My biggest fear...

DoctorJohn

My biggest concern is for my pets. I share my life with an Australian Blue Heeler and a Tuxedo Cat, both around seven years old. We live alone in an RV, and since I rarely have visitors, I’m the only one who looks after them. If—or rather, when—my time comes, I worry I won’t have the chance to alert anyone to collect them. I’ve never been close enough to someone with cancer to know whether there’s any kind of warning before the end, so I don’t know what to expect. The thought of them suffering, possibly dying from dehydration while waiting alone, haunts me. I do have many friends online who would gladly step in to care for them, but the question is: how would they know in time? From what I’ve read, even a delay of several days could be far too long for my pets to survive without help.

Logan51

Death by C gives you time to put things in order.

DoctorJohn

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1725386#Comment_1725386

Thanks, hope so. But there's always a chance of an aneurism or something else.

ProustLover

Hi there, Dr. John….As you say, The End could come for anyone at any time. Cancer or not. Maybe you could devise a "touch base" plan with one of your contacts. If you don't touch base at a certain time every day (quick email or text) they would figure that something is wrong and follow-up. Your pets are unbelievably cute, and of course you're concerned.

DoctorJohn

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1725393#Comment_1725393

Right, I've tried a couple of solutions, an email that posts a day ahead alerting a friend to give me a call if they receive a warning message… But after several times (on my part) forgetting to cancel before the day it was scheduled to be sent, caused unnecessary alarm. I also installed a webcam inside my RV pointing at my computer desk and allowing friends access to 'check in on my'. But after a little I felt it was putting too much of a burden on them. I do have a neighbor who stops by to give me dog treats almost every day, in fact if Ringo (dog) sees him he whines loudly calling for his attention. So I'm going to speak with him and tell him if he doesn't see Ringo outside for a couple days to knock on my door to check on us. That might be the best solution.