Don’t ignore me — redux
A few weeks ago — in Don’t Ignore Me – I blogged with advice on dealing with someone who is seriously ill. I have a few more bits of advice to add:
- Please, please don’t give me medical advice (unless you’re on my team of doctors). I trust the medical care I’ve chosen and I really don’t want someone — I know you mean well — undermining my confidence by making a recommendation that is different from what I’ve decided is the best course of treatment for me. Again — I know you mean well. But I don’t want my decisions second-guessed by a lay person.
- I also don’t want you to tell me how or what to eat.
- And since I’m now bald, there is another “elephant in the room” for me. If someone looks different, my advice is to acknowledge it. If you ignore it I either think you’ve never looked me in the eye so didn’t notice that I’m shiny bald OR you’re afraid and choose to ignore it. Remember — don’t ignore me!
My intention with this advice is not to sound parental or judgmental — so please take it in the spirit I’ve intended. I hope I can increase your comfort level and the comfort level of those who are sick.
P.S. I still feel great! Stay tuned for pix of my bald head.
September 15th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
My husband was diagnosed with A Plastic Anemia a little over a year ago. It has been a time of reorganization for me. I find that I don’t sweat the small stuff anymore. I also give myself permission to know my limits. I do what I can and either find another route to accomplish my goals or decide that I can postpone them. It won’t say on my tombstone how clean my house was. In many ways I am calmer, for my first focus is always his health. I wish you much success in your healing.