Last Sunday night, we attended a wedding dinner in Kajang which was a 1 hour
drive from my home. While eating the course dinner, my wife looked at
her Facebook and had a terrible shock that her childhood friend from
school had passed away from lung cancer just 4 hours earlier. It was
posted by the deceased's family. That friend was a Chinese but had married a
Muslim man so her body was taken to the mosque for overnight prayers and early burial the next morning.
My wife was too shocked and notified all the school mates. They were all
saddened that the deceased died of Stage 4 lung cancer in less than 3
months but didn't inform anyone of her illness while she still had time.
Now this topic became a debate for me
to ponder. Would you inform your friends when you have been suddenly
diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer?? My wife and I could not even answer
this if it happened to us. So I started to review the cases of my mum
and other relatives & friends. None of them actually wanted anyone
to visit them, so they preferred to lie low...
What would you do if you know that your days are numbered? Invite friends for karaoke and sing for the last time? Have a big farewell dinner and wefie many photos for their memories? My head was dizzy after thinking for so long...
***
I would try to settle all legal matters involving my family properly and than travel with them when possible.
ReplyDeleteI fully agree with that. My mum's unsettled cases made us go to lawyer's office and court house to settle few times. How to travel when have terminal sickness unless go to Genting!
DeleteYeah, I agree with Elaine that legal matters should be settled to prepare for any eventuality. And spend whatever remaining time with whoever that we want to see.
ReplyDeleteI think every property and monies need to be transferred out to the beneficiaries. You and Derek can go honeymoon again.
DeleteThe answer is very easy for me. I would only inform my close friends and family, those that I have daily contact with. I will not inform my friends that I only contact a few months once or once a year because they are not close to me. After saying that, I think I have only less than 10 close friends so not many people to contact but I will document my journey facing the end of my life in my blog so all of you will know as soon as I know, hahahaha! Oops this is no laughing matter but I think death is the only certain thing in life when a new life is created so why are people so afraid of it? I think we should accept that death will come to every living thing and be at peace with it. Ah, now I can talk big so I am really looking forward to the moment where I have to face death to see whether I still feel the same then as now. Ok, I better stop talking now.
ReplyDeleteYou are really funny and tickled my ribs! You are realistic.
DeleteThere was a Japanese blogger who had breast cancer and struggled to update until few days before she passed away. It was a beautiful closure she had shared with everyone. I think I want to do that too but I don't want cancer!
I think its the best to keep it low with just your loved ones, no point announcing to the whole world, not like they can help anyway
ReplyDeleteIt is so true that they won;t be able to help much. One close friend of mine is having Stage 4 cancer and we spoke to great lengths. He complained to me that many fellas were so insensitive and tactless for asking him dumb questions which hurt him instead.
DeleteThis makes me think of my mum's cousin who had cancer and she doesn't want to trouble people to visit her,it was only when she passed away, that the others relatibe
ReplyDelete* relatives got a shock...
DeleteMany people would not want to tell others that they are dying. That is normal.
DeleteMany people cannot keep quiet and need to tell the world that she is pregnant and the baby is coming with so many ultra scan photos in Facebook and whatnots.
Hmm, if me, I would just inform my family and closest few friends.
ReplyDeleteSure words spread and eventually, many will get to know also..
Then I would do whatever I wanted to do, if possible. Especially spending times with family!
That's the best to spend time with family. I think I would do more prayers and chantings all the way to last breaths so that I can cross over easily. LOL
DeleteIf I were diagnosed with terminal cancer, I think I will only inform close family members. I would not want any fuss and will carry on as peaceful and as normal as possible. It's a sobering thought, facing the end of your life. Then after I get over the shock, I will bake as many cakes and cookies and eat and enjoy all my favorite food and not worry about getting fat. And of course I would want to spend whatever time I have with my parents and my brothers. And of course my lahling too.
ReplyDeleteI agree that we want to spend the final days in a peaceful manner and no chest beatings & loud wailing after we are gone.
