This website seeks to simply enable people to tell their sad stories, as well as their stories of hope. People can tell their stories the way it is: some with a good ending, others without any ending .... how some people get through it with strength and courage, while others never get over it.
I have decided to develop this website because of my own experience with cancer. My dear wife got cancer. She had never been sick before. She was a jewel, a ray of hope, a friendly person that loved to be of service to other people. By profession she was a nurse, by marriage the wife of a minister of the Word. Just after less than a year after diagnosis, she died. While I was praying, holding her in my arms, she gently passed away.
I cannot forget how she faded away. The only thing that remained the same, was her most beautiful big green eyes. It was still full of love, wide awake. While death was taunting her, she told me that she thinks that the usual stages of cancer that she had learned about, should be rewritten. At some stages she believed all the stages were present at the same time!
This website is different than other objective, scientific writings. It is where people can write what they feel, what they experience. For I have realized that humankind has feelings, and it has to be expressed.
This website will tell the sad stories of life, as well as the stories of hope.
You are therefore invited to share your own stories .....
Family Picture
My late wife who passed away due to cancer
About Me
- Henry G Platt
- The author lost his wife due to stomach cancer on 11 July 2007 after a short illness. He is a pastor who, after this ordeal, struggled a lot to find answers within his faith. He has, after years came to make peace through faith. He has two children, a son and a daughter. He experiences a new way of looking at life, i.e. in terms of quality and value.
30 comments:
Thank you for sharing Dr. Platt. I look forward to reading more.
Henry, it is a brave thing you are doing - to open up your innermost feelings in this way. But is also is a wonderful thing! May the writings that will appear on this blog bring hope and meaning to many who are infected with and affected by cancer. While you remember Gaynor's beautiful green eyes, I shall never forget her laughing from the hart.
I'm looking forward to these stories and struggles. My father also died because of cancer which brings a particulat relevance to me.
Hi,
my name is Ilke Platt. I lost my mom due to Cancer in 2007 and having experienced what she went through, I can now relate to those that have to go through the same battle. The journey from the day my mom was diagnosed was not easy at all, but in the end, it easily tested our Faith and hope. It was a wining battle for us to say that we stayed strong and full of hope and allowed God to do what was right. We truly miss her up unitl this day that I write this note and forever will...
I love you and will always vmiss you mom
Dear Henry, I read your blog and it brings back all the emotions of my sister, Charmaine's diagnosis, illness and death. It also brings back sweet memories of Gaynor. I am still very sad and is still struggling with a lot of questions and "what if" and I truly hope that this blog will be a healing process..for all of us. And I believe that we must keep our loved ones' stories and memories alive. WHAT A WONDERFUL WAY TO CONTINUALLY CELEBRATE THEIR LIVES.Love you--Jou niggie, Francis
This is a wonderful way of sharing and rememberance. Thanks for giving many people; family and friends, the opportunity to share there experiences and healing after the passing of a loved one.
The wonder of healing through sharing is just a valueble process
This blog is now also linked to the website of the Cancer Society in Namibia, and appears also on their website. Feldmuis also carried this information on the blog. We trust that people would feel free to express themselves, and others to respond as well.
im irma living lupus for the past 9 years and ive gone through many experiences in my life and thank you dr platt for starting this webside ill always be reading love u always
Irma,I thank you for sharing. We invite you to share your experiences with our blog visitors. Sharing of experiences help others in their similar experiences. We have started a Cancer Care Group where people come together once a month to share their experiences - they find it to be therapeutic, snf healing. Some never hrought they would go through it, but laster on said that they made a breakthrough over time and through sharing...
Today I am thinking of my sister-in-law who passed on after a battle with cancer. Although it was a tough journey, she always stayed strong. I remember her life filled with joy and laughter. I can recall the day that I had to pray for her after the doctor has told us that she has only three weeks to live. She was unaware of that news and still hopeful. It was hard for me to find the right words to pray for her. Since that day she spent quality time with her family. Today I commemorate her life and the fact that she was a fighter. To me, there are still more questions than answers. One thing I know, God is faithful! Gaynor has lost her fight against cancer, but she has kept her faith. May the comforter of all times be with us. Buks Platt
hi its me irma im part of a cancer care group that gathers every end of the month and it helps me alot
I have experience of the important a cancer care group can play. Sharing experiences makes one realize that other people have gone through similar situations, and one can learn from them. What is perculiar of such a group is that thre are no observers, all of them understand the language of pain...
