Caregivers,hero’s and birthdays

Today is Ed Kinsella’s birthday he was born on Flag Day so he has always had special feelings for our grand old flag. It fly’s at our house every day that there is good weather and if you have a question about flag flying protocol just ask Ed. Ed what born when his mother was 42 their one and only child came along when they thought they would never be so blessed. I always told his mother that if you were only given one chick he was the one to get. He grew up and became an engineer like his father and uncles, he had briefly thought of becoming a doctor but an unfortunate incident with a fire extinguisher and a frog in biology class put an end to that (don’t ask). He collects tools and is a project waiting to happen. Quick to smile and quicker to help when someone is in need; a man you would be proud to see your daughter marry as were my parents.

When I was diagnosed with invasive bladder cancer in 2004 at 47 my husband and friend became my caregiver. All of the sudden the shared work load settled on his shoulders alone. And just because I was going through surgery, radiation and chemotherapy for literally years did not mean the day to day problems of life changed. The care of his elderly parents and aunt, the kids and their trials and tribulations and the dozens of other little crisis’s we all face became his alone. And through it all he worked a full time job and juggled and juggled and juggled. We had insurance but he found money for travel and co pays that seemed to never end. And though he had to be ready to drop he always worried about how I was doing. Thank goodness I am again lucky enough to once again able to share the load with him again. I have often thought that if I were to write the story of my cancer journey it would be a love story as strange as it may sound.

I checked and according to the National Caregivers association November is national caregiver’s month. In my heart I think everyday should be caregiver’s day a month could never be enough. I will never fail to be humbled by the strength and fortitude of the people I have meant who do what you do day after day, you stay and help us fight when you don’t have to. Thank you for showing so many of us what it means to give total and unselfish love.