his parents are suffering with this disease.
What has been the biggest challenge or struggle during treatment?
We travel three and a half to and from for a total of seven hours just to get to our appointments, oncologist, chemo, CT scans, etc.
How have you and your family stayed mentally and emotionally healthy?
We try to continue with day to day activities (other than having to give up my full-time job which I use to enjoy).
What has brought the most joy or fun to your family’s life during your treatment?
Three months prior to being re-diagnosed my husband and I had purchased a home on a river, this gives us some joy.
What was your first reaction when your family was chosen to receive help from our Rainy Day Fund?
We were very appreciative, this help will assist us with our utility bills, which keep rising.
How has this illness affected your family in a positive and/or negative way?
It made us move, and made us all unhappy but we are doing better now.
What has been the biggest challenge or struggle during treatment?
Living longer, when they gave me two weeks to live, and it’s been five years now.
How have you and your family stayed mentally and emotionally healthy?
Not talking about my cancer, and walking and talking to my kids.
What has brought the most joy or fun to your family’s life during your treatment?
Being alive and getting around.
What was your first reaction when your family was chosen to receive help from our Rainy Day Fund?
Very happy.
How has this illness affected your family in a positive and/or negative way?
It’s made us closer and to see what really matters. My children have missed out on so many things from school functions to family vacations.
What has been the biggest challenge or struggle during treatment?
Having to stay strong and brave for my family even though I don’t feel like I am.
How have you and your family stayed mentally and emotionally healthy?
Take it one day at a time, try not to worry about tomorrow and don’t let yesterday hold you back.
What has brought the most joy or fun to your family’s life during your treatment?
I can’t think of anything here except that I’m happy it’s me and not my husband or children.
What was your first reaction when your family was chosen to receive help from our Rainy Day Fund?
Thank God this will help us get through.
How has this illness affected your family in a positive and/or negative way?
My husband and I, have gotten closer, because of the reminder of what is important in life. Stronger ties to each other, community and increased our faith.
What has been the biggest challenge or struggle during treatment?
Uncertainty of how we would cope with everything. My husband is on disability and I am his primary care giver as well as the provider for the family.
How have you and your family stayed mentally and emotionally healthy?
Support from each other, church, friends, doctors and hospital staff.
What has brought the most joy or fun to your family’s life during your treatment?
Support from unexpected areas. Reminding us that were not alone and others were cheering for our success.
What was your first reaction when your family was chosen to receive help from our Rainy Day Fund?
A large weight off of my shoulders. I could take a breath.
How has this illness affected your family in a positive and/or negative way?
It brought my family closer! It’s scary!
What has been the biggest challenge or struggle during treatment?
Dealing with not being here long for my 2 granddaughters!
How have you and your family stayed mentally and emotionally healthy?
Just enjoy every minute I can when not too sick!
What has brought the most joy or fun to your family’s life during your treatment?
Two granddaughters and my kid are all close by now!
What was your first reaction when your family was chosen to receive help from our Rainy Day Fund?
Relief
How has this illness affected your family in a positive and/or negative way?
Older daughter has chosen not to participate. Younger daughter has chosen to support me 100%.
What has been the biggest challenge or struggle during treatment?
Having to take so many medications and getting infections.
How have you and your family stayed mentally and emotionally healthy?
By acceptance and faith for myself & Tara my daughter Sydney, Australia. My special friend Heidi and our 2 special little dogs Tiko and Gary.
What has brought the most joy or fun to your family’s life during your treatment?
Heidi’s little Gary, my little Tiko and my will to live.
What was your first reaction when your family was chosen to receive help from our Rainy Day Fund?
I was elated. All help is greatly appreciated.
Hayley received her camp package yesterday. Thank you so much! She was thrilled. I forgot to take pictures when she was opening it but this morning I found her all decked out. I’ve attached what I saw when I got up. 🙂 She’s ready for the summer!
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