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Family Matters:  Support for family member with terminal cancer.  |
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walkinwalkoutcattle
True Blue Farmgirl
1675 Posts
Megan
Paint Lick
KY
USA
1675 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 27 2011 : 6:59:53 PM
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So, per my post in the HQ&P section, my father in law has terminal cancer, and is in a hospital in Lexington. He's choosing not to fight the cancer (Which would be his second battle) with chemo.
Beyond emotional/spiritual support, how can I help? They live about 1.5 hours away from me, the hospital he's at is an hour away. Their parents (My husbands grandparents) live about 2 miles away and are taking care of things at the house. My sister-in-law is hanging in there and taking my MIL into her home to stay until things settle down a little.
I know they don't want me up at that hospital every single day with our 6 month old just hanging out to "support", but, I want to do something to help them. What can I do? I asked if he needed slippers, socks...anything he needed while we were at the hospital today and they said no.
He can't have food right now from the surgery he had, so that's off limits. He has lip balm, magazines, etc., but he's still on quite a bit of pain meds and can't really enjoy them. Any suggestions?
Farmgirl #2879 :)
Starbucks and sushi to green fried tomatoes and corn pudding-I wouldn't change it for the world.
www.cattleandcupcakes.blogspot.com
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woolgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
901 Posts
Elizabeth
Great Lakes
IL
USA
901 Posts |
Posted - Jul 27 2011 : 7:31:52 PM
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How about little things to make the hospital stay more "homey." Pictures of family members, comfy blankets and pillows (those hospital ones are the pits), maybe some tv series on dvd he likes or movies.
Sorry to hear of his illness. I will be praying for your family.
Liz
Farmgirl #1947
www.militaryfarmgirl.blogspot.com |
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oldbittyhen
True Blue Farmgirl
1511 Posts
tina
quartz hill
ca
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - Jul 27 2011 : 7:37:02 PM
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read to him, or ask him, (when hes up to it)to tell you family stories and either record them or write them down , these will be part of the family history that might be lost otherwise, or bring him a journel book and let him write when he feels up to it...
"Knowlege is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad" |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Jul 28 2011 : 08:47:47 AM
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So sorry to hear about his diagnosis. A 2nd go round of chemo is so terrible on a body--I'm know he's doing what's right for him but I also know how difficult it is on everyone around him. You want to do SOMETHING.
Does he like music? You could burn a cd with all kinds of his favorites, then give him a workable cd player that he can turn on, or your mil can. Also, books on tape are GREAT!!! For my husband's grandparents, it was visiting that made their lives really wonderful--hand drawn pictures by kids, cards and thoughts sent from far flung places.
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
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FarmDream
True Blue Farmgirl
1085 Posts
Julie
TX
USA
1085 Posts |
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vmfein
True Blue Farmgirl
247 Posts
Valerie
Dale City
VA
USA
247 Posts |
Posted - Jul 29 2011 : 07:31:59 AM
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everyones suggestions were ones that I was going to mention. Also if the family members are at the hospital alot perhaps you could help getting groceries, doing laundry etc?
Farmgirl Sister #2619
http://www.etsy.com/shop/vmfein |
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walkinwalkoutcattle
True Blue Farmgirl
1675 Posts
Megan
Paint Lick
KY
USA
1675 Posts |
Posted - Jul 29 2011 : 2:25:30 PM
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Oh! Doing lauyndry is a good one! So are the meals. My Mother in Law is a germophobic. She used to live in this house we live in (Old family farm house), and she used these countertops, sink, etc. It serves us fine, but we'll see! I can always cook at her place I guess. I texted my husband today to see if he was planning to go to the hospital later, and he said no, that Tim (That's his name) just wants some peace and quiet-I guess he's had a lot of visitors today.
Farmgirl #2879 :)
Starbucks and sushi to green fried tomatoes and corn pudding-I wouldn't change it for the world.
www.cattleandcupcakes.blogspot.com
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Family Matters: Support for family member with terminal cancer. |
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Support for family member with terminal cancer.
