The uncertaintity of life
Our daughter called me a little while ago and told me a friend of our oldest granddaughter died at school this morning. She was 16 years old and our granddaughter had been friends with her since kindergarten. She went to the nurse's office and told her she wasn't feeling good. All of a sudden, she went into cardiac arrest and they couldn't revive her. http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/story/news/2016/02/08/wausau-east-student-dies-cardiac-arrest/80014066/
Our daughter is good friends with her mother and is just sick over this. The high school principal named in this story is the son of a good friend of mine. I am sure he is very upset over this too.
I thought about how we worry that this cancer is a death sentence for us but no one in this life is going to get out alive. I guess when it's our time; it's our time.
I will do everything within reason to live but it will be MY reason. I agree with Moli that quality is much more important than quantity.
Love,
Eldri
Comments
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Very sorry Eldri
My heart feels pierced and bleeding for the parent/ parents, they will now cry forever in many kinds of ways. I am hoping that someday soon mental peace will come to them. In my mind's eyes I can visualize the turmoil, I know it well., but if Jesus Christ is who they say he is ,I hope he has already found them with comforting arms,even if invisible, I really do.
Your grand-daughter will need many hugs when she least expect it. Bombard her with hugs and reassurances so fear will not tarry in her young head.
Moli , sending hugs for you to give out.
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Oh, Eldri, I am so sorry to hear
about a young person dying inexplicably and tragically. Life and death baffles me.
When I was 7-years-old, my family moved into a brand new raised ranch home in New Jersey nestled into the side of a hill. Two acres of wooded property with a stream extending the entire length of the backyard. Priceless! Soon afterwards, I remember almost as clearly as I remember this morning, my thoughts while walking around the neighborhood for the first time. I felt grown up- wise even! I promised myself that when I was old- sometime after the year 2000, I would return to Middletown, NJ, and walk around the same neighborhood and experience it through adult eyes. I remember thinking that "perhaps" as an adult I would come to understand the meaning of human life. I recall how excited I felt thinking that I would some day understand.
Well, darn, here I am 63-years-old- well past the year 2000- and I am not any closer to understanding the meaning of human life. How I envy people with deep faith! I just cannot force myself to believe what so many people are convinced is true. Yes, I envy you, especially now when I think my days are numbered. How much easier life would be if only I had a deep faith!
I have put my faith in science, instead, and that is not likely-in the year 2016- to save my life in the long run. I want to live- as we all want to continue on, but I am anything but stupid and suspect that cancer will likely "get me" in the end.
It is what it is. Moli, I have come to understand your viewpoint more and more as time- like sand in an hour glass- slips by. And Eldri I commend you- it should really come down to YOUR reason to live.
Thank you all for your support and love. You have kept me going more than you will ever know.
With Love,
Cathy
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I know exactly what you mean,Abbycat2 said:Oh, Eldri, I am so sorry to hear
about a young person dying inexplicably and tragically. Life and death baffles me.
When I was 7-years-old, my family moved into a brand new raised ranch home in New Jersey nestled into the side of a hill. Two acres of wooded property with a stream extending the entire length of the backyard. Priceless! Soon afterwards, I remember almost as clearly as I remember this morning, my thoughts while walking around the neighborhood for the first time. I felt grown up- wise even! I promised myself that when I was old- sometime after the year 2000, I would return to Middletown, NJ, and walk around the same neighborhood and experience it through adult eyes. I remember thinking that "perhaps" as an adult I would come to understand the meaning of human life. I recall how excited I felt thinking that I would some day understand.
Well, darn, here I am 63-years-old- well past the year 2000- and I am not any closer to understanding the meaning of human life. How I envy people with deep faith! I just cannot force myself to believe what so many people are convinced is true. Yes, I envy you, especially now when I think my days are numbered. How much easier life would be if only I had a deep faith!
I have put my faith in science, instead, and that is not likely-in the year 2016- to save my life in the long run. I want to live- as we all want to continue on, but I am anything but stupid and suspect that cancer will likely "get me" in the end.
