I learned recently how disorienting it can be to have the life of the person on whom I depend be threatened by illness. I went through illness with both parents and my sister, obviously all close relationships; as well as many people I have cared about deeply for one reason on another. But no one on whom I depend for my day to day emotional existence. Its different. The rush of feelings seriously conflicted with the need and desire to immediately make correct decisions regarding medical investigation and then treatment. The sudden news of my wifes potentially life threatening illness overwhelmed my emotional equilibrium, making it difficult to process the next steps. It inhibited my ability to prioritize steps to reach the best possible outcome. Therefore: I have found its important to have a more or less impartial friend/advisor to listen and help determine the priority and appropriateness of subsequent steps. Its also important to have someone who can listen until the emotions are processed and a path is clear and functioning becomes easier. In a world where men have few close friends if any, and medical information is considered private and not readily shared, it may be difficult for men to process and find comfort. Therefore, its even more important, I realize, to acquire the impartial listening skills to help someone work through such emotional, life threatening situations. This is the function of religious community. We need to be available to listen to one another in the depths of our concern and pain. Thank God, our outcome was the best anyone could hope for. Kacy is completely cured with no follow up treatment necessary. The cyst was removed and as soon as the incisional pain is gone well return to our prior life. But that is not the case for everyone. Therefore true friends should be prepared to hang in and listen, enabling the person whose loved one is sick to continue to process each step of the way. Shavuah tov.
Posted on: Sat, 07 Jun 2014 21:36:43 +0000
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