Dan was diagnosed with cancer four years ago today. Since I didn't know him then, the date doesn't hold much significance for me, though it probably does others. I don't remember Dan making too much of this "cancer-versary", at least not in the 2 short years I knew him. As time moves on, I realize there is a lot I don't know about his cancer experience. He was almost half way through by the time I entered the scene.
So, I am not really sure what would be a fitting rememberance of this day. I guess it's just another day, another date on the calendar to just go on doing what we do.
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When you hear those 3 famous words - "You have cancer" - your life is never the same. Nearly 4,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with cancer everyday. For survivors and their family and friends, a cancer diagnosis is scary, sad, and daunting - but not hopeless. While our lives may have changed for better or for worse, they are lives that still need to be lived, and in our minds, they are lives worth living.
There was a time when we ourselves didn’t know how to react when someone was diagnosed, what questions to ask, or what daily life was like for anyone surviving cancer. Now that we have some experience in the matter, we wanted to share our thoughts and feelings to hopefully help others who have been touched by cancer.
Please visit the National Collegiate Cancer Foundation http://www.collegiatecancer.org/ for more resources.
There was a time when we ourselves didn’t know how to react when someone was diagnosed, what questions to ask, or what daily life was like for anyone surviving cancer. Now that we have some experience in the matter, we wanted to share our thoughts and feelings to hopefully help others who have been touched by cancer.
Please visit the National Collegiate Cancer Foundation http://www.collegiatecancer.org/ for more resources.
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CancerCon8 years ago
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5 comments:
What I remember most about that day was his strength. Someone asked him, "Dan aren't you agnry?" and he replied, "No, being angry isn't going to help me beat it, it isn't going to make it any better." So, he just sucked it up and prepared himself for fight. He was stronger than any of us that day.
-Holly
Yes, it is probably much more significant to the family. We were there and in shock whenDr leal said ,U have cancer... We just xouls nor rkw itr in at first/. Holly is right. Dan took it better than any of us. Cicily
I would like to know: Where did Dan's attitude come from? Was his family or one dear family member or an outsider of the family--maybe a special role model--a book or a personal experience at a young age or all of the above the catalyst for Dan being so positive, so self-inspiring, so inspiring to others while always being so indefatigable? Or was Dan born that way--one who just doesn't engage in self-pity, always positive and action-oriented, living life to its fullest no matter what? Can one learn to be like a Dan Waeger or are we talking about inherent qualities like physical features such as eye and hair color? If more people were like Dan, wouldn't our culture and so many people's personal lives be remarkably different? If people could somehow move forward--no matter what--getting up each day, making a small difference for themselves and/or for others--wouldn't that change things?
What lessons we can learn.
cousin P
I remember everything that happened that day vividly. It was horrible but we all decided to help Dan beat it. It was also the day that made me realize that some people really just don't get that family can be someone's first priority. In the family I came from, your family was your #1 priority, I just assemed, wrongly, that people understood that. But my boss at the time was a complete jerk. When I told him that I had to leave work to go to Harrisburg for an important meeting with the doctor to find out what was wrong with Danny (he had been in the hospital for a week and we had no answers), his answer was "I'll let you decide what you need to do." I told him if you are asking me to pick between work and my family, I will choose my family every time. For every person who is like that it is comforting to know that there are people like Ellen "Boss Lady" and Meg's boss that make up for it.
-Cindy
I was driving home from NC saying bye to my brother who was being deployed to Iraq. I was driving since my mother was really upset....then I got a call from Dan's dad...well then I was not in great shape to drive either. I really dont think I will forget how my heart felt like it exploded in my chest; I have never felt that way before. I am sure you felt this way before too...I was hoping that someone made a mistake or read the wrong chart or something! I was also in disbelief; I felt that I must be on TV because that stuff did not happen to "normal" people. I remember then driving straight from NC to MD to PA to just be there. At the furneral the priest described Dan as being given a candle and having to go down a dark hall...I think this is how we all felt at first....not sure what to do. Dan took the lead though....he happily light our candles and guided us all. Emily
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