User:Gemma A.S./BlogEntry: 2008 September 28 18:40:23 MSD
From Kidney Cancer Resource
Canadian Cancer Society Event - Friday 26th September, 2008 I was told by a colleague that there was an event reported by the local radio station, with a number to call. So on Friday morning I called to see what it was about. Turns out that all the Board Members for Nova Scotia were going to be there, and they were trying something new. Up to 3 Attendeees would sit with a Board Member for about half an hour, and have a conversation around a particular question. I really wasn't sure whether to go or not, as Jerry was working, so I would be going on my own. But the lady said, because I was newly diangnozed, and moving through the maze of who could help, it would be very useful for the board to here my story.
So along I went, and they started with a presentation, and then a facilitator took us through the process. It was I think mainly attended by volunteers, who were cancer survivors, or had a family member that had cancer. It was an interesting evening, and people were very kind. During the closing everyone but Board Members were given the opportunity to say how they felt about the evening, so I did say a few words, about the fact that the event made you feel that the Board was prepared to listen to people that needed help, or had something to say about what they could do better. Then the Board Members decided to speak in turn, and two of them gave me an accolade for attending, and sharing my story, and telling me that they would be there for me.
Even though this was musical chairs, you didn't quite know where you would end up sitting next, I ended up sitting with the same attendee twice, a lady called Alice, whose husband was 88, and had lung cancer, but was doing very well. The first time the Board Member said that in my circumstances, with not having any family here, other than my husband, what I needed was a surrogate Mum, and Alice was in that initial group. When she joined the final group I was with, and with the closing speeches, she passed me a paper with her phone number on it.. and I returned the favor. She said to call and come by anytime for a cup of tea and a chat. When everyone got up, and were making for the door, I got so many hugs from people, it was amazing, and very comforting. The Board Member I sat with initially, doesn't live that far from me, and she swopped email addresses with me, and asked if we could keep in touch.
And then yesterday when I was in a shop in town, a lady that worked there said she had seen me the night before, and asked how I was doing etc.. and then mentioned the Board Member that lived near here, and turns out that she had lost many family members to cancer, had had preventative surgery because of that. Looking back she was so bright and bubbly, smiling and so giving, and now knowing some of what she must have been through, I find that truly amazing, that she still have something to give: she has not given in to any of it.
When I originally called up about it, I got an email with lots of information, and contact details for someone that could help with accommodation in Halifax, amongst other things, so I had made that contact Friday. The Canadian Cancer Society has a 34 bed accommodation across the road from the hospital: called 'The Lodge that Gives', free to patients, and then $55 per person, no tax, and meals included. So they are going to let me know tomorrow if they have availability for when I go for surgery. This way Jerry and my sister will have somewhere to go for a break, and know they can have their meals, without having to go to an expensive restaurant or something.
It is now 3 weeks to go to surgery, and so recently it was 5 weeks to go (I had thought it was 4), and then after a week when I checked it was still 4 weeks to go, and suddenly from the clock feeling as if it had stopeed, I think it started up again.
