The story: wife gets breast cancer. Double mastectomy, chemo, radiation. Two young kids. Nine years of remission. Then, recurrence. Three years of more chemo, then three months of hospice and she dies at home in my arms.
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posted by anonymous
on Apr 30, 2013 -
39 answers
I am a (new) professor at a small, rural university. One of my students has had to take an emergency leave due to a death in their family. Aside from assuring them that they need not think about their schoolwork at all, and that we'll work it out when they're ready, is there anything else I can do to support them?
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posted by anonymous
on Apr 26, 2013 -
19 answers
It appears my Dad is in the process of dying - I'm mostly okay with that, but really struggling with the rest of my family. Could use some words of wisdom.
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posted by anonymous
on Feb 12, 2013 -
21 answers
Someone I went to high school with died a year or so ago. I never learned what the cause of death was, and I'm curious. I drive by an adopt a highway sign dedicated to their memory often, and it confuses and bums me out.
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posted by anonymous
on Feb 11, 2013 -
28 answers
My mother and father were married over 50 years. Dad passed early this year (Feb) and now is the 1st anniversary is upon us. I have been helping mom out quite a bit since then, but could use some pointers about what to do or look out for over the next couple of months. A little more inside.
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posted by anonymous
on Dec 16, 2012 -
6 answers
Is it wrong for me to share details about a deceased ex-boyfriend with his parents? Specifically, that he was my boyfriend at all. Snowflake details inside.
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posted by anonymous
on Dec 5, 2012 -
38 answers
Wrongful death in the family. In lieu of flowers / Memorial donations?
Help me, hive mind.
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posted by anonymous
on Nov 23, 2012 -
17 answers
What do I need to do to make sure all my affairs are in order in case I die? I have no kids and don't own property.
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posted by anonymous
on Feb 28, 2012 -
19 answers
How do I make my passwords available to loved ones if I die suddenly, but keep them secure while I'm alive?
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posted by anonymous
on Feb 22, 2012 -
25 answers
What's the legal liability ramifications of owning half a house? (I already have a lawyer. I wanted a second/English opinion.)
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posted by anonymous
on Dec 28, 2011 -
17 answers
My grandmother in the process of dying is suffering through a sudden dementia?... delirium?... from her medical condition that is causing her to be extremely belligerent and hurtful to those around her. We know this "isn't her," but we don't know what to do, what time to spend with her, what is going on. I'm looking for perspectives on this.
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posted by anonymous
on Nov 26, 2011 -
18 answers
I run a Worpress site, hosted by Dreamhost. We are about to make a memorial announcement. This will drive a lot of traffic to the site, including hundreds of comments and potentially thousands of hits. I am the only one who runs the site and I need to be prepared. What do I need to do?
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posted by anonymous
on Oct 24, 2011 -
7 answers
How to handle the funeral/remberance of my father, with my mother who has late-stage Alzheimer's?
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posted by anonymous
on Oct 2, 2011 -
14 answers
How to support and comfort a friend through the illness/loss of their pets? What helped you?
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posted by anonymous
on May 5, 2011 -
19 answers
Funeral Question: So my grandmother died. The wake is on Thursday and the funeral is on Friday. I've never been to a funeral before and not any Catholic services before. What's expected of me? What can do to help? Or at least not make things worse?
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posted by anonymous
on Mar 21, 2011 -
32 answers
My maternal grandmother passed away 5 months ago and my uncle has taken charge of handling her inheritance with her lawyer. He hasn't given any updates or information on how the process is going since his initial email 5 months ago, in which he told me that my grandmother had passed and that I would receive inheritance. How can I ask him to hurry up?
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posted by anonymous
on Feb 27, 2011 -
18 answers
Need financial/legal info about buying a house with someone else. I know YANML and YANMA but wanted starting points, advice, and any stories from people who have been through this.
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posted by anonymous
on Feb 24, 2011 -
5 answers
How can I help my wife deal with the death of a loved one? I am an atheist and I find it hard.
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posted by anonymous
on Feb 19, 2011 -
28 answers
I'm terrified at the thought of dying and don't know what to do. I am not actually dying or sick in any way but sometimes I can't stop worrying about it. How can I stop, or feel better about it?
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posted by anonymous
on Feb 12, 2011 -
40 answers
Two questions. How do I write a last will and testament when it involves those I know across the internet? And, how do I ensure that certain...eccentric requests involving my funeral and/or body be carried out?
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posted by anonymous
on Feb 5, 2011 -
25 answers
How can I show my boyfriend my love/support on our 5th anniversary - only a couple days after his father's death?
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posted by anonymous
on Jan 17, 2011 -
10 answers
How do you console someone without being to pushy or at the other extreme too aloof? Especially with a new partner that you don't know too well.
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posted by anonymous
on Jan 10, 2011 -
8 answers
I want to plans to deal with the eventual death of my pets. They're healthy and happy but I know small animals don't live too long, and I'd like to know what to do before I lose them.
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posted by anonymous
on Jul 9, 2010 -
13 answers
How best can I support my Mom and brother from so far away, other than calling them frequently? How can I stop thinking about the last days of my Dad's life and get over his physical "absence"?
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posted by anonymous
on Jun 30, 2010 -
9 answers
Are California Driver's Licenses and Social Security Cards normally surrendered to the government upon a love one's death? Is this a new policy?
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posted by anonymous
on Jun 7, 2010 -
8 answers
My mother, a long term alcohol/prescription drug abuser, died last week. She was in her 50s. I'm a wreck and need help coping.
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posted by anonymous
on May 26, 2010 -
13 answers
A dear relative will likely die within the next decade, and I am trying to help her plan a natural burial in L.A., but am flummoxed by California's regulations and am unsure whether it is a viable option.
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posted by anonymous
on Apr 26, 2010 -
8 answers
My mother is going to die and my boyfriend is barely able to provide the support I need. How do I deal with this?
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posted by anonymous
on Mar 28, 2010 -
26 answers
The woman I am romantically interested in has had an extremely taxing couple of years. Her long term boyfriend disappeared and committed suicide last year, and now her chief support/best friend/roommate has been given only 2 months to live. Both of her pets have cancer and will die soon. And me.. well, I'm moving out of country for at least 4 months in about a week >< Her family is all living overseas until mid summer. She says she doesn't think she can handle the pain and doesn't think she can live after the impending death of her friend. She basically has no one to turn to and I want to be a support for her without trying to replace her past. The question: How can I show my care for her without coming off as a looter during a vulnerable time?
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posted by anonymous
on Jan 26, 2010 -
19 answers
I had a large non-cancerous tumor removed a few years ago. The tumor and the two surgeries required to remove it left me unable to work for a year and $50,000 in debt.
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posted by anonymous
on Dec 19, 2009 -
5 answers
I've recently learned that someone I used to know from when we were both much younger, has died. I knew him only in the context of church and we'd pal around on those Sundays, but we hadn't spoken in years. It's been suggested to me, by my parents, who still attend the church (I don't), that I might play some music at the wake, since I'm a violinist. But it seems to me this might be inappropriate for a few reasons.
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posted by anonymous
on Jul 22, 2009 -
10 answers
Does someone with a dying relative better understand what someone who has lost a relative is going through? Explanation inside.
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posted by anonymous
on May 4, 2009 -
12 answers
