The Other Patient
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What about you? It's ALL about you. How you take care of yourself during this time period is just as important as taking care of your loved one, but often harder to put into practice. Force it to occur. Many days you will want to take that hour of time and just nap or zone out. Resist that desire. Rest at night, but use the day wisely to find the time for exercise, meditation, yoga, a brisk walk, or whatever activity that feeds you to keep yourself strong. Just like the flight attendant who tells us all in an airplane to "put on your own oxygen mask first before assisting your partner", the same rule often applies in life. You simply can’t take good care of someone else if you are sick as well. True, this is a self-preservation thing that can feel like you are also tasked with self-care as well as partner care, but you can't feel guilty about it. It is a necessity. The same is true with diet and rest. If you are rested and healthy, the caretaking becomes far more manageable. You are "the other patient". You may not have the illness, but your life is just as deeply affected. Perhaps even more-so, as you are now participating in life changes required for a disease that YOU don't have. It can be difficult to make these changes for anyone much less for someone who is choosing to rather than being required to. Even a heart that has compassion and always understands gets tired. Find a way to provide a recharge mechanism so you can keep going and keep giving. Be as dedicated to this as you are to the patient you are caring for. It will result in both better care for yourself as well as for them. You might ask how can I even think about that and find that priority at this time?
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About the Book
If you have ever heard the words, “You have cancer” then you know what it is like to walk down a path you never wanted to travel. Such a journey can seem overwhelming, and there are seemingly never-ending twists and turns along the way, some of which may lead to experimental or new treatments. This book, however, is not about all that – rather, it focuses on the caregiver, or “the other patient.” The author, who has battled cancer himself, recalls the challenges of caring for his wife, who was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer. The couple’s children did not think their dad would deal with it well, as caregiving was not in his wheelhouse. He was the one who planned vacations, went to sporting events and enjoyed having fun, but suddenly he found himself in a new role … and it was hard. The stories he highlights don’t only come from his own experiences, but also highlight what other patients and their caregivers at The Oasis of Hope Hospital have experienced. Whether you’re a patient, nurse, or caregiver, you’ll be inspired to overcome challenges and face the future – no matter what it brings – with the wisdom in The Other Patient.
About the Author
Kenny Markanich has authored multiple articles that have been published by National Geographic as well as by the Business Journals Leadership Trust, and he was awarded First Place for Excellence in Craft by the Southeastern Outdoor Press Association. In 2019, The Wall Street Journal published an article covering his success as a seventh-degree black belt and the cancer challenges he and his wife were both going through.