Being Diagnosed During The Holidays

I have a dear friend (wife, mother or four great kids) who may lose her battle with brain cancer during the holidays. Hate to think that kids may grow up with such a negative association tied to the holidays.

It made me wonder if anyone here was diagnosed or had loved one diagnosed during the holidays? What was it like and how did you cope?

Pretty much that holiday will forever remind them of their tragic ordeal. Very sad. Here is a link that may help.

Suggestions for someone grieving during the holidays:
http://www.death-dying.com/articles/article.php/artID/200017
or
http://tinyurl.com/vzkt6

(use the tinyurl if you can't paste the longer link into your browser. they both go to the same place.)

Hi,

Last year in December, I finally was too sick to even get out of bed for long. Very bad diarehea and pain in my abdomen. I was sent to a GI and then a colonoscopy. I was 41 at the time. I had the colonoscopy the day before my 42nd birthday. I figured I would be in and out and get a dx of diverticulitis. I was devastated when I was told I had cancer. A tumor was found in my sigmoid colon and they couldn't even finish the colonoscopy since it was so large. They admitted me into the hospital and prepped me for my surgery for the next day. Before they wheeled me into surgery someone looked at my chart and realized that it was my birthday. Everyone wished me a "Happy Birthday"! and I started crying. It was not something I wanted to hear right then. I was in the hospital recovering and found out I had Stage 3 colon cancer. I didn't even tell my family that I had the results until after Christmas. Not even my husband. I got out of the hospital on Christmas day. The BEST present I could have gotten. I have 4 children and started to fight this disease the minute I got out. There might be some bad feelings regarding the time of year but the family has to think of all the good times they had. I'm sure it will be hard. I'm keeping your friend in my prayers and I hope the family makes her remaining time with them special. I also just lost my father to prostrate cancer in Sept so the coming holidays will be tough for us.

Lisa

I too have colon cancer I have to start my chemo 11-14-07 scared Jean