#HealthAndLifeWithFolukeSarimiye

Celebrating Cancer Family Caregivers Month

For Better For Worse

It’s 2am and it’s time to administer the oral morphine again. Kemi is exhausted but she has to do this, or else no more sleep till daybreaks. Its been 2 weeks since her husband, Dele’s was diagnosed with colorectal cancer and he is just recuperating. The excruciating pain he felt some days before he was placed on morphine and other medications cannot be described.

It’s been so stressful having to take care of him and their 2-year-old son. However, she has to do this. She loves him so much and promised for better for worse. She draws strength from her faith in GOD, her cancer family caregiver support group and hope in what their doctor said; that Dele’s prognosis can be good with proper treatment and follow up.

Being a caregiver is not often something we choose, but something that chooses us. While the opportunity to provide care to a loved one can be a blessing and a source of connection, it often requires sacrifice. Sacrifices that often have a significant impact on the life of the caregiver in more ways than one. Sacrifices which can make maintaining physical and mental health more difficult, putting a strain on work and social life. Whether caring for the aged or chronically ill family members such those impacted with #cancerdiagnoses; we recognise that this care giving role and task comes with is peaks and valleys.

Dear Family Caregivers we appreciate you; not just this month set aside to applaud your sacrifice but every day.
We can’t say or put in words all those reasons why we are grateful because its special and precious. There is nothing random about your dedication, understanding patience, acts of kindness and time spent taking care of your family member with cancer.We as medical practitioners are blessed to be able to experience the delivery of #PatientCentredCare along side you.
We love you. Happy Family Caregivers Month.

I leave us with this food for thought by Rosalynn Carter:

“There are only four kinds of people in the world: Those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers.” — Rosalynn Carter

Author’s Brief Profile

Dr Foluke Sarimiye

MD, MSc, FWACS
Radiation and Clinical Oncologist/Psycho-Oncologist
Co-founder and CEO Patela Care Foundation