DeleteHey how dare you mention baking many cakes and cookies but not giving me and other bloggers a bite???? That is cruel and we would haunt for your cakes in next life. Muahahaha
I think most of us like to lie low when it comes to dying.. When people come visiting, their faces might make me feel worse... pitiful looks is more saddening... rather be with close family members if possible...
ReplyDeleteYou really make me thinking, I never thought of this before but I always wish that I could die in my sleep, I do not wish to know that I am dying, such a sad thing because I think I can't bear to leave my love ones :(
ReplyDeleteBut as a Buddhist, if I know that I am dying, I will pray and chant more like you
DeleteThis a a question that worth thinking about~~~
ReplyDeleteFor me I don't think I want so many people see my weak and ugly face during the terminal cancer stage :(
so sad to hear this....I don't think I would announce to my friends but perhaps a 'final' outing will do...
ReplyDeleteI would hold a farewell gathering with friends (probably 20 of them) and some family members and share with them my sweet memories with them. In fact, I already know my days are numbered and I've started to prepare for this already.
ReplyDeletei think my answer is pretty much similar to most of your other readers. i'd spend time with myself and family and just a few close friends. in the end, i think that's what would really matter, and hopefully it'll prepare us to meet the end.
ReplyDeleteI too have no answer... very sorry for your wife's lose
ReplyDeleteAnay, this year itself, I have one course mate from university and one class mate from form six past away due to cancer as well. Coincidentally they know each other and I didn't know they know each other until they both past away. The world is small and the world is cruel. Life is so short and unpredictable.
ReplyDeleteAbout the question in this post. Anay, Yannie too doesn't know how to answer.
Yannie will choose to stay low and spend most of the time with her loved ones, perhaps.
This is so sad. I'm surrounded by a lot of cancer patients & I'm deeply saddened by it. I've no answer for you too; won't know until it hits the person directly.......
ReplyDeleteMaybe the first thing I do is to go to church and consult the Pastor. I will likely not thinking straight by Then.
ReplyDeleteOi... make your site mobile friendly la , easier to comment and read on the go! Muahahahha!
It's a difficult question to answer but from experience, I would probably tell my besties, the ones I know who won't come with much drama and possibly even people whom I'm not close with if I know them to be cheerful and kind ..lol ^.^ I will be picky about visitors!!
ReplyDeleteThe last people I want to inform are the ones with health advice and end of the world behaviour. It tore my aunt apart (who had cancer and has now passed) - one say eat broccoli, other say don't! Nothing was ever right. It was difficult for me sifting through one after another scam cancer cure forwarded emails and messages. It never ends with well-meaning friends and family whom I saw as tactless in the end ..and I wondered if they did truly care or just wanted in on the action of announcing that they had helped in some way. Surely if they cared, they would have verified the information. I sat by her side every day watching her spirit wither from constant 'take this and take that, do this, do that' and crying faces. Finally, she told me to close the door on them so she could have some peace. It scared me enough to decide that I don't want to have such 'caring' visitors. I just want someone to hold my hand and send me flowers.
That is something to ponder as we reach a certain age. I do think about it sometime. What would happen to my children, how to deal with cancer etc. Health is important now.
ReplyDeleteIf me, I would inform everyone. Nothing to hide. It is God's will. Be prepare for anything because I believe and trust in Him. Death is nothing to be afraid of at the end of the day.
Hi There, I was THRILLED to see your comments on my blog. I had lost contact --but had been thinking about you so much....
ReplyDeleteDEATH? Well---our family has experienced two deaths this year (plus the fact that two other people in our family now have cancer). SO--2017 has not been a good year for my family...
Concerning talking about your illnesses publicly, each person is different. Some are very private and don't seem to want to tell anyone. Then there are others who want their friends to KNOW.... SO--I guess there is no easy answer.
ME? I am quite open and NEED the prayers and thoughts from my family/friends. SO---I would definitely tell others....
Hugs,
Betsy
Just like you, I don't know how I'll react. But for sure I know I won't go announce on Facebook telling the entire universe that I my days are numbered la..
ReplyDelete