It is what it is. Moli, I have come to understand your viewpoint more and more as time- like sand in an hour glass- slips by. And Eldri I commend you- it should really come down to YOUR reason to live.
Thank you all for your support and love. You have kept me going more than you will ever know.
With Love,
Cathy
I know exactly what you mean, Cathy. I have put my faith in reason ever since fifth grade when I started doing "faith" experiments. One week before the spelling bee, I prayed to god to win and I lost; the next week, I prayed to my plastic squirrel pencil sharpener to win and I won. After several weeks of this, I came to the conclusion winning or losing had nothing to do with prayer or my beliefs - it was just random with a lot depending on how much I studied and how much Jane Dickson, my spelling nemesis, had studied (Jane is a vice-president for MetLife and is an attorney in New York).
I also believe that in all probability this cancer will kill me. I've read enough about UPSC to know my chances of beating this are NOT good. I've had a wonderful life beyond anything I could have ever imagined as a kid. I have no young children depending on me and I do not want to burden my adult children or my beloved husband to care for me when I can no longer care for myself or I am in chronic pain - life is WAY too precious for that.
Love,
Eldri
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Cathy my view point is part and parcel of my limitedAbbycat2 said:Oh, Eldri, I am so sorry to hear
about a young person dying inexplicably and tragically. Life and death baffles me.
When I was 7-years-old, my family moved into a brand new raised ranch home in New Jersey nestled into the side of a hill. Two acres of wooded property with a stream extending the entire length of the backyard. Priceless! Soon afterwards, I remember almost as clearly as I remember this morning, my thoughts while walking around the neighborhood for the first time. I felt grown up- wise even! I promised myself that when I was old- sometime after the year 2000, I would return to Middletown, NJ, and walk around the same neighborhood and experience it through adult eyes. I remember thinking that "perhaps" as an adult I would come to understand the meaning of human life. I recall how excited I felt thinking that I would some day understand.
Well, darn, here I am 63-years-old- well past the year 2000- and I am not any closer to understanding the meaning of human life. How I envy people with deep faith! I just cannot force myself to believe what so many people are convinced is true. Yes, I envy you, especially now when I think my days are numbered. How much easier life would be if only I had a deep faith!
I have put my faith in science, instead, and that is not likely-in the year 2016- to save my life in the long run. I want to live- as we all want to continue on, but I am anything but stupid and suspect that cancer will likely "get me" in the end.
It is what it is. Moli, I have come to understand your viewpoint more and more as time- like sand in an hour glass- slips by. And Eldri I commend you- it should really come down to YOUR reason to live.
Thank you all for your support and love. You have kept me going more than you will ever know.
With Love,
Cathy
understanding of the meaning of human life.It is to be embraced and used now in a hurry ,cancer or no cancer.
My take on strong beliefs and convictions that there is an all powerful entity out there ,somewhere, perhaps "Heaven" is that it serves it's purpose,in that it helps believers to accept life's horrible bulls..t with little or no grumbling in hopes of a payoff when the ' trumpet sounds' I have concluded that that's a good thing otherwise people all over the world would be miserable ,hopeless and more wicked.
The Belief itself comforts and consoles, in a way,as sufferings and hardships to a person with religious faith becomes a "test' a bareable test,thats all.The ability to question life's happenings in a quest for answers becomes an afront,Prayers are infact used as venting tools when fear breaks barriers and creeps in.I too mutter prayers (more like argueing with the perceived Creator) sometimes out of learned behavior but because of the realized uncertainty or lack of evidence of it working I Hope and Wish at the same time,as backups, desiring that one does come through. (I believe in covering bases)
As I have said here before, I am not religious at all but I respect and embrace believers. The powers of such beliefs lightens loads and comes with some peace of mind, imagined or real it beats medication.
Oh Cathy if you had the faith you crave ,my darling you would be often on your knees asking God or whichever entity you believe in, What it is that you have done why you are being punished or you would be bloody pestering God to save you from this disease and if it progresses you would be questioning your status with God.None of it would be easy.life is meant to be challenging , It is it's nature. I have come to know this for sure.
