Spotlight on Justin Nicolay: A Jack Story Presented by AARP
A Jack's Founding Story, Part 2
September, 2013 - he was 8 months into it.
Michelle, his wife, had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of Stage IV melanoma in February. They had an infant son. Treatment options were limited and would be horrific; the odds of surviving a year were in the single digits.
0 Comments
In the cancer world the saying no one fights alone is commonly used, that is a true statement as your caregiver is right next to you. Going through each treatment, scan and scare. They go through the same emotions as a cancer patient whether they show it or not. For example, my last scan Eric asked me if I was ok I was like I’m scared for the results and he said everything will be ok, we’ll get through each hurdle what ever that may be. Him asking me that pretty much told me he was scared too, even though he never said it. Written By: Ashley Schepers
Allan Hammell has always liked to fix things. He’s good at it. It’s a trait that has served him well, in his personal life and in his career as an engineer and project manager.
“When I encounter a problem, that’s when I go into ‘problem-solving’ mode,” says Allan. And that’s usually the end of the problem. So, this past spring, when his wife, Hilary, was diagnosed with Stage IV Neuroendocrine Lung Cancer, he naturally started working, trying to ‘figure it out.’ He went into ‘problem-solving’ mode. Says Allan, ‘at times, this is helpful and I’m usually able to solve the problem, but it’s been tough, because stage IV cancer isn’t a normal problem. It’s not something I can solve!”
A Little Light in Heavy
[It started slowly as we caught up to where we had left off the last time we talked.]
[Just] Mike: The last time we talked, we were talking about the fact that guys, in general, don’t like to ask for help; they basically don’t reach out, even when they need help. One of your statements was that it is a strength to admit that you need help; it doesn’t show that you’re weak, because no one can do everything on their own.
|
Categories
All
Archives
December 2021
|
RSS Feed
ABOUT JACK'SWe're a non-profit improving the way guys think, feel, and act through every phase of their caregiving journey. Meeting them where they are in spaces that inspire solace and renewal.
EIN: 47-2305806 |
CONTACT US
7760 France Avenue South
Suite 1100 Bloomington, MN 55435 (612) 547-6929 contactus@jackscaregiverco.org |
Copyright © 2021 Jack’s Caregiver Coalition®, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization