Tag Archives: Laughter as medicine

Top Ten List: Benefits of Being a Patient at Mercy Oncology

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There is nothing funny about cancer. It is a tough and deadly disease to fight. But I am fighting hard and am reminded daily of God’s great mercy. I also love to laugh and find that looking at the light side of life is sometimes good medicine. With that in mind, let me offer my Top Ten List: Benefits of Being a Patient at Mercy Oncology. (I hope YOU don’t have to be here to appreciate the humor! I’m sure the nurses will understand! 🙂

10. With all the fluids they give you there is NO CHANCE of getting a urinary tract infection!
9. Overnight vitals, bed checks, pills, IV changes, 4 a.m. Daily Blood draws… NO ONE complains of over-sleeping!
8. On chemo days you can order good food whenever you DON’T feel like eating.
7. About the time you lose your appetite completely, they give you a beautiful room…with a kitchenette.
6. Those stylish hospital gowns.
5. Chemo makes ‘bad hair days’ a thing of the past!
4. Getting blood marked “VOLUNTEER Donor,” not the stuff taken from unwilling donors. (Credit to son Mike for that observation.)
3. Anti-infection procedures designed by Michael Jackson.
2. Coupon for a free haircut…after you lose all your hair.
1. NOT having a “red slippers” day! (See December archive, “Life in the Hospital” for explanation)

I’m thinking I might write a book about this experience someday and already have some of the page numbers done.

Life is serious stuff. Don’t forget to laugh along the way. And help others do the same!

“He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.” Job 8:21

Staying Healthy

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As a Leukemia patient, a significant part of my energy each day is spent keeping myself healthy. Having finished my second round of chemotherapy, my immune system is again on its way down to zero. It seems at this point at least that infection, not Leukemia, is my biggest threat. As well as I am doing through this treatment, a single infection or common cold can drastically change things quickly. And that is true for each of us in this severe flu season.

I have always strived to live a healthy life, but never have been THIS focused on protecting myself from infection. (I’m not quite to the Michael Jackson phase.) We love having visitors but ask them to come only when completely healthy. We ask them to wear masks when they enter my environment and I always wear a mask when I leave my room.

Apart from that, the elements of my regime are beneficial to all of us in this flu season: Wash hands with soap and use hand sanitizer frequently throughout the day. Keep the skin moist. You know the drill.

But are we as careful to practice other essentials of maintaining a healthy immune system?

  • Maintain consistent and quality sleep patterns 
  • Avoid useless (and harmful) worry
  • Cultivate a sense of humor and find reason to laugh
  • Enjoy time with family and friends
  • Encourage others
  • Take short breaks throughout the day to refresh your mind and spirit
  • Pray
  • Find reason to give thanks throughout the day, regardless of how crummy the day seems

    “Be joyful always; pray continually;
    give thanks in all circumstances,
    for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
    1 Thessalonians 5:16

    Stay healthy…in body, mind, and spirit!