My Caregiver, My Twin

My twin sister is one of my biggest supporters. When I was diagnosed, she was on a travel nursing assignment in Connecticut. She started her nursing career about 10 years ago and worked in a few different settings including home health, nursing home, and hospital. One of her big goals was to do travel nursing so when she got the gig she was excited. Early in 2014, we drove her out to Connecticut and she started. She had a friend with her, and they were set. The car ride to and from Connecticut may also be the reason I was diagnosed because I had developed a blood clot, but that is a different story.

My sister is my biggest supporter

I was diagnosed in April and she did everything in her power to get home. She had to end her contract early and luckily her agency let her do so without punishment. She tried to get a flight but there were either no flights available or they were quite expensive considering it was last minute. She ended up getting home via bus which took over 24 hours, but she made it.

My sister helped me get set up with my oncologist. She made all my appointments, and she came with me to every single one of them. When I was traveling to Boston for the clinical trial, she came with me. I think she may have missed 2 or 3 trips, but she was also pregnant at the time. She helped me with my prescriptions and helped navigate the insurance company.

When I was in the hospital she stayed with me on some nights. There is not a lot that I remember from that time as I have blocked most of it from my memory but I do remember there was always someone with me.

Moving in with my sister

I found it helpful to have a second set of ears in my appointments because if you have ever had an appointment with an oncologist you will know that there is a lot of information given in a very little time frame. After each appointment, we would sit down and talk about our “takeaways”, the good, the bad, and the ugly.

My sister and I lived in an apartment together during this time but after I was diagnosed, she decided to buy her own home. I moved in with her and she helped me stay afloat financially and she is one of the main reasons I was able to get my own home recently.

Having so many things going on all at once my sister helped keep things going. I was under the care of a home health nurse and she was giving me fluids. My sister was the one that managed it after the nurse inserted the IV.

We are family after all

Now that I am almost 7 years post-diagnosis it is still very helpful to have my sister as a nurse. She does not come to all of my appointments with me anymore and because of COVID, she wouldn’t be able to see the doctor with me anyways.

My sister shares her family with me. Since I am unable to have kids she lets me “borrow” hers for the night or weekend. I love having my niece and nephews over and spoiling them. We often get together and have family dinners. It is great having her on my team.

Having a support system can be very rewarding after a lung cancer diagnosis. My sister has told me that my diagnosis has made her a better bedside nurse and for that I am thankful.

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