When Johnny Comes Marching Home
fictionalized reality34 total reviews
Comment from dreamin'
Perfect description of spending endless days and nights in a hospital room "Intermittent moments of surrender to hollow dreams and night terrors separate my days from the subdued stillness of the night shift."
When I think of the time I did this, I can still feel the weight of the quiet from the "stillness of the night shift"
"I don't even feel like a mother anymore. Jacob grunts in the phone, not saying or sharing anything when I call. Mary doesn't want to talk to me at all, but goes through the motions, spewing her daily list of complaints. And Johnny, there's hardly anything left of my child..." Most poignant statement."
I imagine this is how many would feel in this situation. There is nothing more powerful to make a person feel completely helpless than to have a loved one get cancer.
Thanks for the reminder of "Measuring Time." I need to get over there and catch up.
Debbie
reply by the author on 21-Jul-2014
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Perfect description of spending endless days and nights in a hospital room "Intermittent moments of surrender to hollow dreams and night terrors separate my days from the subdued stillness of the night shift."
When I think of the time I did this, I can still feel the weight of the quiet from the "stillness of the night shift"
"I don't even feel like a mother anymore. Jacob grunts in the phone, not saying or sharing anything when I call. Mary doesn't want to talk to me at all, but goes through the motions, spewing her daily list of complaints. And Johnny, there's hardly anything left of my child..." Most poignant statement."
I imagine this is how many would feel in this situation. There is nothing more powerful to make a person feel completely helpless than to have a loved one get cancer.
Thanks for the reminder of "Measuring Time." I need to get over there and catch up.
Debbie
Comment Written 21-Jul-2014
reply by the author on 21-Jul-2014
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I sincerely appreciate the read and understanding.
Comment from nelliesellie
The story is tragic. Four lives are being torn apart. Life will never be the same again. It is bad enough when a child dies. It is worse when he suffers and lingers. You are torn between the one that is sick and the two who are not. Great work.
reply by the author on 21-Jul-2014
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The story is tragic. Four lives are being torn apart. Life will never be the same again. It is bad enough when a child dies. It is worse when he suffers and lingers. You are torn between the one that is sick and the two who are not. Great work.
Comment Written 21-Jul-2014
reply by the author on 21-Jul-2014
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If you ever read 'Sophie's Choice,'you have no idea, unless you've lived it. People will never know how tragic it is to try to keep it all together and yet lose it all. Thanks for reading and responding to a sad story.
Comment from Judy Couch
Your story makes me empathize with the person involved. I am assuming that the story is fiction based on reality. The parent involved has so little real support that it's scary. She's losing her entire family and there is no one to help her.
reply by the author on 21-Jul-2014
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Your story makes me empathize with the person involved. I am assuming that the story is fiction based on reality. The parent involved has so little real support that it's scary. She's losing her entire family and there is no one to help her.
Comment Written 21-Jul-2014
reply by the author on 21-Jul-2014
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Yes, it I a story based on my experience with the caregivers and being the friend who walked to the end of the road with some very dear friends who have never been forgotten. Thank you for the stars.
Comment from Jacqueline M Franklin
Hi Spiritual Echo,
Such a heartfelt story, even though it's fiction. You write with realism, compelling the reader to want to read on, and of course searching for a happy ending.
Having lost many loved ones to the dreaded disease certainly teaches us about changes, reality.
Very well penned. Good luck in the contest.
Cheers & Blessings
Keep Smilin'... Jax
reply by the author on 21-Jul-2014
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Hi Spiritual Echo,
Such a heartfelt story, even though it's fiction. You write with realism, compelling the reader to want to read on, and of course searching for a happy ending.
Having lost many loved ones to the dreaded disease certainly teaches us about changes, reality.
Very well penned. Good luck in the contest.
Cheers & Blessings
Keep Smilin'... Jax
Comment Written 21-Jul-2014
reply by the author on 21-Jul-2014
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Thank you. Yes, I've walked beside friends that are now a long distant call.
Comment from barbara.wilkey
I am a cancer survivor, well at least three years now. Your contest entry is very hard to read, but very accurate. I wish you the best with the contest.
reply by the author on 21-Jul-2014
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I am a cancer survivor, well at least three years now. Your contest entry is very hard to read, but very accurate. I wish you the best with the contest.
Comment Written 21-Jul-2014
reply by the author on 21-Jul-2014
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I remember. Many people threw up prayers for your battle. I have been spared, but I have stood beside someone who could tell me the truth and trusted me to honour her darkest secrets.
Thank for the visit.
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I have been fine since, but to be honest, I still look over my shoulder wondering when it will come back.
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I totally understand. Once you've been violated and compromised, you're always on alert.
Comment from Dean Kuch
Wow, this is quite a get-wrenching story, Spiritual Echo. It read so genuinely, so realistically that it was hard to discern whether I was reading a fictional account of a single, overwhelmed single mom trying to deal with far too much on her own, or a real one.
You've certainly captured the essence and heartache one feels when dealing with a close family member who suffers from this monstrosity of a disease. We lost my wife's mother to pancreatic cancer after her five-year battle in 2012, and I recall how helpless we all felt as she lay there under the ever-attentive efforts of Hospice caregivers to make her last days comfortable ones. It was so hard.
