This thread hits very close to home for me also. It's very hard when those you care about are suffering, whether they are humans or animals. Dogs are special - they don't ask for much, and they give love without any holding back.
Here is to hoping that the curse will be left behind when this year is behind us. I hadn't really thought about it in these terms, but I'll take it, whatever makes this nightmare stop!
My father remarried 2 years ago - she was ok, although most of my family was not crazy about her. But I tried to give her every chance, she seems to make Dad happy, and that is important. But things change, you know? Even in the best of situations. And she has decided this year to make it her mission in life to cause trouble for one of my brothers. Long story short, he has some grown children in TX with whom he has had very little contact. They were raised mostly by their drug addict mother, and they are following in her footsteps. They only call for money, and papa falls for every "story" they give him. In and out of jail, on and on and on. Well, the new wife, who has never gone down to even meet them, has decided my brother is the devil and he abandoned them, and she is going to save them. I'm not sure how she thinks that will happen, but she is certainly doing a good job of hurting the family, and damaging some father/son relations that took 30 years to rebuild once my brother straightened out a bit. She has told my 26 year old step daughter (that feels weird to type that, she is my daughter and has been since age 5, "step" really isn't in our vocab, but for explanation purposes, I needed to put it here) that bio kids are more important than non bio kids. WHAT?? OK, I could go on for days on that subject, but suffice it to say I don't know how to handle this situation. Don't want to hurt dad, but this has to stop, and it has to stop soon. I'm trying to figure out how best to talk to them about it, with firmness, but love....
Secondly, dad was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma in May. He is against surgery, chemo, radiation. He is going alternative. It's hard, it's terrifying, I don't want to lose my dad, but I want to support him and it's his decision. So we wait, and hope... and pray. Stress isn't good for one's health, so the ongoing situation with his wife can't be helping.
Thirdly, I have a 26 year old nephew, works for our small company, so we as a family and work-family can keep an eye on him, which is good, since he has lupus, and has now had THREE strokes this year. 26 years old. THREE. Two were in one few day time period, and he didn't know until he came into work and they noticed how scattered, confused and "off" he was. Ended up in the ICU, told he had had 2 strokes. He recoved fairly well from those, and last week a smaller version of what happened in July happened again. This time they say it was several mini-strokes.
My neighbor's 16 yr old daughter has been struggling with lymphoma for 2 years now, and she said some very wise words the other day, I guess I feel I should end with that thought... She said, Never forget as you go about your day, that everyone you encounter has something they are undoubtedly dealing with. You can't tell by looking at them, but many are dealing with unthinkable situations. So do what you can to be compassionate to those whose paths you cross, you never know what they are going through.
I thought that was so wise, and I know I don't always do a good job, but in some small way I try to work on that every day. I hope your situations get better, and if not, that you find your inner strength to walk through life's storms. Thanks for listening. Somehow that helps.
out:
