A PARTICIPANT PROFILE
BONNIE & JERRY BAUER"It doesn’t matterwhat type of cancer you are dealing with, the basic issues are the same for both patient and caregiver."
Jerry Bauer, 66, describes himself as a “reasonably healthy male who is very happy to see daylight every morning.” However, he hasn’t always felt that way. Jerry admits to having had a very hard time learning to live with the fact that he had a life-threatening illness. His diagnosis of stage 3 esophageal cancer in late 2005 sent him into shock and despair. “I wanted quality of life, instead of quantity,”
says Jerry. “So I began planning various ways to be sure I would not be a burden, including suicide.” As it turns out, Jerry’s 10-hour surgery, the day before Valentine’s Day in 2006, went surprisingly well. “My chemo nurse referred me to The Wellness Community (TWC),” says Jerry. “The emotional impact was my greatest challenge. Without TWC, I’m not sure how I would have gotten through it.”
Bonnie, his wife and best friend of nearly 35 years, became his personal Florence Nightingale. “Without Bonnie’s help, love and support there is no way I could have completed this journey on my own.” Both Jerry and Bonnie found friendship, education and the all-important keys to being “patient-active” at TWC.
“Attending the caregiver support group was a big plus for me,” adds Bonnie. “It doesn’t matter what type of cancer you are dealing with, the basic issues are the same for the patient and the caregiver. The emotional support and sharing meant a lot. As caregivers we learned from each other.”
Looking back over the past few years, Jerry is tremendously grateful for the satisfaction he receives as a TWC host of Newcomers Orientations, visiting hospitals and clinics as an outreach volunteer and being called on to share his story with others. “My involvement is directly related to my success of being cancer-free for four years in November. The words I live by I share with those I meet:
“This is the first day of the rest of your life. Live it as though it is your last!”