Survivors Share Kind Moments Along Their Cancer Journeys

Earlier this week, we asked CURE’s Facebook users to share the kindest moments they had experienced since getting their cancer diagnosis.

The cascade of positive responses can be seen as a kind of antidote to the hundreds of disturbing comments that poured in to another recent question, "What was the dumbest thing anyone has ever said to you about your cancer?," which produced some truly shocking stories.

This time, however, our Facebook followers told us about receiving anonymous checks, full meals during treatment, visits from long-lost friends and help with their day-to-day chores.

Many users expressed gratitude for the companionship and empathy from friends and relatives during their cancer journeys. We've selected some of the most striking comments below. We begin with a particularly warm act of compassion, which, of course, involves a puppy.

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Lisa Rundall calls these pups her "goons."

Especially once she got sick, Lisa Rundall couldn't stand to be away from her puppies, so a friend came up with a way she could keep them near, even in the hospital.

Without even asking

"My friend had a blanket made out of a picture of my goons(pups). That way each time I had a hospital visit they were with me❤❤" Connie Beck Schmidt got support from all directions in the form of food, cards and gifts. "One thing that stands out, however, is when my husband's family surprised me on Thanksgiving by everyone wearing pink T-shirts that said 'Keep Calm and Fight On' #conniestrong. Even the dog was wearing one!"People with cancer reported time after time that bills were mysteriously paid and other burdens generally lifted.

Barb Wills shared a story from Paul Wills: "Someone paid our Association fees for 6 months. Broke down and cried of happy tears. I am a MALE BREAST CANCER SURVIVER!"

It's OK to cry

David M. Kaumann recalled: "When my wife was incapacitated following radiation and surgery for neck mets one of my professional colleagues and his wife cooked three weeks worth of meals, bagged, and froze them. Then traveled 40 miles to deliver them." "My friend, Lynne Vehlewald, went to every chemo and doctor appointment with me," wrote Mary Ann Huslig. "She and her husband let me stay overnight after each chemo and took me to dinner with ice cream dessert included. They were my angels during the long chemo treatments." "I just opened an envelope and it had a check for house cleaning for one month! Chemo starts Thursday," Audrey Wharton said. "The day I had my lumpectomy as an out patient it snowed," recalled Pam Robinson Thompson. "My husband's coworker came and cleared our driveway and left me a gift. We didn't know he did it till we got home that night." Diana Ballinger remembered someone who helped her through the emotional minefield that cancer can be.

"Sue Beasley was the friend and fellow survivor who told me it was okay to cry, get angry and curl up in the fetal position, if necessary. She was there for me every step of the way , and I will never forget it❤"

All the kind comments

Athanasia Frantzeskakis got support from nearby. "My next door neighbor sent me get well cards every day!!!! For six months and more !!! And funny ones!!!" "My church brought my family dinner every week that I had chemo, for 6 months straight," wrote Terri Sirias. "And during Christmas, they came by and sang Christmas carols."Vicki Mikulin Prentice said someone important from decades before stepped forward to provide support. "My high school basketball coach of fifty years ago called me and prayed for me over the phone. Then, weeks later he and his wife made a visit to my house (hours away)." Ines Hill remembered learning to think of herself in a new way. "'You inspire me!' Many people unexpectedly said that to me when I never thought of myself as an inspiration."