'My Cancer' Blogger Leroy Sievers Dies

It's taken me a while to note the death of Leroy Sievers in my blog because even though it perfectly illustrates how powerful the combination of broadcasting (NPR in this case) and social media (blogging in this case) can be, this one had a personal dimension for me.  My wife, Sandra, died nearly a year ago after a 2½-year bout (since diagnosis) with esophageal cancer.  Leroy's NPR appearances and his blog were, for both of us, important fuel for the fight she waged from the moment her cancer was first diagnosed in early 2005.  Leroy was a journalist and so was Sandra early in her career (became a professor of it later), and she also wrote eloquently about it, though in her case it was in private emails to a large group of friends and family members.  Maeve McGoran and Laurie Singer have posted to Leroy's blog since his death and many among his large circle of readers wonder if this is going to survive him.  Or perhaps, since it was such a personal statement, it needs to be let go.  I don't have an answer, only hope for the much too large a club that is touched by cancer.  --Dennis

Comments

[Rob Paterson]

Dennis - My wife Robin, who as I think you know has breast cancer, works as a hospice volunteer. What she sees is another aspect of cancer that such a community could help with. That is also adjusting to life after our partners have gone. What she sees is that at the time of the death - the surviving spouse is surrounded with support but as the weeks and then months move on, this support falls off.

Robin spends sometimes more time with the widow or widower after the loss than before.

There are few if any resources for the one left behind and even less support from people who really know from their own experience what the survivor may be going through.

I wonder if My Cancer might evolve into such a place of support? For like living with cancer itself or living with a loved one who has it - the best support comes from those that share that awful reality.

Best wishes Rob