dearfoam

K, my condolences for your own loss, and my thanks for your sympathy. It is a new chapter in life, this so-called getting back to normal. We can't forget what we have been through, but at least we are able to move forward with knowledge of our own strength and abilities to cope with change. Not easy, but doable. Luckily we have had some really good friends who have stuck by our sides and been very supportive, even when others did not really know what to say. They seem to have their own strengths and weaknesses, too, just like me, and in a way that's reassuring. Having a good group of family and friends who can offer different kinds of support has helped immensely. I am glad I was able to express a lot of my needs to them, and that other people, even strangers crossing my path, stepped up when I didn't know what to ask for.

There are some really nice people on the CSN message board who specifically offer a lot of caregiver and grief support.

I also looked at the app, but do not think it is thougroughly ready for use. Seems to have a lot of bugs and stuff to work out, though I like the idea of a photo body map that's easy to log and track changes.

Thanks for sharing, and I wish you peace,

DF

K, my condolences for your own loss, and my thanks for your sympathy. It is a new chapter in life, this so-called getting back to normal. We can't forget what we have been through, but at least we are able to move forward with knowledge of our own strength and abilities to cope with change. Not easy, but doable. Luckily we have had some really good friends who have stuck by our sides and been very supportive, even when others did not really know what to say. They seem to have their own strengths and weaknesses, too, just like me, and in a way that's reassuring. Having a good group of family and friends who can offer different kinds of support has helped immensely. I am glad I was able to express a lot of my needs to them, and that other people, even strangers crossing my path, stepped up when I didn't know what to ask for.

There are some really nice people on the CSN message board who specifically offer a lot of caregiver and grief support.

I also looked at the app, but do not think it is thougroughly ready for use. Seems to have a lot of bugs and stuff to work out, though I like the idea of a photo body map that's easy to log and track changes.

Thanks for sharing, and I wish you peace,

DF

K, my condolences for your own loss, and my thanks for your sympathy. It is a new chapter in life, this so-called getting back to normal. We can't forget what we have been through, but at least we are able to move forward with knowledge of our own strength and abilities to cope with change. Not easy, but doable. Luckily we have had some really good friends who have stuck by our sides and been very supportive, even when others did not really know what to say. They seem to have their own strengths and weaknesses, too, just like me, and in a way that's reassuring. Having a good group of family and friends who can offer different kinds of support has helped immensely. I am glad I was able to express a lot of my needs to them, and that other people, even strangers crossing my path, stepped up when I didn't know what to ask for.

There are some really nice people on the CSN message board who specifically offer a lot of caregiver and grief support.

I also looked at the app, but do not think it is thougroughly ready for use. Seems to have a lot of bugs and stuff to work out, though I like the idea of a photo body map that's easy to log and track changes.

Thanks for sharing, and I wish you peace,

DF

Thank you, Maria, and I am sorry for the loss of your brother. The perspective does shift depending on the time. Most days I can freely talk about it and think about it without getting worked up. Other days, a song, or a piece of trash under the passenger seat, or a run-into-the-ground old joke gets me like a dagger, and gives me the anxiety aches in my chest. They are few and far between, at least.

Right now I have a weird feeling, as we are leading up to the anniversary of discovering his disease and being swept on the whole crazy journey that just would not slow down. I feel like when the middle of March arrives, and I am not getting any phone calls about suspicious spots on xrays at the ER, or having to intervene on someone's entire life (from resigning to divorce to moving in with us and becoming a total dependent, to advocating for all medical care and ultimately his transition only ten months later), I will feel a lot better.

In the meantime, I found a new dermatologist and will see her in late April. Most o fmy benign looking moles are stable, and some itch, probably form the heater being on this winter, just like every winter. My old dermatologist doesn't accept our new insurance, and the new Dermatologist is in the same system as my dad's Mel specialist. I'm maybe "a little" paranoid. 🙂

-DF

Thank you, Maria, and I am sorry for the loss of your brother. The perspective does shift depending on the time. Most days I can freely talk about it and think about it without getting worked up. Other days, a song, or a piece of trash under the passenger seat, or a run-into-the-ground old joke gets me like a dagger, and gives me the anxiety aches in my chest. They are few and far between, at least.

Right now I have a weird feeling, as we are leading up to the anniversary of discovering his disease and being swept on the whole crazy journey that just would not slow down. I feel like when the middle of March arrives, and I am not getting any phone calls about suspicious spots on xrays at the ER, or having to intervene on someone's entire life (from resigning to divorce to moving in with us and becoming a total dependent, to advocating for all medical care and ultimately his transition only ten months later), I will feel a lot better.

