Hi,
My sister and I are both in our mid-twenties and we have always been very close. A few months ago, she left the country for grad school, but even with her being halfway around the world we were talking at least several times a week. That is, until a couple of weeks ago, when she filled me in on recent doctor appointments that led to her being suddenly diagnosed with cervical cancer. I don't even know the details of it, and I am so scared, I can't concentrate on anything else.
At first, she called me crying, and we talked for a long time, and we talked the following day, but then she seemed to shut down, and now she won't talk to me at all and I feel so helpless because she is literally in another hemisphere. I totally understand that I must respect her need for privacy and her need to cope in her own personal way, but I also want to make it clear to her that I am always going to be here for her when she's ready for my support and I don't know how to do that without making her feel smothered. When she first called, I did ask her if she wanted me to talk to the rest of the family for her and she said yes, so I did. Plus, she told me her roommate out there is being very supportive of her, so that does make me feel better.
But my question to everyone out there is, could you please help me to understand how I can be the most supportive for her? I have emailed her cards and sent her IMs that just say that everyone in our family loves her and is here for her, whenever she needs us and she did respond with "thanks". So should I just stay back and wait for her to contact me, or do I continue to send her little hellos daily? I don't want to nag her, but I don't want to neglect her. Thank you all for any advice or input you may have.