Cancer may not get you in the end ,Cancer may up and leave some of us as swiftly as it came,or new sure treatment may come on board. Maintaining the body's fighting mechanics and staying mentally present through it all may be all we need to do, maintain not destroy.
Yes slipping by , so it seems, therefore, we MUST now prioritize how we use the rest of our lives, just in case 'seeming' becomes our reality.
Cathy for you today I pray, hope and wish you added strength and renewed courage. I am sending the hugs that you need right now or needed when you posted, as an attempted pay back for all the times you have lifted me and our other sisters up out of a stumble. Catch your footing my sister you need all of you intact to maintain NED.
Nuff Nuff Love with tight hugs, Moli
To all my sisters of strong faith I embrace your convictions without any judgement whatsoever on my part, I respect that we can each choose our own path as we navigate our spiritual life. My voicing my beliefs is not indicative of any wrong or right path to take, we are different individuals with similar disease, therefore, it is indeed a huge blessing that we can love, wish each other well,and pull each other out of funks with no attached conditions.
Moli wishing NED to us and globally. Plenty hugs.
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Eldri I am so pleased to read your post,EZLiving66 said:I know exactly what you mean,
I know exactly what you mean, Cathy. I have put my faith in reason ever since fifth grade when I started doing "faith" experiments. One week before the spelling bee, I prayed to god to win and I lost; the next week, I prayed to my plastic squirrel pencil sharpener to win and I won. After several weeks of this, I came to the conclusion winning or losing had nothing to do with prayer or my beliefs - it was just random with a lot depending on how much I studied and how much Jane Dickson, my spelling nemesis, had studied (Jane is a vice-president for MetLife and is an attorney in New York).
I also believe that in all probability this cancer will kill me. I've read enough about UPSC to know my chances of beating this are NOT good. I've had a wonderful life beyond anything I could have ever imagined as a kid. I have no young children depending on me and I do not want to burden my adult children or my beloved husband to care for me when I can no longer care for myself or I am in chronic pain - life is WAY too precious for that.
Love,
Eldri
Your Peace of mind is on it's way or already arrived. My face and heart is smiling.We must one by one pull our selves from under, No dying allowed before the breath is gone from us.
I agree our chances are not good but we may still live fulfilled lives with cancer, nothing has 100% surety, not even salvation, so in the mean time lets make a pact to live and celebrate everyday we spend above ground.Our families will thank us.
Moli is hugging and loving thee. Have a great day.
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Eldri and Moli thanks for your supportgiggs100 said:My deepest Sympathy
Eldri my deepest sympathy goes out to you and your family. It is so sad to lose someone so young.
Jerri
It seems that I have my moments- but right now I am feeling up and positive! Like you, Moli, I respect other people's beliefs, ranging from those who are athiest to those who seem to only connect with religion in life. When I was in college studying anthropology (my minor), I was struck by how the various cultures of the world are remarkably different with regard to world views and religious beliefs. Well, that certainly was an eye-opener for me!
Moli, I don't believe that a supreme being is punishing me by giving me this cancer. Have you ever read Rabbi Harold Kushner's book titled When Bad Things Happen to Good People? He describes God as loving and when we are grieiving, He also grieves with us. The book is a comfort and a must read, I think.
I wish all of you a wonderful day!
Cathy
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I just had this discussionAbbycat2 said:Eldri and Moli thanks for your support
It seems that I have my moments- but right now I am feeling up and positive! Like you, Moli, I respect other people's beliefs, ranging from those who are athiest to those who seem to only connect with religion in life. When I was in college studying anthropology (my minor), I was struck by how the various cultures of the world are remarkably different with regard to world views and religious beliefs. Well, that certainly was an eye-opener for me!
Moli, I don't believe that a supreme being is punishing me by giving me this cancer. Have you ever read Rabbi Harold Kushner's book titled When Bad Things Happen to Good People? He describes God as loving and when we are grieiving, He also grieves with us. The book is a comfort and a must read, I think.
