Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Support

Today I was grateful because I woke up with a bit more energy. I went to Everett today with a fellow survivor to a Support Group that she has been a part of for awhile. It was a bit further than I would normally want to drive, but I am so glad that I went. My new friend and survivor, has been so helpful and kind to me. She is the one that had her mastectomy 2 months before mine and she is also the one that had such a wonderful support group and experience with the whole thing. It was fun getting to know her better, what a strong and amazing woman she is!

The Support Group that we went to today had about 12 of us there plus the social worker, who was powerful and energetic and compassionate all wrapped up in one. Today was more of a sharing day they said, I have never been, but some times I guess they have guest speakers and other days are more like today.

I haven't wanted to go to a support group up until this point because of a number of reasons. One is because I didn't want to take the time and energy to go and sit for an hour or more. Two is because I didn't want to hear everyone's horror stories and get more scared and Three is because I felt like, between my family and friends that I had all the Support system I needed. But today since this friend had invited me I decided to try it out. It was great! The ladies there were in at different places on their journey through cancer. Some of them just beginning, some in the middle and some who have been in remission for 9 years. There were ladies who were still in the scared part of the early stages, some who still were trying to get information to know what was coming next, some who were battling it for the 2nd and 3rd time. It was all over the board, as far as diversity in our situations, our supports systems and our personal experience with our battles.

I didn't get scared, instead I felt a lot of compassion for the ones that were scared and felt drawn to help them in some way. We passed around a paper with phone numbers or emails (which ever you felt comfortable with) and they made copies for everyone, so we could support each other if needed. So I need to get some more of Lauren's cards made up and send them out. All in all, I was impressed with the courage of each lady, old to young...their lives have been changed forever. Cancer has a way of doing that.

Some of the things that the teacher said today I will share with you because I liked them...

"The difference between Power and Control is Power has influence"

"What you are going through right now is only a snapshot in time, just a moment in your journey"

"People who don't support you or that judge you are those people, who just don't get it. They are either uneducated about cancer, afraid of cancer, too self focused to help you, or just plain cruel with their words"

"If you judge people, you have no time to love them."
- Mother Teresa

"We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face... we must do that which we think we cannot."  __Eleanor Roosevelt

So it was a great choice to go there today, make new friends and watch more courageous woman in action. I am tired and need to head to bed but didn't want to miss the chance of sharing this part of my day with you. Thank you for being my Support Group, you have been a life saver to me and my family!

"I know God will not give me anything I can't handle.  I just wish that He didn't trust me so much."  ~Mother Teresa

1 comment:

Julie N. said...

Glad the support group was such a good experience for you! You know, whenever I read a quote from Mother Teresa I always think of you because of the wonderful book you gave me with all of her quotes.
Love you!