MY LIFE Matters - Spring 2024 - 14

Feeling Empowered EMPOWERING CAREGIVERS
EMPOWERED CAREGIVERS
NAVIGATING
THE EMOTIONAL
LANDSCAPE OF
CANCER WITH
STRENGTH
AND PURPOSE
BY CHRIS DAUPHIN
HOW LIFE
CHANGED
A
14
s I reflect on the impactful journey of being a
husband, caregiver, and advocate for Dr. Lori L.
Wilson, MD, I am compelled to share the lessons
learned, the emotional landscapes navigated, and
the empowerment that stems from an unwavering
commitment to support a loved one through the complex terrain
of metastatic breast cancer (MBC). I don't have all the answers, as a
matter of fact I have very few answers, but writing and talking about
it has helped me learn and navigate what I'm going through. And
hopefully through the process of sharing, it will help others. Through
this journey I've experienced the evolution of my daily routines, and
more importantly, recognizing the need for better male caregivers'
support systems. It's difficult to put into words the enormity of the
emotional impact of cancer on individuals and families, and in turn,
how it profoundly changed my life.
MY LIFE MATTERS
EMPOWERED | SPRING 2024
A CLEAR PURPOSE
Not everyone in life is blessed
with a clear purpose. Most of us
go through life just thinking of
ourselves and what comes next,
simply enjoying life or surviving
through current circumstances.
Living is often based
on fears and hopes rather than
an actual plan and purpose
that extends beyond our own
existence. I was blessed to share
half of my life with someone
who truly had a vision of " the
big picture, " and lived it daily.
Not just for herself, but for
others too. It's OK to mourn,
to feel bad, to cry, and to take
breaks and process it all. But
it is important at some point
to identify a purpose, not just
a goal. Life goes on and we
know that the loved one we
lost would want us to carry on,
to thrive, and not just survive
them. My priority is to raise
our son as Lori would have
expected me/us to do, and so
far, he's thriving. My other
purpose has been to carry on
Lori's legacy. Unlike Lori, I
don't have the medical expertise
she had, but I've evolved as
a caregiver and advocate. I'm
grateful for these blessings and
trying to glean benefit from
my lessons learned. What that
purpose is will be different for
everyone, but what's important
is to have more than just a
routine, something to help us
focus and stay motivated.
MY LIFE Matters - Spring 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of MY LIFE Matters - Spring 2024
