Clare Smart. Celebrant and Blogger: Life as a Brain Cancer Carer then Young Widow/Solo Parent
When I gave my late husband, Mick, a pair of thongs (flip-flops) for Christmas I had no idea that they would become one of the most loathed objects in my life. So much so, that three and half years later when Mick died from brain cancer, I immediately collected the thongs and hurled them into... Continue Reading →
When you have young children, you meet people all the time through playgroups/daycare and then another new community when children start school. It is a time in your life when you usually share a lot of information about yourself to build friendships and support networks. You disclose what you do for work, how you live and from that you find commonalities. My husband and I had a significant difference to other parents that we met. We were riding the terminal brain cancer roller coaster.
Responding to "How are you?" & why I was grateful that widows no longer wear black. Exchanging simple every day greetings of “Hello and how are you?” often felt excruciating when I was caring for my husband as he was dying and then when I was recently widowed and intensely grieving. I realised that for... Continue Reading →
The first appointment with the Brain Surgeon. Some key facts about brain cancer. "My husband became a patient focused on survival and I became his carer".
"I felt myself projecting a new persona as I adapted to my new role as a carer. There were so many more layers and dynamics at play."
"I don’t have time to cry or sit with my emotions right now. I have too much to do and my family to look after. "
Rainbows & Rollercoasters 