December 2, 2011
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In Loving Memory of Cancer
We all lose people from our lives in different times in life. Death is always untimely but we all will lose a loved one. I've lost a few but today I want to mention my grandpa, Liborio Flores. Today, December 1, marks his 3 year death anniversary. I don't know about how you all feel about rememberance but I always feel that if we that were close to someone we lost and don't remember them then who will?
We're always caught up with our own lives you don't even get to know your neighbors any more. A sad life of loneliness and no trust within a community. Anyways, I got off track.
I could have been easily written this last month but i'm spacey and I forget things. November was no shave November which is to bring awareness to Men's health like for example Prostate Cancer. There are so many health problems issues that happen in our health that we're unaware unless we go get check (just like October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month).
We are so into our lives that we never think there is anything wrong until the moment that you end up in the ER. It's never too late to be checked and make sure your health is ok.
My grandpa had been diagnosed with Prostate Cancer probably around like the late 90's early 2000's the thing that happened unfortunately and I think we all do it as adults is that we disregard something like our health because we feel good,ok or we're not sick enough. And in my heritage you can say that stubbornness as the Male ego "Machismo" is very prominent in the Mexican males, not that it's not in all cultures. When he started not feeling well and ended up in the hospital they immediately tried to do everythign in their power. He had surgeries and was being treated. But, he had disregarded his health for quite sometime already.The Cancer was Controlled for years but at the end there was nothing to be done. It took control over his body and ulcers were being created in his organs and he was in pain. We saw him suffer and be on house arrest pretty must until the day he left this world.
I know people say there is no cure to cancer but if you go get checked out you can prevent and an early detection can go a long way. I love my grandpa and I miss him but when he passed away instead of feeling overwhelmed with pain I was relieved and happy. I had seen him suffer so much at that point I just wanted him to not feel that anymore. I heard how people talk about the radiation, chemo and their treatment... and recently saw 50/50, I know it was a movie but it helped me understand a few things I didn't know about it.
These are my grandparents...They're my dad's parents. They were married at the end for 58 years. They lived a long happy life with 11 children, many grand kids and great grand kids... They knew my son the most of their grand kids but for knowing your decedents life will always be to short no matter what.
This camera has the wrong date but this was a couple weeks before his death while he still was able to speak. He actually asked for the family to get together for his last message. This was my grandpa's final rest place in Ontario,California. He maybe could have been a longer with us but cancer has it's own agenda!
So, Go get checked. Be safe and never wait for the last minute. More than likely once you have some symptoms, you're already too late.
Do you have experience or advice that can help other's through the process of dealing with Cancer? or how to cope with a love one going through a situation with Cancer?
Comments (12)
=( Glad he is not in pain and not suffering, though it always is sad to lose someone especially someone you love like a family member. Don't know what to do to help people cope. I always knew that I disliked "[He/She} is in a better place." or "It's all in God's plan." I feel that God needs to rework his plans and leave the people I know alone! j/k. I know that we live and eventually will die. It still doesn't stop the pain from happening. My aunt passed away from breast cancer a long while back.
@Cucumber_Melonhead - Yea, I really dislike the whole, "it's God's plan" ... Idk about better place they can better off or worse off ...who knows haha... But when people speak of a plan they talk about predestination or that it's meant to happen but then contradict themselves by saying we get free will from God... so what is it? I hate the hypocrisy when it comes to people's point of view on what "God" wants when no one knows and no one can prove one way or another. Yes losing a loved one does hurt... call me cold but with my last 2 uncles passing away in the last month, I just weighed the situation. We will all go and most don't even appreciate their life or family. I hate seeing people in pain but I hate being selfish.
I'm sorry about your aunt sweetheart. It must have been tough.
Everyone deals with this kind of thing differently.... the best thing for anyone going through something like this is to have support and care from loved ones, no one should have to go through it alone.
@pinktiger335 - I guess the better place comment isn't that bad. It would have to depend on the circumstance. If someone is suffering and in a lot of pain, I don't mind it. If someone passes away from an accident of some sort...I feel they aren't in a better place because I feel they were great in this place before an accident took away their life too soon. =
It was a difficult time, but I am all good. =)
great message and ty for sharing it.
I'm so sorry for your loss.
Remeber our beloved ones makes us better because we know where we come from and we can teach our children to love their heritage.
@DislocatedTexan@ireallylikefood - I couldn't agree more. There is family support, friend, and/or support groups. Thank you for reading and leading input. I appreciate it.
@Cucumber_Melonhead - yea depending on the circumstance, I agree. It does make me more sad to hear a young person pass away. So much to live so cut short.
And, they are hard but at least we do have the certainty that the pain they were going through is gone.
@Grannys_Place - thank you darling!! Thank you for stopping by.
@xXxlovelylollipop - exactly... I'm all for teaching heritage and culture. it's a bit tough but it's there and we must all embrace. I guess when we're young we don't appreciate as much as when we start maturing and growing older.
Amiga, siento mucho la perdida de tu abuelito. Yo se como es ver a alguien morir de cancer ya que pues vi a mi madre morir de ello. Mi abuelo de parte de madre tambien tenia cancer y murio despues que yo naci. Tu tuviste el privilegio de conocer a tu abuelo y me alegro mucho por ti. Yo no conoci al mio. Mi madre no lucho por su vida pero el cancer que ella tenia en realidad no se podia curar. Es muy triste ver a la persona que tu quieres con dolores y sufrimiento y luego morir. Muchas veces queremos que nuestros parientes se queden con nosotros sin pensar que ellos no las estan pasando nada bien. Cuando mi madre se murio, yo comprendi muchas cosas y ahora tengo paz. Espero que tu tambien tengas paz y resignacion. Dios te bendiga a ti y a tu familia! Tienes razon en decir que es mejor ir a un doctor tan pronto uno tenga algun sintoma. Cuidate! <3
Thanks for sharing.
thanks for sharing this
to answer your questions, the only people in my life that have had cancer were my grandparents and they had it when I was so young that I barely knew what was going on.
Love the pic of your abuelitos.
As far as sickness, whether cancer or something else, all you can do is be supportive, be around, talk to them, reminisce, just be there for them.And yes, get checked.
Sorry for your loss (time doesn't heal all wounds for sure). So glad your family appreciated your grandaddy and that he was able to say 'goodbye' the way he wanted. Cancer is an awful thing. I encourage anyone who can (those w/insurance which I don't have) to get checked as often as possible. hugs.