NCAN Blog: The Gift of Comfort and Joy.

December 1, 2021

By Anne Dabbs,
NCAN TN Chapter Leader, NET Patient

“Comfort and Joy” is a cheerful and popular refrain this time of year, but sharing comfort and joy can be a daily endeavor.

Talking about comfort with an incurable cancer community is not exactly an easy task. Yes, we may have the “good cancer”; Yes, we may not look like cancer patients, but many in our Neuroendocrine Community are not assured physical comfort. And still others struggle with a lack of emotional comfort. Comfort is not a given, especially with a cancer diagnosis. But what we do have is the ability to offer each other the gift of comfort.

Everyday our Facebook NETs groups are flooded with patients reaching out to reassure others, to offer encouragement, to show solidarity in the many facets and complexities of living with NETs. If comfort as a noun alludes us, then let’s try to find comfort as a verb. I have lived long enough to learn that in offering a gift of comfort, I, too, will know comfort. What we give, we receive.

The same is true for Joy. Joy is an all encompassing emotion. It is easy to give and a delight to receive, especially when there is joyful, hopeful news among our NETs friends. For those of us whose Neuroendocrine journeys do not include points of extreme satisfaction or jubilation, we can find joy in the smaller, but equally valuable bits of contentment, humor, and happiness. Joy is contagious and always arises out of gratitude. “We are not thankful because we’re joyful; we’re joyful because we are thankful.”

When I think of Comfort and Joy, the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson come to mind:

“Write it on your heart
That each day is the best day of the year…”

Tidings of Comfort and Joy from all of us at NCAN. And remember, if you need us, don’t hesitate to reach out. We are HERE for you.

Find out more about how YOU can help the NET Community.

Disclaimer: NCAN blog posts are the opinions of its writers and are not intended as a replacement for medical advice. Please consult your Health Care Providers for individual concerns.

Comments(8)

Tim Tusick says
December 17, 2021 at 8:54 am

Yes a very good writer and wisdom is shared. I like, ““We are not thankful because we’re joyful; we’re joyful because we are thankful.”
- REPLY
  Anne says
  December 19, 2021 at 3:31 pm
  
  Thank you Tim, for reading and commenting on “Comfort and Joy “.. wishing you and yours a very happy holiday season with all the joyful experiences you can muster!
Alysia Christensen says
December 16, 2021 at 4:29 pm

Anne, your words are a reminder of the closeness we can have in this wonderful group! I wish Comfort and Joy to all my NCAN friends and family! See you Saturday Anne!!!
- REPLY
  Anne says
  December 17, 2021 at 11:51 am
  
  Thank you, Alysia! You are a true giver of comfort and joy. I have seen you push through personal obstacles to extend a helpful hand to another patient so many times!
Nancy Kerr says
December 16, 2021 at 2:25 pm

Truly blessed to have such a gifted writer as a member of this forum. Her articles are thoughtful, insightful, and always full of wisdom…thanks!!
- REPLY
  Roberta Farrell says
  December 16, 2021 at 6:32 pm
  
  This warms my heart. thank you! This group is warm and wonderful. ????Wishing you ALL comfort and Joy. xoxo
  - REPLY
    Anne says
    December 17, 2021 at 11:54 am
    
    Thank you , Roberta, for reading and your kind words. We are most definitely all in this together! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
- REPLY
  Anne says
  December 17, 2021 at 11:52 am
  
  Thank you Nancy for all the many kindnesses you have shown me these past several years. You are indeed my comfort when I most need it.

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