Working with a cancer patient can be emotionally overwhelming. The pain, the uncertainty, the fear, and the agony that can come with facing death can be devastating. As the illness progresses, the physical changes can become another source of distress, both for the patient and for those caring for them.
This morning, I shared one particular trial from my own life with an individual I was caring for, and she couldn’t hold back her tears.
Though the experience wasn’t new to me. It wasn’t. But as I shared it, she was deeply moved.
Perhaps it reminded both of us of something we often forget: every one of us has something we have gone through, are going through, or may yet have to face.
No one has a life completely free of trials.
Sometimes, we look at another person and assume they have an easier life simply because we do not know what they have endured behind closed doors. So, if you are going through something today, please remember that you are not alone. Your trial may feel uniquely painful, but you are not the only one who has had to carry something heavy.
And perhaps one of the most difficult moments is when hospice becomes involved. The reality can be incredibly difficult to accept. It is hard for anyone to imagine that their health could deteriorate to the point where death may be near.
Denial, fear, sadness, anger, and uncertainty can all become part of that journey.
This is why we must continue to support our sick family members and friends. Check on them. Call them. Sit with them. Listen to them. Pray for them.
Sometimes, they do not need us to have the right words. They simply need to know that someone cares, that they are remembered, and that they do not have to walk through their difficult days feeling forgotten.
May Allah ease the suffering of every sick person, grant them shifā’, strengthen their families, and give them patience and comfort through every trial. And may He remind all of us that our health, our strength, and our lives are blessings that can change in ways we never expect.
Be kind. Check on someone today. You never truly know what another person is carrying.
Umm Sumayyah Mai
Working with a cancer patient can be emotionally overwhelming. The pain, the uncertainty, the fear, and the agony that can come with facing death can be devastating. As the illness progresses, the physical changes can become another source of distress, both for the patient and for those caring for them.
This morning, I shared one particular trial from my own life with an individual I was caring for, and she couldn’t hold back her tears.
Though the experience wasn’t new to me. It wasn’t. But as I shared it, she was deeply moved.
Perhaps it reminded both of us of something we often forget: every one of us has something we have gone through, are going through, or may yet have to face.
No one has a life completely free of trials.
Sometimes, we look at another person and assume they have an easier life simply because we do not know what they have endured behind closed doors. So, if you are going through something today, please remember that you are not alone. Your trial may feel uniquely painful, but you are not the only one who has had to carry something heavy.
And perhaps one of the most difficult moments is when hospice becomes involved. The reality can be incredibly difficult to accept. It is hard for anyone to imagine that their health could deteriorate to the point where death may be near.
Denial, fear, sadness, anger, and uncertainty can all become part of that journey.
This is why we must continue to support our sick family members and friends. Check on them. Call them. Sit with them. Listen to them. Pray for them.
Sometimes, they do not need us to have the right words. They simply need to know that someone cares, that they are remembered, and that they do not have to walk through their difficult days feeling forgotten.
May Allah ease the suffering of every sick person, grant them shifā’, strengthen their families, and give them patience and comfort through every trial. And may He remind all of us that our health, our strength, and our lives are blessings that can change in ways we never expect.
Be kind. Check on someone today. You never truly know what another person is carrying.
Umm Sumayyah Mai
