Author's Response: Sheri is very brave, indeed. Not everyone can endure something like that, especially at that age. Not that she hasn't had her "moments," but in the end, she just deals with it. No secrets, no fantasies, no denials, no bargains, and no compliances. She knows the fight is over, but she doesn't just curl up and die.
Oh no! Sheri!
Also, hope your aunt is doing okay. I no longer believe the statistic that cancer affects one in three of us, it must be higher than that. :(
Author's Response:
Yeah, I'd planned her death from the start, though it's a strange feeling to have it official now.
My aunt's doing a lot better, thankfully. Only the good Lord knows how many people face cancer or will face it in the future. I guess that's why it's feared and hated so much.
Author's Response: Give you three guesses.
Author's Response: Goes to show the brotherly bond's still there.
Author's Response:
Obviously Lance didn't have a flag, so he had to make do with what he did have!
Unfortunately, this is how a lot of people in the real world react. Doesn't justify their behavior, of course, but you can't fault them too much, either.
Author's Response: I'm a deeply spiritual person, so I like to weave in spiritual elements wherever I can. And I've always been a sucker for emotional stuff, too; too many of us act like it's a crime to display our true feelings, to cry, to admit that we can't make it on our own.
Author's Response: JC's behavior will (hopefully) make more sense later on in the story. This just goes to show that he's human, like everybody else.
I wondered how long it would take for the dam to burst. He's done so well keeping it together.
I'm surprised at Chris and JC, but then it can be surprising who can and can't handle being around someone with cancer. I bumped into an old friend of mine when mum was ill, and when I told her what had happened she chastised me for bringing down her dayand said that I'd "really upset her." I'd forgotten that with some people it's all about them. It was a real wake up call.
Author's Response:
Everyone's got that vulnerable side, and it's never unmanly to cry. If this were me, I'd probably drown the entire hospital and half the city in my tears.
I wouldn't judge Chris and JC too harshly. It's very hard to see someone you care about go through something so bad, and knowing you can't really do anything about it makes it harder. You feel that desperate urge to do something, anything, but there's nothing. Plus, there's that "survivor's guilt," in a manner of speaking; they don't have cancer and Joey does, so how are they supposed to feel about that? We never know how we will act in a situation until it becomes our situation. Even when my mom's treatments were well underway, I could barely tolerate the word "cancer," and I didn't even want to think about the possibility of her not recovering.
Author's Response: That must be why we have so many trials and tribulations (or one of the major reasons why, anyway). We need that "wake-up call" more times than we realize or are willing to admit.
Author's Response: They say you can never truly understand someone's experience until you've experienced it yourself. Not only does Sheri have cancer, too (albeit a different type), but she's had to endure it for years. So she can relate to Joey better than all four guys put together.
I can imagine the guys struggling to see Joey hairless. Isn't it funny how hair can become such a fixed part of your image. My dad shaved his moustache off once and it really freaked my sister out. We'd never seen him without it and he looked like a different person!
I would say to Joey, don't worry! In my experience, after chemo, hair grows back thicker than before. Maybe curly, too. Now THAT'S a look I haven't seen Joey try before!
Author's Response: This is no ordinary shaving job, after all. It took me a while to adjust to seeing Joey clean-shaven in "On the Line." Even his full beard in the 2001 Atlantis special took some getting used to.
Author's Response: In many cases, that's all you can do: focus on putting one foot in front of the other, getting through that particular day in one piece.
AML. That's what my mum had. She was diagnosed and taken straight into isolation. Her first visit home wasn't for a month. It was a terrible time and I don't envy Joey having to receive that news.
So glad to hear your mom is doing well. Passing the five year mark is a huge step, isn't it. We have one more year to go. I wonder if Joey will need a bone marrow transplant...
Author's Response: Any kind of cancer is awful. I wouldn't wish it on anybody, and I mean ANYBODY. At least Joey stands a better chance than some people, but he's not getting better in a hurry and it's not gonna be pretty.
My mum has had 17 bone marrow biopsys and she STILL can't sleep the night before. I went with her for her first one and now admire anyone who can go through that bravely. So I'm not surprised JC would be out the door/window!
It's great that some people were understanding, but I can completely believe that some would be annnoyed with the group having to cancel things due to sickness. People suck.
Author's Response:
I imagine most people don't feel nearly as brave as they appear to be. Some people have pretty convincing masks. I'm not fond of needles myself (though I donate blood fairly regularly), and I also cringe at the thought of a needle going all the way into the bone.
Yeah, that's one of the big downsides of being a celebrity. You work so hard for something for so long, and all that time and work ends up a big waste.
Wow, Chris always surprises me. I've always thought that crazy, outgoing personality covered a deeply thoughtful and sensitive man. Sometimes in interviews you can see how seriously he takes certain things. I can imagine him being quiet and thoughtful in these circumstances.
And Joey being brave... bless him. I want to give him a hug myself!
Author's Response:
That's what I love about Chris. He can be funny and even a little nuts, but he's not a total bubblehead. A lot of people use humor to cope with otherwise grave situations; like they say, if you don't laugh, you may as well cry. I find laughter to be more fun; it doesn't help the situation much, but it does help you.
