Welcome!

[flitz]

Thanks Tracy

[Maggie]

Great Poem ...thanks!

Just wanted to say that your poem sums up exactly how I feel everyday. I am also a new member and when I came across your poem I came to realize that I am not the only one feeling this way. My husband was diagnosed with TC in August, completed OC and 3 cylces of chemo. He now is waiting for an RPLND and I am so anxious and worried. I just want this awful nightmare to end so we can move forward in our lives. I do believe and I am hopeful that everything will work out!

[Ainsleigh]

I've had to grow up.... FAST!

Hello dear caregivers,

I am 23 years old and caregiver to my 27 year old brother, Wesley.

We are quite a duo - I often wander what doctors must think when we power through their doors (me packed with my files of research and copies of Wes' scans and reports), and bald Wes smiling away because he knows I have everything sorted. After all, we really are quite young.

I know oncology rooms, hospitals and X-Ray departments like the back of my hands.

Who would have EVER thought this would be my life???

Anyway. Enough gloating.

I'm exhausted by all of this. Seriously. 10 months of trudging this bloody disease and it is NOT getting easier.

I have a bit of a dillema and I would love some advice.

I have been looking after Wes for 10 months now. Everyday - being his mentor, life coach and caregiver.

We live in South Africa and I went to audition in London for my MA Degree at one of the best Drama Schools in the world. I GOT IN! There were 4,000 of us who auditioned and only 25 places... and I GOT IN!!!

The exhorbitant fees have been paid to the school and I am supposed to be leaving in a month. All the way to London.

Wes is still going through treatment. We have finally found a surgeon who is willing to remove the teratoma wrapped around his aorta and vena cava. This will take place next week. This is SUCH good news because it means cure is around the corner. Then it will be onto another few rounds of TIP to get his markers to normal.

Do I go pursue my dreams of being an actress and live my dream OR do I stay with Wes through his last bit of treatment?

This is SUCH a difficult decision and I am not sure what to do. Of course I want to go but of course I want to stay. My family tell me that I have already given up a year of my life for him and that I must now go and live for me. They feel that staying will place a lot of guilt on Wes and it isn't fair for someone to harbor that for life. Wes wants me to go too.

This is so difficult!

Advice please

[Davepet]

We live in South Africa and I went to audition in London for my MA Degree at one of the best Drama Schools in the world. I GOT IN! There were 4,000 of us who auditioned and only 25 places... and I GOT IN!!!

The exhorbitant fees have been paid to the school and I am supposed to be leaving in a month. All the way to London.

You should go. Sounds like there is other family that can help Wes out & opportunities like this just don't happen often in life.
Your family is right, Wes will recover better without feeling guilty. Try to imagine if your roles were reversed, don't you think it would hinder your recovery knowing Wes had given up something that special? The best way for you to help Wes now is to make the most of this chance to pursue your dream. I suspect that will do him more good than anything else you could do if you stayed behind.

Dave

[hismom]

You need to go, for both of your sakes. Its what your brother wants - don't let him down now! Since you've gotten him through the toughest part of treatment, done all the research, and kept all his records - it will so much easier for the rest of your family to step in. You've laid the groundwork beautifully and now its time to reap the reward.

We will keep your brother in our prayers. Best of luck to you.

[LoriP]

I feel exactly the same!

Just wanted to say that your poem sums up exactly how I feel everyday. I am also a new member and when I came across your poem I came to realize that I am not the only one feeling this way. My husband was diagnosed with TC in August, completed OC and 3 cylces of chemo. He now is waiting for an RPLND and I am so anxious and worried. I just want this awful nightmare to end so we can move forward in our lives. I do believe and I am hopeful that everything will work out!

I am new to this site. I was reading some of the posts and when I read this one, I could really identify. I thought, I could have written that. My son is 25 years old. He was diagnosed on 9/11/13. He finished 4 cycles of BEP on 12/20/13 and is scheduled for RPLND later this week. We are both anxious and worried. & I just can't wait for this nightmare to end. It is really difficult to watch him go through this. Although, he has shown so much courage and strength and I am so very proud of him! I am glad to have found this site. God Bless each and every one of you!