1. < Just Want to Talk

Humor as a Coping Tool

Posted by osun6 @osun6, Dec 18, 2011

We are interested in hearing how you have used humor to help you cope with your disease. We believe that humor can be an effective tool when facing life threatening illness. Please tell us your stories.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Just Want to Talk Support Group.

CKEllis | @ckellis | Dec 20, 2011

Laughing heals the body and more importantly the soul. I was on my death bed with a very rare blood disorder, they could not diagnose at the time. The Dr. was standing out side my hospital room door talking with my family the day after my admission. He said,"she has non-life sustaining blood levels and we don't expect her to live through the night.". I was in ICU, still conscious. I said back to them in a weak voice, "I'm not done yet!"

They looked in the door and laughed. Told me to be quiet, they were not done talking about me! I reminded them to treat me as if I was going to live not as if I was going to die. The whole tone changed. I am very much alive 8 years later.

I asked my husband what he wanted for Christmas this year, and without missing a beat. He said, " can you just cut out the dying? A few less trips to the ER would be nice!". He is amazing, the laughter and jokes help not only me, but my family. I have just written a book called "Oh the woes of a hose in your nose". The lighter side of a hospital visit. Hoping like you, everyone learns that humor heals!!

REPLY
4 replies
osun6 | @osun6 | Dec 20, 2011
In reply to @ckellis "Laughing heals the body and more importantly the soul. I was on my death bed with..." + (show)
@ckellis

Laughing heals the body and more importantly the soul. I was on my death bed with a very rare blood disorder, they could not diagnose at the time. The Dr. was standing out side my hospital room door talking with my family the day after my admission. He said,"she has non-life sustaining blood levels and we don't expect her to live through the night.". I was in ICU, still conscious. I said back to them in a weak voice, "I'm not done yet!"

They looked in the door and laughed. Told me to be quiet, they were not done talking about me! I reminded them to treat me as if I was going to live not as if I was going to die. The whole tone changed. I am very much alive 8 years later.

I asked my husband what he wanted for Christmas this year, and without missing a beat. He said, " can you just cut out the dying? A few less trips to the ER would be nice!". He is amazing, the laughter and jokes help not only me, but my family. I have just written a book called "Oh the woes of a hose in your nose". The lighter side of a hospital visit. Hoping like you, everyone learns that humor heals!!

Jump to this post

Thank you. A great story.

REPLY
curious one | @curiousone1 | Mar 13, 2012
In reply to @ckellis "Laughing heals the body and more importantly the soul. I was on my death bed with..." + (show)
@ckellis

Laughing heals the body and more importantly the soul. I was on my death bed with a very rare blood disorder, they could not diagnose at the time. The Dr. was standing out side my hospital room door talking with my family the day after my admission. He said,"she has non-life sustaining blood levels and we don't expect her to live through the night.". I was in ICU, still conscious. I said back to them in a weak voice, "I'm not done yet!"

They looked in the door and laughed. Told me to be quiet, they were not done talking about me! I reminded them to treat me as if I was going to live not as if I was going to die. The whole tone changed. I am very much alive 8 years later.

I asked my husband what he wanted for Christmas this year, and without missing a beat. He said, " can you just cut out the dying? A few less trips to the ER would be nice!". He is amazing, the laughter and jokes help not only me, but my family. I have just written a book called "Oh the woes of a hose in your nose". The lighter side of a hospital visit. Hoping like you, everyone learns that humor heals!!

Jump to this post

Yep--how wonderful if people living alone could be visited by people who are funny and know how to laugh!

REPLY
cummaquid | @cummaquid | Mar 14, 2012
In reply to @ckellis "Laughing heals the body and more importantly the soul. I was on my death bed with..." + (show)
@ckellis

Laughing heals the body and more importantly the soul. I was on my death bed with a very rare blood disorder, they could not diagnose at the time. The Dr. was standing out side my hospital room door talking with my family the day after my admission. He said,"she has non-life sustaining blood levels and we don't expect her to live through the night.". I was in ICU, still conscious. I said back to them in a weak voice, "I'm not done yet!"

They looked in the door and laughed. Told me to be quiet, they were not done talking about me! I reminded them to treat me as if I was going to live not as if I was going to die. The whole tone changed. I am very much alive 8 years later.

I asked my husband what he wanted for Christmas this year, and without missing a beat. He said, " can you just cut out the dying? A few less trips to the ER would be nice!". He is amazing, the laughter and jokes help not only me, but my family. I have just written a book called "Oh the woes of a hose in your nose". The lighter side of a hospital visit. Hoping like you, everyone learns that humor heals!!

Jump to this post

Hi...I live alone but have two dogs who cheer me daily. Have just been diagnosed with breast cancer ( early) and at age 77 wonder how to best enjoy the years left to me...I am the leader of several writing groups and when we get together we share life stories many of which are hilarious. We all love to laugh! I love to share my dogs' antics as they are a hoot together, especially when they catch the smell of a woodchuck or rabbit close by. Who will chase first? How quickly can the chuck WHISTLE a warning and escape down his hole in the ground?
Laughter is so good and so important for our immune systems.

REPLY
Roxie43 | @roxie43 | Mar 15, 2012

You're an inspiration & I wish more & more laughter!
God bless you & your family

REPLY
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Dec 12, 2018

@osun6 thank you for starting this discussion. I sometimes have those "why me Lord? I've been good..." days and humor definitely brings me out of them and provides new perspectives. I've always struggled with diet and weight and this parody made my day when I first saw it.

Adele - Hello Parody (Hella Cravings) - YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQ6-nCLeDsI
John

REPLY
3 replies
Parus | @parus | Dec 12, 2018
In reply to @johnbishop "@osun6 thank you for starting this discussion. I sometimes have those "why me Lord? I've been..." + (show)
@johnbishop

@osun6 thank you for starting this discussion. I sometimes have those "why me Lord? I've been good..." days and humor definitely brings me out of them and provides new perspectives. I've always struggled with diet and weight and this parody made my day when I first saw it.

Adele - Hello Parody (Hella Cravings) - YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQ6-nCLeDsI
John

Jump to this post

@johnbishop Thank you for the humor. If it were not for a sense of
humor I could have not made it this far! Let’s celebrate humor!!

REPLY
1 reply
lioness | @lioness | Dec 12, 2018
In reply to @parus "@johnbishop Thank you for the humor. If it were not for a sense of humor I..." + (show)
@parus

@johnbishop Thank you for the humor. If it were not for a sense of
humor I could have not made it this far! Let’s celebrate humor!!

Jump to this post

When I was being wheeled into the Operating Room for my heart surgery in 96 I remember looking up at the llights and told the attendant that a bulb was out and he needed to replace it . I was drugged up you know. lol

REPLY
Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Dec 13, 2018
In reply to @johnbishop "@osun6 thank you for starting this discussion. I sometimes have those "why me Lord? I've been..." + (show)
@johnbishop

@osun6 thank you for starting this discussion. I sometimes have those "why me Lord? I've been good..." days and humor definitely brings me out of them and provides new perspectives. I've always struggled with diet and weight and this parody made my day when I first saw it.

Adele - Hello Parody (Hella Cravings) - YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQ6-nCLeDsI
John

Jump to this post

@johnbishop My cat was just staring at me, I was laughing so much at this! Loved it, great way to start my day!
Ginger

REPLY
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