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Update: One month after writing this post, my brother lost his battle with cancer. I love and miss you, baby brother!
If you know me or follow me on Facebook, you know that my brother has terminal cancer. It’s not something I’ve talked about on my blog before, though. Honestly, I thought it would be too difficult.
Death is difficult.
Talking about things like life insurance is difficult, but I’ve always thought it was confusing until I saw this 3 step approach to navigating life insurance from Protective Life. Now I know what process we need to take to protect our family. I didn’t even know what type of life insurance policy we needed before now.
I don’t feel intimidated by the subject now. It’s an emotional topic, so having information about life insurance spelled out for you is a big help.
As I sit here and type, the thoughts and words seem to come running out like an open spigot, flowing and flooding around me. All the memories of my baby brother and the love from him and for him envelopes me like a warm cozy sweater.
As heartbreaking as it is for me to watch what my brother has been going through and how incredibly sad it is for my entire family, I am thankful that we have known so we can spend more time with him. So he could make plans. So we could make plans.
My baby brother had a double lung transplant over 8 years ago. Then over 2 years ago they found a huge tumor on one of his kidneys that turned out to be cancer. The removed the kidney, which left him with borrowed lungs and one kidney. Then last year we found out that the cancer had spread to his lungs… those used/new to him lungs now has cancer.
One of the things he has asked for was to die at home, so hospice was called in a couple of months ago to make sure that he stays comfortable.
Like me, my brother is stubborn. I mean stubborn as a mule, stubborn. I don’t think he’s ready to go yet. I’m not ready for him to go, yet. When it is his time, he is ready, though.
Because of my brother going through what he has, it has opened up the dialogue between my husband and myself. It’s not something anyone really wants to talk about, but it’s a subject that we avoided. Just as I am protective of my baby brother, I am protective of my family.
My husband and my son mean the world to me. Thanks to Protective Life I learned the process we need to take to get our family protected.
I want to know they are protected. Just like my husband wants to know that we are protected if something were to happen to him.
The title of this post is part of a quote I love about brothers, by Astrid Alauda, that goes, There’s no other love like the love for a brother. There’s no other love like the love from a brother. This is such a true quote. There’s no other love like it, for sure.
Even though he is my baby brother he has taught me so much about being a good parent. He raised (and continues to do so the best he can) his handicapped son as a single father and I have the utmost respect for him. I’ll save the rest of my brother’s story for another post, on another day.
For today I want to say to you if you’re reading this… don’t take loved ones for granted and don’t put off things you need to do to protect those you love, because none of us are guaranteed tomorrow.
So hug those close to you a little tighter. Kiss your spouse or boyfriend/girlfriend a little longer. And tell those you love how much they mean to you, every day or every chance you get.
Hi Donna,
Sending hugs and prayers your way my dear. I’m so glad he’s at home surrounded by his loved ones, I’ll be praying for him.
Discussing life insurance is a touchy subject but it has to be done. My husband and I haven’t prepared ours yet but your post reminds me that I need to get on it soon.
Take care hun!
Cori
Thank you, Cori! He is where he wants to be surrounded by those that love him. He has good days and bad days, but as of right now he isn’t in any pain, and that is very important to us.
It really is a touchy subject, but it really needs to be discussed.
Thanks for stopping by hun!
Sending you much love.
i love my brother he is the best!!!