Trick-or-Treat?

I had a patient tell me that he didn't need to dress up for Halloween. He said he was going to answer the door in his usual attire: a hospital gown that shows his dramatic weight loss, wasting, and multiple bruises, wearing his oxygen, and carrying an emesis basin full of candy. He thought it would be an excellent way to scare the trick-or-treaters. He may be right and I love his sense of humor but not every palliative care patient or their family will be up for such dramatics this Halloween.

Keep in mind that you don't have to live up to societies expectations of holidays, especially when you are dealing with a serious illness. If you're not up to decorating your house with jack-o-lanterns and fake spiders, don't do it. If you don't feel like answering the door with a bowl (or emesis basin) of candy, don't do it! Take time this holiday season to pamper you. Do whatever feels right for you and your loved ones.

If, however, you want to scare the children with the reality of your illness, I say Happy Haunting!