This afternoon, I got a message on Twitter that @cure_magazine was "Looking 4 cancer caregivers for future article on caring 4 multiple parents/steps who have health problems, such as cancer. Pls DM/RT."
I was going to forward to them the url of this thread, but when I checked in I noticed that hannahw (one of the posters I was going to recommend CURE contact) had edited out her posts.
Hannah, I'll send this to you as a PM, too, but I'm going to post my thoughts here to make sure that those whose actions and words convinced you to edit out your posts can read it too:
Your posts about caregiving, and about the emotional dilemmas caregivers face, was a brilliant account of the journey you've been making and continue to make as caregiver to your father as he deals with stage IV issues and progressions. I am personally enriched by reading them, by asking myself the questions you've asked, and by answering them honestly. That honesty in interaction is one of the things which I most value and work to foster in a support community. It's not always present, and it needs to be reinforced where ever it's found.
Regardless of some of the feedback you may have gotten from posters to this thread, your descriptions and posts (one of which I quoted) were some of the most honest and well-rounded perspectives I've ever read from a caregiver about the process of caregiving. I am personally disturbed that the reception your ideas received from some was negative enough that you felt you should delete the posts--because now, other caregivers who will ultimately have to cover the ground you've already walked will not have access to your experiences. However, I also completly respect situations where someone feels that his/her opinions are being so miscontrued that there is no point in continuing to repeat them in that audience. I don't apologize for others' words or actions, but I am extremely disappointed that within this 'support community' we still face situations where members cannot respect differences in approach, even if they can't personally embrace them.
My strongest thoughts, Hannah. And if you are so inclined to share in a more receptive environment, PM me directly for the Cure Magazine editor's contact information.