4/27/2025
A fellow physician’s post this morning caught my eye.
Thank you Dr. Mary Leung for sharing.
This is an incredibly important topic & hits close to home. Clarity, honesty, compassion, truthfulness, & kindness are so very important, throughout life, but also at life’s edge.
Witnessing a loved one go through treatment for a terminal illness is heart wrenching. The ups, downs, fear, anger, sadness, determination, grit, glimpses of hope for a cure, chasing trials, crushing fatigue, nausea, GI upset, pain, depression, anxiousness, highs, lows, even lower lows, good days, great days, and not good awful downright horrible days.
I’m a participant, living alongside. Present, yet also removed.
Watching.
Waiting.
Spreading positivity while also realistic. With my mind full of medical knowledge and expertise, and also filled with hope, light, keeping alive a shimmer, a sparkle, for relief, for improved health, for a cure.
Witnessing it all, as a caregiver, sister, friend, family member, aunt…. It’s
A LOT.
Sometimes just being there is what’s most important.
In the room.
On the phone.
Listening.
Or sitting quietly.
Together.
Enjoying the time left.
Being present.
Loving.
Acceptance of what is and then choosing a path.
Pivoting as needed.
Redirection is ok.
What works one day, may change the next, and knowing it’s ok, you have permission to adjust.
Acceptance allows for release of expectations, letting go of what could, should, would be and making time for what is – now.
It’s ok to not be ok.
It’s ok to chose to continue or to choose to stop.
It’s ok to rest.
To play
To love
To live
To die.
The present is precious.
Savor it.
Treasure it.
Enjoy it.
Live it.
Make plans, share stories, dream, believe.
Pay attention to those that matter most, AND to yourself.
Make memories. Smile. Laugh. Cry. Sob. Hug. Feel all the feels and let the tears flow. Laugh, giggle, dance, create.
It’s ok to not be ok.
It’s also ok to be ok too.
Whatever Will happen, will happen, and it’s ok.
Choose for now.
Choose to be happy now.
Choose love now.
You GET to choose.
Do you.
I’ll be by your side no matter what.
Always. 💕
PurpleStride USA 2025: Dr. Christina Dewey MD – Pancreatic Cancer Action Network