By Vasiliki Mavroidi, caregiver, 43 years old
It’s been nearly a year since my father “passed away” after a long and courageous fight against lung cancer. So, I would like to share some of my feelings and reflections throughout this hard and traumatic journey. In the course of the disease, we did not allow the “stigma” to affect us. There were definitely guilt and remorse hanging around. I believe the medical team who treated my father played a major role in this and we are forever grateful!
My father had undergone a successful lung surgery in 2016 and three years followed, with no complications. While regular follow-ups showed a good post-operative progress, things unfortunately changed after this period of time. Lung cancer relapsed and for the last two years he fought, through chemotherapy and immunotherapy, to reverse the course of the disease. He did not succeed. And now, here I am, sharing his story, because I know he would like to talk about his lung cancer journey, if he could. I am not an interactive person. But my father was. And I’m so glad FairLife L.C.C. gives me the opportunity to express myself and possibly help other people open up about their feelings. We need this kind of actions and initiatives. Everyone, impacted by lung cancer, knows it is a constant battle full of distress, fear, guilt and hope. The emotions I felt were totally unfamiliar. Time goes by and you no longer know what to say to your beloved, who is still hoping and fighting. Five months before his death, he was not responding to any treatment. I was in a constant moral dilemma. I was thinking that it would be best for him to “go” and be free from suffering in vain. On the other hand, I saw my father hope, refusing to let go. He wanted to live. And I had given up hope and felt guilty about it. I now understand how important psychological support is for patients, caregivers and family members. You need somewhere to lean on. I’ve always been reluctant to talk about my conflicting emotions and I think it’s great that FairLife L.C.C. is giving a voice to people, impacted by lung cancer.
To me, it’s a consolation but also a tribute to my beloved father.
February 6, 2023
