Forum Discussion
Overhead discussion yesterday that made me sad/angry
yestersay while out shopping and at a checkout so I couldn’t really move I heard a older lady saying to someone really young looking. Well is she a fighter she needs to be a fighter !!!! Her reply well she is a bit anxious and scared of the chemo. I actually wanted to punch the older in the face to imply that only fighters will survive. We have a family friend that did all that she could but she still died.
And to say that to a young daughter wtf.
Ggrrr.
And to say that to a young daughter wtf.
Ggrrr.
32 Replies
- This journey is all part of the tapestry of life.
As to late in my work that is a respectful turn of phrase. - Ah, that made me laugh! I am a fan of a comment by the actor Anthony Hopkins that starts off "None of us are getting out of here alive." No joy whatsoever to the parents of a six year old with leukaemia, but for those who have already clocked up a lot of living, it's a salutary reminder of the only final destination. However we get there.
- @Afraser, I too like a healthy dollop of humour, even in the darkest of situations. I agree with @ about the whole "Journey" gig not being trotted out to other cancer sufferers. Can't think of too many parents being thrilled by a paediatric oncologist rabbitting on about this wonderful and uplifting "journey" their sick child and the family were about to undertake after being diagnosed with whatever cancer. I'm not ungrateful, or bagging any particular organisation for their use of this word, merely stating my personal feelings. I also get twitchy when people refer to the dead as "late". As in ...."your late brother Geoff". My beloved brother is not late...he's not being tardy, or slack with his timekeeping. He's dead. No amount of banging on his grave and pouring copious mugs of strong coffee on it are going to wake him up. Much like Monty Python's Norwegian Blue Parrot...he's dead..not kipping!! Yes it's a common turn of phrase, but not one I personally appreciate.
- My husband had bowel cancer - admittedly in the early stages and a good prognosis but there was a reasonable amount of levity. I didn't mind that either, we all knew it was serious, a certain amount of mordant humour seemed a reasonable way to deal with it. "Journey" is just the current faddy word, like fashion "story". I'd be perfectly happy with "brush with death" but not everyone would.
