Ever wonder what you can do for a person with a brain tumor? Here are a few suggestions.
Pray
Hands down the best form of support; nothing else even comes close. If you are only going to do one thing, then it has to be to pray, so get a free prayer pager from www.prayerpager.com and if you are a doubting Thomas about prayer, then check out the profound positive impact that persistent prayer can make.
Be an Advocate
One major source of support is to be an advocate to the extent needed. Example: if a doctor states no one survives a gbm and offers little hope, respectfully vocalize your objections to poor bedside manners, and then find another doctor. I had an emotional meltdown following a conversation with an oncologist, and my wife Kathy encouraged me to jettison the unhelpful doctor, which we did, making a world of difference and creating a lesson learned artifact.
Please note that micromanaging someone without their overt permission is not helpful, even if your intentions and motivations are nobel and honorable. Just be the advocate as required.
Stories of Hope and Courage
Consider these recommended books, both for the supporter and the supportee. Keep your chin up. A smile is universal and contageous.
Reminiscing
One thing that I enjoyed in the days and weeks following the surgery and initial treatments (and still do to this day) is watching classic television sitcoms from the 1960s and 1970s. Programs like The Wild, Wild West and Green Acres and of course Hogan’s Heroes and without a doubt The Beverly Hillbillies and even The Munsters and of course Gomer Pyle. Just good, clean cleverly written TV shows, produced when America was in a more morally innocent era. Watching these shows brings back so many great memories of my childhood and I discovered that my five children, ages 18 to 10, also enjoy these programs to varying degrees as well!
Tag Team
Food is an awesome form of support! Keep the system running and strength is thereby given to wage war against the tumor. My family, for instance, gives a mixed review of BBQ. My wife, daughter and 3rd son do not care for this most delectable of foods, but their deficit is more than mitigated my other three boys who do savor BBQ as much as I do, so we celebrate each other at Dickey’s once per month just because… The point here is to form a team, each member providing a real measure of encouragement and support that cannot be extended by one person alone. Do not go it alone.
Flex Your Muscles
Think of activities that the apple of your eye enjoys doing, and not necessarily present day things. Example: would the person fancy a ride in a classic muscle car? If so, make the necessary arrangements and do it. In fact if you live in the North Texas area, I’ll provide the ride myself, courtesy of my 1976 Trans Am. Please refer to this example to learn more. What about activities that might be deemed risky from your point of view? If deemed acceptable by the doctor, go water skiing, climb a mountain, participate in the Angel 5k walk, mow the yard (yes, I actually enjoy working in the yard).
More Support
Additional support is available through organizations such as the Legacy Brain Foundation and your local church. When I ask for prayer at my church, a group of prayer warriors surrounds me, laying hands on me, lifting me up to the heavenly realms. A major source of encouragement.
