The last train to better health and wellness

Content Alert: The following article deals with the long term care of the terminally ill. There may be parts that are uncomfortable to read.

It was a day like any other. They usually are when they go off the rails. However, this particular day, was inevitable. It was also the one that changed everything. For anyone who has taken care of, and been there with the terminally ill, there is always a day that changes everything.

Of course there are many difficult days before then. There is also suffering and tears. Bearing witness to someone’s struggles when they are terminally ill is difficult. However, not as difficult as what they suffer. It is exponentially more difficult, if it’s a parent who is caring for a terminally ill child. That’s why it feels like it’s the last train to health and wellness.

With this in mind, there is much that happens after that one inevitable day. However, there isn’t a lot of discussion about it. Nor are there any guides that are personalized for individual grief. In fact, it is something that is almost impossible to discuss. For anyone who cares for, and knows, the day to day struggle of a terminally ill person, it is not an easy talking point.

The Last Train

Similarly there are many days leading up to that one inevitable day. Those are the ones that matter most. They are also the ones most misunderstood. This is an insight from being there. There were blessings every day. Because every day was a blessing. Furthermore, it wasn’t easy by any means. Not only was there the conditions to contend with, but also the knowledge of the likely outcome.

However, that was the background of every day, not the purpose. The purpose was to live every day. Sometimes there are misconceptions about what that looks like. Especially from a doctor’s point of view. Imagine someone deciding for themselves how they will live out their days. Even caregivers have difficulty knowing how that looks. However, the one who is terminally ill, has no misconception about their time.

That is why every day is a blessing. Furthermore, everyday is one more chance to do things that may not be possible later. And that might mean prioritizing a moment of fun. Or maybe having a treat that is otherwise not too healthy. For example, things that might be bad for high blood pressure but very appealing to the spirit. Little things like that make all the difference in the everyday flow of things when it’s the last train.

Health and Wellness

Health and wellness are important in everyday life. However, they are also dependent on one another. Without one, the other suffers. Therefore, wellness should include the spirit, as well as the mind. It’s a delicate balance. Yet it matters. It cannot be overstated how much the feeling of happiness means. Nor how it sustains, in an otherwise bleak, situation.

That is where actually caring for them, matters most. Love and care, matter more, than rigid routine. It also creates the memories that matter more than the illness, or its effects. Thanks for reading.

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