When you grow up in and out of the hospital as a patient you think that the hardest place to be is in the hospital bed, right?

However, have you ever tried to be the one beside the person in the hospital bed?

Most people would say that’s definitely harder, having to watch someone you love struggle (or even suffer) and you feel like there’s not much you can do.

I tend to think of a person’s family and caregivers as also “having” your diagnosis.

They are on this journey with you but are experiencing it from a different vantage point.

If you are having surgery, your family and friends, who are there supporting you are also watching you navigate it and - it ain’t easy to watch someone you love going through pain.

Your support system needs support, though it may look a little (or a lot) differently. The more they can get their own unique support, the better able they can be to support YOU.