I wish all of you a wonderful day!
Cathy
I just had this discussion with our son who also minored in anthropology in college. We adopted him when he was nine and he told me at that time he didn't believe in a god and he wasn't going to church. I told him he had come to the right place - LOL! The previous foster home he had been in were very religious people who, come to find out, were abusing the foster kids placed in their home.
Fast forward 14 years and he got engaged this past New Year's Eve to a Catholic girl. She wants to get married in her church and, of course, since he loves her, he agreed. He equates Catholicism to Voodoo. They had a meeting with her priest and he wanted to know if our son had ever been baptised and if he was, he had to have written proof. Over the years I've talked to him about respecting others' beliefs but we sat down after his "meeting" and discussed it in detail. He asked me if my cancer had changed my beliefs and I was honest with him. I WISH I could believe because I think it would make dealing with the cancer (and our daughter's cancer) easier, but it's just not in me. I am also sometimes envious of how people can find such comfort in their beliefs. I told him, it's not like I know for absolute certain there is nothing out there, maybe there is or maybe there isn't - each person has to decide that for themselves. It's what gets you through the night and you have to respect that, even if you don't believe it yourself. That's how, if he's going to make this marriage work, he will have to deal with his fiancee's faith.
I have many dear, dear friends praying for me and in all sincerity, I thank them because to me, it means they're thinking of me. I am not at all offended. I "hope" there is something beyond this life but I don't "believe" there is. I also believe a person can choose to be happy even under dire circumstances and right now, I choose to be happy!
Love,
Eldri
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I was just reading the paper
I was just reading the paper about the cause of death to our granddaughter's 16 year old friend and it was a side effect of chemotherapy! She had lupus and they switched her chemo drug last week which caused her heart to stop. Just heartbreaking!!
Love,
Eldri
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Oh, Eldri!EZLiving66 said:I was just reading the paper
I was just reading the paper about the cause of death to our granddaughter's 16 year old friend and it was a side effect of chemotherapy! She had lupus and they switched her chemo drug last week which caused her heart to stop. Just heartbreaking!!
Love,
Eldri
That's horrible! It seems sometimes the "cure" is worse than the disease. That is just so sad to hear. My heart goes out to the girl's family and friends.
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Thanks Cathy,sounds like a must read, will get it.Abbycat2 said:Eldri and Moli thanks for your support
It seems that I have my moments- but right now I am feeling up and positive! Like you, Moli, I respect other people's beliefs, ranging from those who are athiest to those who seem to only connect with religion in life. When I was in college studying anthropology (my minor), I was struck by how the various cultures of the world are remarkably different with regard to world views and religious beliefs. Well, that certainly was an eye-opener for me!
Moli, I don't believe that a supreme being is punishing me by giving me this cancer. Have you ever read Rabbi Harold Kushner's book titled When Bad Things Happen to Good People? He describes God as loving and when we are grieiving, He also grieves with us. The book is a comfort and a must read, I think.
I wish all of you a wonderful day!
Cathy
Of course I know you don't think that any entity is punishing you.I said that bit because many super religious patients of mine questions God daily as to why them.
A wonderful every day to you my sister.
Moli,
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Too bad , so very sorry ,gaaaad!!!EZLiving66 said:I was just reading the paper
I was just reading the paper about the cause of death to our granddaughter's 16 year old friend and it was a side effect of chemotherapy! She had lupus and they switched her chemo drug last week which caused her heart to stop. Just heartbreaking!!
Love,
Eldri
Oh Chemo You lovely crap you.
I wish no one needed you.
Moli.feeling sad for her and her family.
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Happy choicesEZLiving66 said:I just had this discussion
I just had this discussion with our son who also minored in anthropology in college. We adopted him when he was nine and he told me at that time he didn't believe in a god and he wasn't going to church. I told him he had come to the right place - LOL! The previous foster home he had been in were very religious people who, come to find out, were abusing the foster kids placed in their home.
