"My Last Days"

[Paula O]

I found these to be insightful, moving stories of two young men near the end of the road with cancer.

Paula


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSBiJQEGEgQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEJx6nbDyhA&list=PLzvRx_johoA8ITQgxBpeJTaDUhhIB7bfX&index=2&feature=plpp_video

[Paula O]

You guys wanna talk about this after you watch the videos?

Paula

[europa]

WHoa....I cried after both. My heart breaks for them but I am going to do what Chris asked us all to do. I am known as the Cupcake Goddess and I have a large following on facebook. Immediately after watching his video I uploaded a new tradition (and first one actually) to the page. A Holiday Gingerbread House Contest. I'm a baker and creating a gingerbread house contest is my way bring my baking community together...in a loving way.

[Paula O]

Good for you, Europa on initiating the Gingerbread House Baking Contest! You go, girl. :0) I like how you are bringing the Baking Community together with this fun project and it is going to happen because of YOU arranging it. Way to go. :) I bet lots of us would enjoy a link to pictures of the winners when that happens if you don't mind.

It hit me how young these guys were with such tough diagnoses yet I see life on this side of Eternity as a blink of the eye even if we live to 100. I appreciated the reminder not to put off Bucket Lists, to live life fully and purposefully, and that there is wisdom in making preparations physically, spiritually, emotionally . I liked what Chris did for his children in leaving them with a legacy with the letters from him in the binder that they could open as they were ready. He also bought future birthday gifts for them.

I saw another program years ago of a mom who was dying of breast cancer and she knew she was near the end stage so she made the effort to leave beautiful treasures for her daughters that she soon would be leaving by sharing her wisdom and love by video ahead of time to be viewed on their High School Graduation, the day of their wedding, things she wanted them to know when they had their own babies but knew she would not be present as a Grandma. She even made a demo for her very- young- at- the -time girls on the basics of makeup application and a Mom's talk about periods and womanhood so her husband could play that segment for the girls when the time was right.
That would be a hard video to make and challenging letters to write ahead but what brave and beautiful gifts!

This gal also shared how she prepared a card for her husband to be opened on the one year anniversary of her death/or their next wedding anniversary--forget which, expressing her love and thankfulness for their happiness together. In it she also wrote that she didn't want him to be lonely and she wanted him to feel completely free if he ever wanted to re-marry. She said she put it in writing so he'd have her reassurance of how she felt about it to go back to if he wanted to.

For me these are rare glimpses into a very personal part of people's lives who knew they were near the end.
I too shed some tears through their courageous stories. I was glad that I watched them. I found the series thought provoking and sensitive. It made me think about my own life and eventual death. I pondered some changes I want to make about how I live the rest my life and loose ends I'll want to tie up here for the sake of my family before I head for Heaven. As far as I know, I'm doing terrific and am living like I'm going to be around for a long time but only God knows that timing. Cancer has a way of reminding me of the brevity and fragility of life.

Paula

[Paula O]

My Last Days: Meet Ann
http://www.butdoctorihatepink.com/

This Last Days series is sensitvely portrayed and well done. This one is on one of our members here, CoolBreeze Ann and her beautiful family. I am posting it here with her permission.

Paula

[Paula O]

Dear Ann,

I am sure this series will be a blessing to many people. I want to say a big "THANK YOU" to wonderful you and your dear family for sharing your lives with us.

I wish you guys the very best.

((Hugs)),

Paula
P.S. I know you are ill and don't feel the greatest all the time and are going through a very difficult time (not trying to minimize that in the least) but I want you to know you sure do look really, really good and like someone very much alive with a zest for life! (No joke, you look healthier than a lot of people not fighting cancer). You are a very pretty lady with a gorgeous smile and a heap of love for your family :) You go, girl!

[CoolBreeze]

Thank you so much Paula! Thanks for sharing it too. The Soul Pancake crew were super nice. It was a bit scary opening up my life for people to see but they were very encouraging.

Yes, I don't really look very sick do I? I live on painkillers though. You'd have to compare to what I was like 3 years ago but I don't feel that healthy these days. Hopefully, I will get on the TDM1 trial (if it's still a trial) and that will change things.

[roz123]

thanks for posting paula

Ann- I watched your video from your blog which i follow regularly. You are beautiful, inside and out. Thank you for allowing us in your home, and in your life, it takes a lot of courage to do so. I have read so many of your posts on this site and bco.org and have always enjoyed your perspective and humor. The video allowed me to see the real you...the person behind the writing. What a beautiful and loving family
Thanks again for sharing

[CoolBreeze]

Roz, thank you for the kind words. I was a bit worried about doing the video. The other two were very young men and I wasn't sure the YouTube generation could relate to a middle-aged woman, but seems like everybody has been positive about it.

I agree that my family is beautiful and loving. They are the light of my life and the best thing I've ever done.

[Paula O]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkV-KcV8Xfg

"My Last Days: Meet Joel"

[CoolBreeze]

It's awful when it's a child. I am not sure how the guys (the crew) handled that one, they are so sensitive.

[CoolBreeze]

There is a new one today, and she has breast cancer as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kM_CVxcnODA&list=SPzvRx_johoA8ITQgxBpeJTaDUhhIB7bfX&index=1

For some reason, I am the least popular one they've shown. The least views. I wonder why? I thought maybe it was my age but I don't think Juli is any younger than me.

Oh well, I am glad they are doing this series. It's nice to see the internet used this way.

[suzan w]

Phew...courage