Ya, no, it never appeared on my mental radar as something I’d personally face. That’s not to say, however, that cancer wasn’t on my radar at all. After high school and while looking for colleges, God seemed to put it on my heart to go into nursing. But He seemed to nudge me toward a specific type of nursing: oncology.
I remember driving past the hematology-oncology clinic here in Medford, Oregon, and thinking to myself, Someday, I’m going to work there as a nurse and help people with cancer.
The day I finally walked through those doors, I just laughed to myself. No, I wasn’t there fresh out of nursing school and ready for my first interview. I walked in as a patient. I was 23 years old.
As probably with most people diagnosed with cancer,...
Seven Practical Tips for Caregivers
By Joel Hughes
It took me a year or so into Rebekah’s diagnosis to recognize myself as a “caregiver”. At some point in our marriage, I just went from a husband to a husband and a caregiver. I’m not too hot on the word caregiver, but that’s the world our current culture uses for the role I play.
The more that Rebekah’s cancer affects her, or more accurately, the more her treatments (i.e. chemo, meds, etc.) affect her, the less she can do and the more falls on my shoulders. Caregiving brings its own unique challenges, stresses, and temptations, and if we are not careful, we will burn out, or worse. Trust me, I’m kind of a pro at doing both from time to time.
The editor for Breast Cancer Awareness Magazine published two articles on Rebekah and me. She later emailed me and asked me for a few tips that I could offer to caregivers. The seven tips below are what I...
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