Wednesday, September 7, 2011

(posted by Greg)

Monica and I attended the Brain Tumour Support Group today at the Cancer Agency. The group was well attended again. This is the 4th time we have participated so we are beginning to know many of the people. Unfortunately, each time there seems to be someone who has been new diagnosed.

Each session begins with one of the co-ordinators explaining the rules for the group (i.e. the need to keep the confidences of what people say and their obligation to do something if they felt someone was going to hurt themself or others ). Then each person identifies themselves to the group and tells the group whether he or she is the patient or a caregiver. Some people relay more of their history and the problems they are experiencing than others but there is no obligation to speak. Many of the stories are compelling and touching. The group meetings mean a lot to many of the participants.

Monica and I each get a lot from the support group as well. It is often informative and educational. This time the group split into two after the coffee break (de-caffinated green tea in my case). The patients stayed together as one group and the caregivers went to a separate room. Monica said that the patients' group talked quite a bit about seizures which is one of the common symptoms and side effects. I would like to  have heard that discussion myself.

It was useful for me to listen to the other caregivers. Each caregiver's situation is different (I feel fortunate in many ways: ie. the flexibility that my job gives me, the love and support which we get from extended family and friends, the support that that my kids provide, the fact that Monica is doing as well as she is so far, our family's ability to provide what Monica needs). You quickly realize that some of the caregivers' loved ones  are in worse situations and that some of them don't have the support that I enjoy. It was also useful to share some of the frustrations and worries that the caregivers have in common.

I went to work in the afternoon and Monica rested in the afternoon. She often feels cold but the weather was warm enough for her to enjoy the patio today where she was napping when I came home. Marley was out for the day (working for GBC Law who sponsored a hole at the Burnaby Board of Trade Golf tournament and coaching).  Monica and I together prepared a  big salad for supper and ate with Marley when she got home.