My favorite show, CBS Sunday Morning, is always informative and inspiring. A 67 year old woman had terminal cancer and any treatments would only prolong her illness. However, her youngest daughter decided to try an unconventional treatment to help her attitude. Not only her mother's attitude but hers as well. She wanted her memory of her mom's last few months or years be a happy memory. As bazaar as that sounds regarding cancer, I believe we have a lot of control over our attitude.
Each treatment day they wore a different costume: a ballerina's tutu, tie dye clothes, big red noses like a clown, Disney costumes, anything goofy and fun. At first the woman didn't want to cooperate, and then after that first day her silliness kicked in and she changed her attitude. They decided to make chemo treatments "fun" - and it worked for the patient! They also started bringing gifts to the nurses and patients, like a single rose or any little thing to perk up their day. This cheerfulness has had a profound affect on her.
They called it "Operation Choose Joy". Laughter and a positive attitude can only do so much, of course, the cancer will eventually take her life. When that time comes the daughter said she thinks she will remember this as something she enjoyed. It's hard to imagine enjoying something like this, it's more like enduring! When you think about it, most of us have to go through health issues like this in our lifetimes. Finding a way to enjoy rather than endure is a much better alternative. Impossible things can become possible. I can only imagine how their attitude had a huge affect on the other patients in the hospital, what a legacy she will leave.
Thank you, good day and God Bless! Aleta
"Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more."
H. Jackson Brown, Jr. - American author
No comments:
Post a Comment