Why I am Telling Keri's Breast Cancer Story

Fran

Thank you for your words. I'm happy to see that our story is already touching the lives of those who come across it. In response to your book offer I have to say that it is a good book. My family and I were actually reading it to Keri, per her request, during her final days. One of Keri's main questions during all of this was "why is this happening to me"? It's hard to answer that question for someone who has never done a bad thing in their life and who carries themselves with a smile and a touch of good humor no matter the circumstance. The book however was an excellent tool to fall back on. I myself am still having trouble finding an answer to why the Lord takes the good ones, but I know it's not a question to be asked and I find comfort in knowing Keri is finally out of pain and suffering and living a life of Eternal Paradise. Thank you again for sharing with me and thank you for keeping hope alive to find a cure to this awful Cancer.

David,

Hope your battle is going well for your family and thank you for sharing your words with me.  Hopefully you'll find some helpful words in Keri's letters and will be able to use them to make sense of this whole thing.

Cheers,
Doug

Esther,

Thank you for your kind words.

I am so very sorry to hear about your situation, but it does my heart good to hear how you talk about your husband and your wonderful daughter.  One strength my wife gave me is her postive attitude in the most difficult of situations.  I can see that same attitude in you and it's not something that everyone has in these situations.  It takes a special person to hold such an attitude and I wanted you to know that.  There is a light at the end of this long battle, keep looking for it and it will shine brighter and brighter with each passing day.

My prayers are with you and if there's ever anything I can ever do, you just let me know.  God Bless, good luck, and keep your husband and daughter close to your side, their love is a great healing power all in itself.

Doug

Carrie,

First I want to thank you for your kind words, I know how hard fighting Breast Caner, or any type of cancer for that matter, can be. I'm so sorry to have to hear about your sister and the pain she has had over the past years. I'm sure though that with her husband, child, and you and the family by her side it warms her heart to know all the loving and caring thoughts/feelings that are coming her way.
The advice I wish to pass along is really simple, I just always found doing the simple things in a time of such complexity always works best. Love, Care, and Support. When you look at it from this point of view you see that it's the small things in life that matter the most. My wife and I were always open with one another and never let a minute, hour, or day go by without letting each other know what the other meant to us. I learned this from my wife and I've now taken it into my daily life ever since. Don't ever let an opportunity to show your love for one another pass you by. If you do this then the care and support will already be there.
It really comes down to the small things, and it's those things that matter the most and have the largest impact. Something I can always recall are the little love notes my wife and I would leave for each other hidden to find in the morning while we were getting ready for the day. It always put a smile on my face and lifted my heart when I'd open my sock drawer for instance and find a note that said, "I love you, today and always". Get's the day off on the right foot.
I only share that as a small example of how just a simple gesture of love can be remembered forever. This is what I would advise, do the small things, the things that take no time, no effort, but will be remembered for a lifetime. I would share this with your sister's husband and all the family as well. Trying to do too much can sometimes lead to a more stressful situation for both the planner and the one you are trying to support. Just keep it simple and make sure you are always there for her. She's fighting a battle that's taking all her strength, both physical and mental, the more you shower her with your love and support the more she'll know she can lean on you when she gets tired and needs a rest.
I loved my wife, I love my wife, and I will always love my wife. She changed me forever and I wouldn't want it any other way. She showed a strength which I could never match. I think of her often and yes, I still have my days of sadness, but then I just have to remember the good times and it's an instant smile on my face. I only wish for you all to make your good times so when the battle gets fierce you can all enjoy a smile and laugh together.
My thoughts and prayers are with you, I wish for the best and please, please write back if you ever need to talk. Something else I learned the hard way is not to let this get bottled up on the inside and keep it internal to you. Share your feelings with your family and friends, get it out, even if what you think you're saying sounds horrible because I guarantee you they're all probably thinking the same thing but afraid to say it. By letting it out you're now opening that line of communication and sharing your thoughts and feelings with one another and that's another simple way of showing your loving caring support. If they know you care enough to share your feelings then they'll know you care enough to share all. I kept my thoughts pretty close to me when we lost our battle and after a year or so I didn't have enough room to keep it inside. I was always trying to be the tough man who could handle any situation and never show weakness. Well, by not showing your weakness and keeping it inside I learned pretty quick that's the sign of weakness. It takes a strong person to share their thoughts and be completely open about everything and share themselves with those that love them so they can in turn share themselves with you and you can help one another through this tough time.
I hope this made sense, if not let me know and I'll try to simplify if I was confusing. God bless you, your sister and your entire family. I'm only a short note away if you need to get things off your mind.
Thoughts & Prayers,
Doug

I can understand what you going through and i wish you all the best also.

I hope you guys get a long life together