Shrink Wrap

     Just about six years ago the last week of July in 2008 “Caring For Cynthia” arrived in 

Tucson.   

     I stood in my driveway with the mid summers day sun at my back watching as the delivery 

truck parked in front of my home.   As the truck’s door opened, there it was - 5,000 books 

shipped from a coastal village not far from Shanghai. 

     In front of me was the culmination of creativity and collaboration from selecting font styles, 

colors, collateral print pieces to phone calls and meetings with editors, coaches, consultants, 

digital artists (to mention a few) shrink wrapped and resting on wooden palates. 

Tucson, Arizona July 2008

     The meetings and phone calls with consultants were easy.  Selecting colors and type 

fonts was easy, too.  What could not have been shrink wrapped were my emotions.   That 

day my emotions were joy, excitement and elatedness.  These days, what I’m learning, is 

that emotions come in a variety of colors and flavors and can range anywhere from 

somewhat easy to somewhat challenging to walk through – even six years later.   The 

physical and emotional response from having personally documented a year of  “cancer 

related activities” is impossible to shrink and wrap.

     Emotions related to a loved one’s diagnosis of cancer - surviving cancer- being 

diagnosed again - having that second diagnosis associated with metastasis to various 

organs and thus leading to eventual death - take time to surface and evolve.  The timing of 

these emotions surfacing and evolving and then the time to respond to those emotions is 

different for everyone.  

     What we, as cancer caregivers, do in our response to emotions that surface now, in six 

months or in six years will mold us, give us insight and help us to help ourselves.  Our 

responses to our emotions can impede and challenge us.  Alternatively our responses can

inspire and motivate us in ways we never imagined. 

     For cancer caregivers experiencing emotions during or after a journey with a loved 

one’s cancer – don’t attempt to shrink and wrap your emotions.  Instead, consider giving 

emotions room to surface, grow and evolve.   Ignoring, rushing or hurrying through those 

precious emotional experiences can actually impede our healing.  

     Consider reviewing www.cancer.net as leading resource for both those affected by cancer 

and caregivers:  http://www.cancer.net/coping-and-emotions/managing-emotions