Fast forward 14 years and he got engaged this past New Year's Eve to a Catholic girl. She wants to get married in her church and, of course, since he loves her, he agreed. He equates Catholicism to Voodoo. They had a meeting with her priest and he wanted to know if our son had ever been baptised and if he was, he had to have written proof. Over the years I've talked to him about respecting others' beliefs but we sat down after his "meeting" and discussed it in detail. He asked me if my cancer had changed my beliefs and I was honest with him. I WISH I could believe because I think it would make dealing with the cancer (and our daughter's cancer) easier, but it's just not in me. I am also sometimes envious of how people can find such comfort in their beliefs. I told him, it's not like I know for absolute certain there is nothing out there, maybe there is or maybe there isn't - each person has to decide that for themselves. It's what gets you through the night and you have to respect that, even if you don't believe it yourself. That's how, if he's going to make this marriage work, he will have to deal with his fiancee's faith.
I have many dear, dear friends praying for me and in all sincerity, I thank them because to me, it means they're thinking of me. I am not at all offended. I "hope" there is something beyond this life but I don't "believe" there is. I also believe a person can choose to be happy even under dire circumstances and right now, I choose to be happy!
Love,
Eldri
We have had members asked to curtail their religious beliefs for this website. I ask those without beliefs also curtail from pressing these for the same reason. Not the reason for the website. Our Happy Choices should not be pushed on anyone who feels differently.
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Great choice Eldri, I too befriended 'Happy' it lightens loads.EZLiving66 said:I just had this discussion
I just had this discussion with our son who also minored in anthropology in college. We adopted him when he was nine and he told me at that time he didn't believe in a god and he wasn't going to church. I told him he had come to the right place - LOL! The previous foster home he had been in were very religious people who, come to find out, were abusing the foster kids placed in their home.
Fast forward 14 years and he got engaged this past New Year's Eve to a Catholic girl. She wants to get married in her church and, of course, since he loves her, he agreed. He equates Catholicism to Voodoo. They had a meeting with her priest and he wanted to know if our son had ever been baptised and if he was, he had to have written proof. Over the years I've talked to him about respecting others' beliefs but we sat down after his "meeting" and discussed it in detail. He asked me if my cancer had changed my beliefs and I was honest with him. I WISH I could believe because I think it would make dealing with the cancer (and our daughter's cancer) easier, but it's just not in me. I am also sometimes envious of how people can find such comfort in their beliefs. I told him, it's not like I know for absolute certain there is nothing out there, maybe there is or maybe there isn't - each person has to decide that for themselves. It's what gets you through the night and you have to respect that, even if you don't believe it yourself. That's how, if he's going to make this marriage work, he will have to deal with his fiancee's faith.
I have many dear, dear friends praying for me and in all sincerity, I thank them because to me, it means they're thinking of me. I am not at all offended. I "hope" there is something beyond this life but I don't "believe" there is. I also believe a person can choose to be happy even under dire circumstances and right now, I choose to be happy!
Love,
Eldri
Finding 'Happy' is and should be life's ultimate goal for everyone alive, if finding it causes no one ill, If you are happy and you know it say Amen, I heard your Amen Eldri and that's a marvelous thing.
Nuff Love, Moli--hugging 'Happy' Amen.
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Amen, Moli!! LOLmolimoli said:Great choice Eldri, I too befriended 'Happy' it lightens loads.
Finding 'Happy' is and should be life's ultimate goal for everyone alive, if finding it causes no one ill, If you are happy and you know it say Amen, I heard your Amen Eldri and that's a marvelous thing.
Nuff Love, Moli--hugging 'Happy' Amen.
Love,
EldriAmen, Moli!! LOL
Love,
Eldri
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GoshSisters three said:Happy choices
We have had members asked to curtail their religious beliefs for this website. I ask those without beliefs also curtail from pressing these for the same reason. Not the reason for the website. Our Happy Choices should not be pushed on anyone who feels differently.
i don't recall seeing any request like that in the nearly 4 years I've been reading here. I think the posts have been respectful of each other's beliefs and feelings and hope it continues to be that way. I wouldn't want anyone to feel stifled.
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