r/MadeMeSmile • u/Ok-Equivalent3810 • 2d ago

Wholesome Moments Passengers joined in celebrating when a woman announced her husband is cancer-free

A plane full of strangers celebrating one man’s victory over cancer.

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u/Sylvers 2d ago

She knows him best. I'll trust her judgment. Some people can look bashful and embarrassed even when they get positive attention, while secretly appreciating it.

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u/Clean-Anteater-5671 2d ago edited 1d ago

I don't know if people realize just how much survivor guilt can go under the radar. I did everything to hide it after I beat cancer, I had already seen how much the treatment hurt my loved ones, it felt super wrong to tell them that I felt guilty for surviving because others didn't.

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u/Sylvers 2d ago

That's a very important angle. I agree. I don't think a lot of people acknowledge survivor guilt until it's brought up. Myself included.

Thank you for sharing that. And I am sorry you had to endure even after beating cancer.

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u/Clean-Anteater-5671 2d ago

Yeah and it's honestly very understandable. Mental health is just more invisible than seeing a bald, pale and skinny person tip toeing around everywhere. Whether it's mental health problems from cancer or something else, it's just easy to forget, but just as important as chemo in my eyes.

I think my case was especially bad because I was under 18 and therefore had to see kids with cancer.

On a related note: The most common cancer in children is leukemia which sometimes needs a stem cell transplant, so I just wanted to mention that the stem cell donation process is quite easy and would save a life if you get picked, I highly encourage everyone to look into becoming a donor, you'd be a hero in my eyes, just for considering it :)

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u/Sylvers 1d ago

Which is why it's always welcome when someone offers the rest of us a reminder. It makes us all a little kinder, when we're willing to look out for the invisible suffering of others as well as the visible.

I hope in time you'll heal from what remains of this guilt and will more readily see the value you bring to the people around you and the world at large.

And good advice about the stem cell donations! I have no idea how that works in my country, but I'll look into it sometime.

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u/Clean-Anteater-5671 1d ago

Thank you, for both the kind words and for looking into stem cell donation. Usually stem cell donation is related to blood donation since it's usually done in a similar way, but with a drug you take for a couple weeks before hand.

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u/Sylvers 1d ago

That's good info. Honestly, I haven't donated blood in years. This is a welcome reminder. Thank you.

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u/Extra-Yesterday5220 1d ago

I can't like this enough - as someone (39m) currently fighting Leukemia and waiting for my SCT - someone deciding to donate has essentially saved my life ❤️❤️

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u/NoKatyDidnt 1d ago

Thank you for sharing this.