Coping: Dark Humor and Silver Linings

Love the attitude. Stay strong.

it is very encouraging to read your posts. I admire your sense of humor and positive outlook on things.. you're one strong nurse!

Ruby - You are still teaching us, even from the other side of the bed. What a special gift you are to all of us. I love the dark wicked humor - let it all hang out and we will laugh right along with you.

wonderful 15-minute ted video on preparing for alzheimer's. you'd like it. see it on youtube.alanna shaikh: how i'm preparing to get alzheimer's - youtube

Ruby, you really need to write a book after you're well again....your unique point of view, your humor, and your big heart shine through your posts, and your writing skills make it real for those of us who've never experienced cancer personally. If ANYONE can get through this, it's you, because any cancer cells that may remain are going to be scared out of their rotten little wits by your determination. They haven't got a chance.

I just had a long, ridiculous shift. Your aside about the patient biting off the head off the Littman made me laugh hysterically. I scared the cat.Thank you!

A *ahem* friend of mine just got diagnosed with cancer. She and her husband have been married for nearly two decades, and they have a lot of inside jokes. The newest one is this little card he made her. It is a plain index card with a pink "C" on it. It's the cancer card, which she keeps with her at all times and when there is some household chore that she doesn't want to do for no other reason than she just doesn't want to do it, she'll pull it to attempt to guilt him into doing it for her. It doesn't always work, but it gets a good laugh every time.She's a newer nurse, too, and her husband didn't understand this development of dark humor among her and her nurse friends. Now he does.Dark humor gets us all through our dark days.

This was a great story. I even had to laugh at the "Doctor's orders" part. I think that laughter makes anything easier to deal with. I hope you stay strong and become better than ever.

Quote from grnteawonderful 15-minute ted video on preparing for alzheimer's. you'd like it. see it on youtube.alanna shaikh: how i'm preparing to get alzheimer's - youtube

Quote from soldiernurse22i just had a long, ridiculous shift. your aside about the patient biting off the head off the littman made me laugh hysterically. i scared the cat.thank you!

Ruby;I'm thinking your sister probably would have stopped speaking to me also. I agree that the surgeon was probably not acting out of his deep abiding respect (though maybe he did have that) by gift wrapping the head of the littman. Take care of yourself. Sending you good thoughts and strength.

I would rather die than not be able to take a joke. I can have a pretty twisted sense of humor but you have to with so much of what we see and experience.