The Path to Angel

Celebrating 20 years of Angel Foundation. 
​
​A tribute to perseverance, passion, and one so loved,
who was lost so many years ago.

​The summer of ’64 and Jim.  A beginning.

People say thing like, ‘kids are resilient,’ ‘they’ll bounce back,’ and so many platitudes. 
 
The truth is, I’ve had a hard time getting over some of the stuff I’ve seen with my wife’s cancer, so how can I expect our kids to just take it and get up off the mat?
 
I didn’t know, so decided to reach out.
 
I turned to Emily Rezac, Program Manager of the ‘Facing Cancer Together’ program at the Angel Foundation, for answers.  This program offers kid-friendly activities and Camp Angel, a summer camp, to help kids who are dealing with a parent with cancer.  Events are designed to teach healthy communication and coping skills for kids.
 
I contacted Emily to learn more about the program.

​“One is the loneliest number . . .” begins a popular 1960’s song by Three Dog Night.
But 2 can be the loneliest number when your partner has cancer. 
​
Treatments left Cindy* and her husband stranded at home and away from family and friends in order to keep germs and illness at bay.

​Everyday life does not prepare anyone for a cancer diagnosis.
Where would you learn this?

• Health class in high school? Yeah right: you felt too invincible to listen, anyway.
• Your doctor’s office during a routine physical? Not likely: doctors are too overworked these days.
• Over dinner with your friends or family? As if: try recovering from that conversation killer, “Um, can you believe what our president tweeted today?”

When that diagnosis is given to your partner—the person you fell in love with and maybe even married—even “till death do us part” cannot prepare you for being a cancer caregiver.

In this 2 part blog series, we hope you’ll find comfort in reading the words of real caregivers sharing their very real experiences while caring for their partner. We’ll share their encouragement and local and national resources if you or someone you love is a caregiver.