Now a CaringBridge Author, Too, My Gratitude is Immense
Dad and I on a trip to Alaska a few years ago.
The essence of CaringBridge has been coming into even sharper focus for me since this past June, when I started a site on behalf of my Dad. And my gratitude for community is immense.
At the end of May, after experiencing back pain and other pain, Dad was admitted to a hospital in the Phillippines, where he has lived part time in the 20 years since Mom died. My sisters, brother and I knew Dad’s health had been slipping. But we weren’t expecting a diagnosis of late-stage, metastatic cancer. You might know this feeling. It’s crushing.
Of Course I Turned to CaringBridge
At first, we added stress to our shock by trying to communicate with each other, and Dad, across multiple time zones using text, email and cell phones. It was simply too hard. So, of course, I turned to CaringBridge. (If ever anyone was positioned to suggest CaringBridge, it had to be me, right?)
From the moment I clicked “Start a Site,” your own experiences with CaringBridge became mine. For example, I knew a major benefit of using CaringBridge was being able to share information once vs. reaching out to everyone individually. But now I really appreciate how much that matters when you are juggling so much, in a personal way.
Now on Receiving End of Support
I also understood that comments and amps-of-the-heart on Journal posts are a core feature of CaringBridge. And now that I am on the receiving end of those words and gestures of support, I feel their power from a different, and stronger, perspective.
As my family continues to feel the love and support coming through CaringBridge, my gratitude for CaringBridge as a place of help, hope and healing has grown ten-fold.
And I believe, more strongly than ever–if that is even possible!–that no one should go through a health journey alone.
Liwanag Ojala is CEO of CaringBridge.
New to CaringBridge and Wondering What We Do?
CaringBridge is a nonprofit social network dedicated to helping family and friends communicate with and support loved ones during a health crisis through the use of free, personal websites. Know someone who could benefit from starting a CaringBridge site to keep loved ones informed and get the love, and support they need?