I read poems to express my feelings. I share this one with you.
Not yet there....
I am not yet over it
Will never get over it
Never
Flying low most of the time
With no direction at all
None
Seeking comfort from above
Waiting for responses to help
Waiting
Reading of hope in books
Trying to grasp it for me
Hoping
I also went through same-like experience. It is hard to get over it. What makes it difficult is the strong relationship that existed between one and your late spouse. I can just tell you after years that it keeps coming back.
I can relate to this life story`.
Thanks for the blog. I also lost my wife to cancer. It was hard and after many years I still experiences times that I am down.
Best wishes to all. Paul
My wife passed away many years ago. You move on, but the difficult times will come back when you think of her. It really depends on how your relationship with your wife was. Keep on communicating. Sam
Gaynor
Cancer, especially in Gaynor’s case, impacted profoundly on the lives of so many people from diverse backgrounds and age groups.
Initially we believed that God would heal her, many people prayed, fasted, meditated and desperately hoped that a Miracle would occur. Unfortunately for us, it didn’t happen the way we wished.
Her death made me realize the true meaning of Life. She lived life to the fullest, in ABUNDANCE, she was joyful, had a positive approach to life, was passionate, caring and compassionate. She was actually an Angel, without us realizing it!
Lessons that I learnt during the painful process of her illness is to appreciate and enjoy Life; to appreciate marriage/family; to be more in touch with other’s feelings and emotions, show more empathy and to read more. I also realized the value that humor was in order for a patient to focus on some- thing else, instead of preaching or sharing depressing stories around the sick- bed.
I think the best out of all the hurt, is that we had the opportunity to spend quality time with God. I grew spiritually through this whole process.
Frances Bantom
I returned Saturday, 11 July from Kenya, for I just wanted to be home. It was the second year since Gaynor passed away. I arrived late, but my daughter and I went to the cemetry to put flowers on the grave, and there we prayed. We thanked the Lord for her life, and asked Him to lead us further.
My name is Irma Moutonin the VGK Church Khomasdal and I am part of the Cancer Care Group that was formed there and I like being part of the group cause I'm the secretary of the group. I'm living with sle for the past 10 years and it's been a big experience for me in 2006. I gave birth to a healthy baby boy and I was scared he might have cancer too, but he's fine. There's nothing wrong with him. I thank God for that hope to here from u soom love always irma
Dear Irma, I am glad to hear of your wonderful experience and your faith in the Living God. yes, he is such a great God. As you mention that you are in a Cancer care Group, I just want to encourage you and your group to continue to support each other. that in itself, sharing experiences, is therapy already. Blessings to you, brave woman.
It is good to talk about these experiences. I am going through it now what other people do to cope. So it is a good thing to have this. Thank you. Des
I experienced a lot of grief after my spouse passed on.It comes back sometimes more often than other times, but it comes back. I deal now with it as it comes. Steve
My sister-in-law was diganozed with cancer. It was very hard for all of our family, and she needs a lot of help during these times as she is still very emotional and cannot accept it. But we pray that God will help us through this all.
James
I have come across your page. At this stage in my life I am still very angry about the loss. My faith has dwindled. Josh
Thank you for sharing with us. It hurts to see your loved one suffer so much. We really need Someone from above to go through this kind of trauma. I trust God to help people that go through this.
David
Dear Dr Platt,
I feel your pain and that of your son and daughter. I too lost my mom a mere two months after she was diagnosed with cancer last year. It was particularly hard for me as I'm currently studying in the USA and at that point last saw my mom two years before. Upon hearing the news I rushed home and am forever grateful that I could still spend six weeks with her, caring for her and sharing the very special mother-daughter bond we had. She passed away on a Saturday, May, 16th, 2009 at 22h10. A mere ten months later, on the anniversary of my Dad's 21st year away from us, my beloved sister Richy was also diagnosed with cancer. The pain is immense,the helplessness from afar indescribable...but our faith, hope and love is stronger than ever. Thank you for your kind words during my mom's passing and the warm letter in the paper. It provides enormous comfort knowing that she's touched so many. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your loved ones. God bless.
Andeline Kloppers
Dear Andeline, thank you for sharing your story, and how you found comfort. I am busy reading a book which I find very helpful, and I would like to recommend it to people. It is athe classic work, now fully updated, by Colin Murray Parkes and Holly G Prigerson, Bereavement: Studies of Grief in Adult Life. May God bless you and your family.
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