In the meantime, I found a new dermatologist and will see her in late April. Most o fmy benign looking moles are stable, and some itch, probably form the heater being on this winter, just like every winter. My old dermatologist doesn't accept our new insurance, and the new Dermatologist is in the same system as my dad's Mel specialist. I'm maybe "a little" paranoid. 🙂

-DF

Thank you, Maria, and I am sorry for the loss of your brother. The perspective does shift depending on the time. Most days I can freely talk about it and think about it without getting worked up. Other days, a song, or a piece of trash under the passenger seat, or a run-into-the-ground old joke gets me like a dagger, and gives me the anxiety aches in my chest. They are few and far between, at least.

Right now I have a weird feeling, as we are leading up to the anniversary of discovering his disease and being swept on the whole crazy journey that just would not slow down. I feel like when the middle of March arrives, and I am not getting any phone calls about suspicious spots on xrays at the ER, or having to intervene on someone's entire life (from resigning to divorce to moving in with us and becoming a total dependent, to advocating for all medical care and ultimately his transition only ten months later), I will feel a lot better.

In the meantime, I found a new dermatologist and will see her in late April. Most o fmy benign looking moles are stable, and some itch, probably form the heater being on this winter, just like every winter. My old dermatologist doesn't accept our new insurance, and the new Dermatologist is in the same system as my dad's Mel specialist. I'm maybe "a little" paranoid. 🙂

-DF

Thank you, Frank. I still find the whole thing so…. distant from reality. It's just so hard to put in words, though I know it was all very real. I think in some ways it is good to remember the experiene like a movie, so I can quote it when necessary, but not dwell.

You have offered so much insight and information to so many people during my time on this board – I can't believe I was such a late arrival! I appreciate your diligence in helping support everyone with your own experience. I don't know if I will be able to stick around to offer advice. I don't feel like I have much to offer except on an emotional level, but if I can help someone, we will connect.

Thank you again,

DF

Thank you, Frank. I still find the whole thing so…. distant from reality. It's just so hard to put in words, though I know it was all very real. I think in some ways it is good to remember the experiene like a movie, so I can quote it when necessary, but not dwell.

You have offered so much insight and information to so many people during my time on this board – I can't believe I was such a late arrival! I appreciate your diligence in helping support everyone with your own experience. I don't know if I will be able to stick around to offer advice. I don't feel like I have much to offer except on an emotional level, but if I can help someone, we will connect.

Thank you again,

DF

Thank you, Frank. I still find the whole thing so…. distant from reality. It's just so hard to put in words, though I know it was all very real. I think in some ways it is good to remember the experiene like a movie, so I can quote it when necessary, but not dwell.

You have offered so much insight and information to so many people during my time on this board – I can't believe I was such a late arrival! I appreciate your diligence in helping support everyone with your own experience. I don't know if I will be able to stick around to offer advice. I don't feel like I have much to offer except on an emotional level, but if I can help someone, we will connect.

Thank you again,

DF

Thank you, Donna. Things are getting back to normal. Could use a vacation soon, but I have got to catch up financially first. I am pleased to see that you are doing so well after Yervoy! I know everyone's case is different, but seeing so many success stories still makes me feel better about this whole mess. I mean, still what little information comes from all of this experience adds to what we know, and aides in someway another battle, right?

-DF

Thank you, Donna. Things are getting back to normal. Could use a vacation soon, but I have got to catch up financially first. I am pleased to see that you are doing so well after Yervoy! I know everyone's case is different, but seeing so many success stories still makes me feel better about this whole mess. I mean, still what little information comes from all of this experience adds to what we know, and aides in someway another battle, right?

-DF

Thank you, Donna. Things are getting back to normal. Could use a vacation soon, but I have got to catch up financially first. I am pleased to see that you are doing so well after Yervoy! I know everyone's case is different, but seeing so many success stories still makes me feel better about this whole mess. I mean, still what little information comes from all of this experience adds to what we know, and aides in someway another battle, right?

-DF

Carol, Thank you. I am feeling a lot better than the first couple of weeks. I know I did all I could possibly to, and it is good to know I have a lot more strength than I would have imagined. I just hope I do not need to access it for a very long time.

-DF

Carol, Thank you. I am feeling a lot better than the first couple of weeks. I know I did all I could possibly to, and it is good to know I have a lot more strength than I would have imagined. I just hope I do not need to access it for a very long time.

-DF

Carol, Thank you. I am feeling a lot better than the first couple of weeks. I know I did all I could possibly to, and it is good to know I have a lot more strength than I would have imagined. I just hope I do not need to access it for a very long time.

-DF