Again, this is a poignantly written piece which packs great impact.
Great writing.
reply by the author on 21-Jul-2014
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Wow, this is quite a get-wrenching story, Spiritual Echo. It read so genuinely, so realistically that it was hard to discern whether I was reading a fictional account of a single, overwhelmed single mom trying to deal with far too much on her own, or a real one.
You've certainly captured the essence and heartache one feels when dealing with a close family member who suffers from this monstrosity of a disease. We lost my wife's mother to pancreatic cancer after her five-year battle in 2012, and I recall how helpless we all felt as she lay there under the ever-attentive efforts of Hospice caregivers to make her last days comfortable ones. It was so hard.
Again, this is a poignantly written piece which packs great impact.
Great writing.
Comment Written 21-Jul-2014
reply by the author on 21-Jul-2014
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You've heard the qualifier, names, places are fictional and any resemblance to living persons is purely coincidental.
I've watched it happen and my utmost sympathies for your vigil, but you surely know that five years after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer is at the far end of life expectancy. Ye, it's tough, I really do know.
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I can tell by reading your story that you do.
Comment from judiverse
This is a "6" for its emotional power. You give a lot of insight on how the boy's cancer has affected the entire family. The other children resent the time their mother has to spend at the hospital with the sick child. I have heard of instances where the men take off when there is such a crisis in the family. Really shows what they're made of, doesn't it? Greta isn't the kind of person you'd want your kids to have to stay with. Great job of characterizing her. With its power, you should have great success in the prompt contest. judi
reply by the author on 21-Jul-2014
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This is a "6" for its emotional power. You give a lot of insight on how the boy's cancer has affected the entire family. The other children resent the time their mother has to spend at the hospital with the sick child. I have heard of instances where the men take off when there is such a crisis in the family. Really shows what they're made of, doesn't it? Greta isn't the kind of person you'd want your kids to have to stay with. Great job of characterizing her. With its power, you should have great success in the prompt contest. judi
Comment Written 21-Jul-2014
reply by the author on 21-Jul-2014
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You have been extremely generous towards me, rewarding my efforts with both accolades and personal replies that are very meaningful to me. Thank you.
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You're very welcome. I wondered about how the contest would be when I first read about it. I think you've really done a great job of showing how the child's illness impacts a family. Often there are financial problems, as well. judi
Comment from c_lucas
I am surprise when a man won't give moral support to a sick child. This is very well written with a smooth flow of words, making for a good read.
reply by the author on 21-Jul-2014
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I am surprise when a man won't give moral support to a sick child. This is very well written with a smooth flow of words, making for a good read.
Comment Written 21-Jul-2014
reply by the author on 21-Jul-2014
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One man can certainly not define all men. Thanks for reading.
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You're welcome, SE. Charlie
Comment from boxergirl
Powerful and realistic story of one woman's struggle with her child's cancer. Hard enough when you have family support but she had none really. So sad but so real.
reply by the author on 21-Jul-2014
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Powerful and realistic story of one woman's struggle with her child's cancer. Hard enough when you have family support but she had none really. So sad but so real.
Comment Written 21-Jul-2014
reply by the author on 21-Jul-2014
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In its way, it was very real, I saw it, lived it and only fictionalized the characters. Thank you very much for spending time with me and for all the stars.
Comment from mrsmajor
This is a story that many can identify with, it is told in a way that makes it clear how such a disease effects entire families, and is so hard for the patient
I watched my sister fade away from the beginning of the diagnosis until she passed away.
Her last few months were horrible, yet we sat with her, did the things that made her as comfortable as possible as we could...
Eventually she was in terrible pain, but wanted to hold on as long as she was able...she went down to skin and bones, feeding tubes were her daily trial...I loved my sister very much, and to see her in such misery was almost unbearable, but my sisters and I stood by her...I'll never forget her last hours, when nothing could be done to ease her pain...my sister died from brain cancer...
Yes this horrible disease effects the patient, beyond belief, and those that loved her will never forget her, and her courage.
Thanks for sharing this story, I read it not as reviewing, but for the story itself..
Warmly,
Victoria
reply by the author on 21-Jul-2014
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This is a story that many can identify with, it is told in a way that makes it clear how such a disease effects entire families, and is so hard for the patient
I watched my sister fade away from the beginning of the diagnosis until she passed away.
Her last few months were horrible, yet we sat with her, did the things that made her as comfortable as possible as we could...
Eventually she was in terrible pain, but wanted to hold on as long as she was able...she went down to skin and bones, feeding tubes were her daily trial...I loved my sister very much, and to see her in such misery was almost unbearable, but my sisters and I stood by her...I'll never forget her last hours, when nothing could be done to ease her pain...my sister died from brain cancer...
Yes this horrible disease effects the patient, beyond belief, and those that loved her will never forget her, and her courage.
Thanks for sharing this story, I read it not as reviewing, but for the story itself..
Warmly,
Victoria
Comment Written 21-Jul-2014
reply by the author on 21-Jul-2014
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Victoria, I know, I've been there, felt impotent and absolutely knew that no matter how much I cared, loved, and strived to make a small difference, in the end, I was nothing but a witness to loss.
Yes, you said that well...nothing but a witness to a loss...
All the Best!
