Willem S.

About Willem S.

I am a caregiver from a far and wanted to share my Dad, Willem’s story with you. My Dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2016. The previous year he lost his wife to a battle with cancer of her own. He took care of her every need for 3 years and when he lost her he was lost. I was able to be a part of their journey as I had to move in with them for work for a couple years. When we found out about his diagnosis less than a year after mom passed away, we were shocked. I know that he tried to play it off as no big deal and that it’s going to be ok. I am back home, 2 hours away, and not able to be there to help him out as I once was. I’ve had to talk to his friends to make sure that he is keeping up with his appointments and that he is telling me everything that is going on. Since his diagnosis his eldest grandson was diagnosed with Lymphoma. I know that his own health was put on the back burner to be there for his grandson. Dad would drop everything to go be at his side during his treatments and his most difficult times. I am thrilled to announce my nephew, his grandson, has been cleared of all residual cancer, he won his battle. However Dad’s best friend in life right now has been diagnosed with Leukemia. She is going through her own battle now and he is right there beside her, helping her, driving her to appointments, and doing what he can to be there for her. Since my Mom passed away my Dad and I have had to learn how to have our own relationship without Mom, It hasn’t been easy, we’ve had our ups and downs but I know that we have come to be great friends again and learned how to do that. My biggest struggle has been learning how to be there for Dad, how to be a person that he can rely on and ask for help when he needs it. Being 2 hours away makes it difficult at times but it’s only a 2 hour drive and I try to get there for his appointments so that he has someone to look after him. So for once in his life he is not taking care of someone else and that I can take care of him. He is the most amazing, caring person I know and he deserves to have someone take care of him at times. He has and is taking care of so many others that now with his diagnosis he deserves to be taken care of. What surprises me is that he doesn’t think he needs to be taken care of, however when you are there to help him he is so appreciative.

Share on: Facebook | Twitter
Read More | Submit your Story