Old people, sick people and those who take care of them are often faced with seemingly insurmountable tasks during the day. What may appear simple or an easy fix to others can be too overwhelming when dealing with chronic illness or infirmity.
My friend, Terri and I have been the go-to caregivers for our friend, Lisa for the past six years, since Lisa had a traumatic brain injury from a fall down a flight of stairs. Lisa has had a miraculous recovery. But there will always be issues to handle to make her life easier. So Terri and I take care of her financial matters, and many of the medical paper work issues that haunt the chronically ill.
Very recently Terri was diagnosed with cancer. This woman is one of the bravest, most self-sacrificing people I know. And she is treating this journey like it’s just another dilemma to contend with on a day-to-day basis. There is no drama.
In addition to having her own bills, medical appointments and now the same run around and frustrations that invariably seem to accompany ‘getting healthy’, Terri has been responsible to write the checks for Lisa’s rent.
This is what happened:
Lisa: “Hey Terri, I just got a call from the landlord. They want the checks written out to a different party since they have new management.”
Terri: “Let me call them.”
Terri to Unsuspecting Rental Agent: ” Hello, this is Terri, I write the checks for Lisa’s rent.”
Unsuspecting Rental Agent: “Yes, hi Terri. You need to write us a new check and bring it here today. Otherwise, you will be late with the rent and there is an exhorbitant and ridiculous late fee that will seem worse punishment than the fires of hell.” (okay she just said “late fee” but we all know that she wanted to say the rest of that).
Terri: “You have my permission to change the name on the check. Just change it as you need it. ”
Unsuspecting Rental Agent: ” Oh, no we can’t do that. ”
Terri: “Yes you can and you will and I’m going to tell you why. I have cancer. I am in the midst of chemotherapy and I cannot and will not drive to your offices to bring you another check. And there will be no late fee. That’s why you’re going to do this for me.”
Unsuspecting Rental Agent: Long silent pause
Unsuspecting Rental Agent: “okay.”
Terri then called me laughing hysterically. Not because she didn’t believe what she said but because she was so proud of herself:
Terri: “I pulled the cancer card!!!”
Now that’s the way to deal with cancer….and unsuspecting rental assholes….agents, I mean agents.
“You Just have to Laugh…”
©2016 Cathy Sikorski