My husband has a brain tumor.
We realised in April when he was rushed to the hospital because his brain was haemorrhaging. He survived surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Now I just turned 21 this year and this hasn't been easy at all. Heres some tips you might learn from to make this easier for yourself or your partner.
1. Your a team. You have to work together.
You can't just be a caregiver to your partner. You need to make sure he understands that your there to support him but at the same time he's not the only one affected by this big change.
2. Don't forget to look after yourself.
This is so important and I think a lot of caregivers skimp out on this. You can't help anyone out if you don't take care of yourself. Make sure your still having lunch with your friends and talking with your family. In the beginning it was hard because I hadn't seen my family in awhile but they always want to be there for me and support me so thats what you want.
3. Communicate as best as you can.
This was hard for me because my husbands tumor is on the part of the brain where he understands speech and he needs to concentrate to listen and converse. But you need extreme patience. Its just as frustrating for him as it is for you.
4. Be ready for anything.
You will always need tissues in your house. And if your packing a bag for the hospital we have a parking slip, wet wipes, mints/chewing gum/ some kind of activity (Eugene likes playing on the phone or tablet) hand sanitiser and tissues.
5. Never go to bed angry.
There is so much stress to deal with everything thats happening you have bills and you need money, petrol, food, you want to go out and experience new things and its christmas soon and that persons birthday that you forgot about on top of that you have rehab and physio as well as treatments with going to radiotherapy in the city everyday and taking your steroids and chemotherapy pills. Not everything happens at the same time but you get the idea. You can stress. But you have to deal with it by being as organised as you can. Don't take it out on your partner. Go and talk to someone you love and trust. You are there to support and love your partner. Never go to bed angry!
Ella
