How much can one family bear...?

[Bbbananas]

Some of you may remember, around a year ago, I wrote about my son's best friend who died falling off scaffolding on a building site - he fell backwards, the wheelbarrow & bricks fell on top of him, breaking his neck & crushing his thorax. He was 27. My son was a pallbearer.

That is bad enough for any family to bear, surely - but get this. The mother has had a relapse of her cancer; which is now terminal & metastatic. No doubt her grief will not have helped. She is 47. On Sunday their youngest son, 24, was rushed into intensive care with swine flu, which has developed into pneumonia. He is now in an induced coma and fighting for his life.

All this has happened to this family in the space of just over 2 years. I say this, not to be morbid, but to remind those of us who have not much else to moan about other than work, bills, niggles & aches, the weather, the VAT.... take a minute....

[boxtops]

Oh dear, salla - this is very sad. As you say, it puts other concerns into a different perspective.

[sara3]

that's shocking salla, and you're quite right.. we should all take stock.

bad things happen to good people. I am sorry.

[ummmm]

That's really sad. Humans are amazingly resilient though.

Taking a minute....I always do that now.

[Bbbananas]

In all honesty, I have never particularly liked the mother & father in this scenario - we never 'got on' you could say - but to think this man could potentially lose his entire family in the space of less than 3 years is just appallingly sad. Whatever my feelings towards the parents themselves, as a past issue, is beside the point. My heart goes out to them and I cannot start to (and wouldn't want to) imagine how they must be feeling.

[redman41]

Agree totally with what you have just said salla ! What bad luck for this unfortunate Family as everything else pales into insignifigance when unexpected bereavement and bad health come to the fore ! I wish this Family and every other Family who find themselves in the same predicament all the luck in the World.

[yogasun]

That is the most dreadful situation. I do so hope the youngest son pulls through. No human being should have to experience such tragedies one after the other. It does seem to happen like this though. I agree, just how much can one family bear?

[milly143]

Totally agree Salla. I'm alway moaning about this and that but I am so lucky to have not yet lost anyone special to me, other than grandparents (which you kind of expect) and have no major worries. There are a few families I know who just seem to get it all and it really makes you think how lucky you are.

[Dris]

Its almost too much to bear -my heart goes out to them all.

Life is too short thats why I always take a minute now.

[Bbbananas]

I think we realise that dris, the older we get. I have worries about my daughter's health at the moment, but compared to this, I know she has hope and a future and there are a lot of people far worse off. As for bills, money worries & financial dips - **** 'em..... health is by far more important.

[Count-A-Strong]

Thanks for that salla. I have a few financial problems at the moment but this has helped put things into perspective.
I seem to have heard more sad stories this year than ever before and it's only early Jan. My landlords stock taker died totally unexpectedly of a brain tumour over Christmas. He was only about 50.

[Dris]

Im well aware there are people far worse off salla -I was simply implying that now at 52 I realise that life is too short for worrying about nonsensical things (was it something I said?).

[Bbbananas]

Dris - No! It was the way I answered probably - I was absolutely agreeing with you!!!
;-)

Don't sweat about the small stuff I read somewhere once - that is so right, and I agree with you, that you realise that as you get older x

[Count-A-Strong]

Isn't it strange how things happen. I was feeling a bit sorry for myself and then read your post. As soon as I had submitted it I got a phone call from a friend / business associate with some good news. I think he could tell I was a bit down and we ended up having a bit of a heart to heart. He told me 'tough times never last but tough people do' so I just thought I'd pass it on.

[Bbbananas]

Good motto Count - I like that x

[redcrx]

what a lovely phrase, CAS, i shall use that this morning for my friend who is very low as well.
Salla, very sad news, i hope the son pulls through and the mother gets some good news.
x

[Count-A-Strong]

Aren't friends the best?!!! Even cyber ones! X

[Bbbananas]

There''' be no good news regarding the mother's health, but I hope the lad makes it.

[Groupie]

How sad. "In my prayers"

[mccfluff]

poor family, that's hard :-(

[stokemaveric]

terrible...and thats an understatement........