ways to celebrate?

heatherire
heatherire Member Posts: 1
edited March 2014 in Caregivers #1
My husband has metastatic squamous cell carcinoma. Started in his tongue last fall, had 1/3 of tongue removed in January. Spread to lymphnodes in July, had 2 neck dissection surgeries in August. The surgeries were really hard (lots of unexpected complications and agonizing pain). He will begin chemo and radiation the end of this week. His prognosis is good but the next 8 weeks will be hell.
He is only 35 and we have a toddler so I'm trying to have a positive outlook on all of this. Of course I'm completely overwhelmed byut trying to keep it together for my husband and son. My question is, are there things I can do to help celebrate each step in his treatment? I have heard of people having little cakes to celebrate each week of treatment, or crossing off days of treatment on a big calendar. I want to do something to celebrate milestones that occur during his treatment (each chemo day, each week of radiation, whatever). Non-food options are probably best as he won't be able to eat...Any ideas???

Thanks.

Comments

  • sue Siwek
    sue Siwek Member Posts: 279
    #2
    don't know that your husband
    don't know that your husband will feel like celebrating, maybe just a quiet time with you and your baby. he will most likely as time goes by need more and more rest. maybe having some dvds or some soothing music. you may find yourself hard pressed to find food that is appealing to him. i think a great gift to him would be for you to get as much rest as possible and stay healthy. and another great gift would be for you to get a flu shot as well as him and even your baby.
  • SonSon
    SonSon Member Posts: 174
    #3
    mile-stone bracelets
    I read somewhere about some people stringing beads into bracelets or necklaces...one bead for each milestone. Then when it gets long enough they can wear it. Lots of milestones? More bracelets.
    It is quiet, subtle, private and a constant reminder of progress.
    Fatima
  • sue Siwek
    sue Siwek Member Posts: 279
    #4
    SonSon said:

    mile-stone bracelets
    I read somewhere about some people stringing beads into bracelets or necklaces...one bead for each milestone. Then when it gets long enough they can wear it. Lots of milestones? More bracelets.
    It is quiet, subtle, private and a constant reminder of progress.
    Fatima

    that sounds like a wonderful
    that sounds like a wonderful idea, i will remember that.

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