Cancer Survivor Creates Empathy Cards For People With Serious Illnesses
Emily McDowell, an artist whose fun and witty postcards have been featured before by Bored Panda, has a new series of postcards that are just as funny but far more meaningful as well. McDowell, a cancer survivor, created the Empathy Cards as meaningful and honest gifts for people suffering from serious illnesses.
“The most difficult part of my illness wasn’t losing my hair, or being erroneously called ‘sir’ by Starbucks baristas, or sickness from chemo,” McDowell writes on her blog. “It was the loneliness and isolation I felt when many of my close friends and family members disappeared because they didn’t know what to say, or said the absolute wrong thing without realizing it.” Hopefully, these warm, funny and beautiful cards will help you avoid that same mistake!
More info: emilymcdowell.com | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter (h/t: modernmet)
“I created these empathy cards for serious illness because we need some better, more authentic ways to communicate about sickness and suffering”
“As a cancer survivor, I have a very personal stake in this game. I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Hodgkin’s lymphoma at age 24”
“A ‘f**k cancer’ card is a nice sentiment, but when I had cancer, it never really made me feel better”
“Sympathy cards can make people feel like you think they’re already dead”
“I never personally connected with jokes about being bald or getting a free boob job, which is what most ‘cancer cards’ focus on”
“As a result of my own experiences, I’ve wanted to create this collection for a long time”
“After 9 months of chemo, I went into remission and have been incredibly fortunate to be cancer-free since”
307Kviews
Share on Facebook
Those are beautiful. And indeed sometimes you just don't know what to say when something bad happens. That's the thing I always sayin those
Wow, got tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. I hope I never need a card like these but I'm so glad they are there! xxx
Fantastic, your comments hit the mark as they should. You have been there done that. So many people do not know what to say or what to do, when I feel like that I have found that a hug works best. The hug says everything for you. If not able to be with the person one of your cards would be great to say what I want to say to them.
These are awesome...another general phrase I get sick of is "whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger"...I could go on..but that's just one.
As a Stage IV cancer patient who'll always be Stage IV even after my surgery next month how about a card that says "Please don't say you'll pray for me . .. I'm an atheist but light as many candles in a church as you need for you to feel comfortable. And if they are in Europe . .. I'll love knowing there is a light.
I've Stage IV cancer and always will even after my surgery in 3 weeks. How about a card that says, "Please don't pray for me I'm atheist" but you can light as many candles as you need to feel comfortable.
Try www.gethardy.com. Best option for non drug treatment there is. Backed by doctors.
We always want to help or get close, but don't know how... those are very inspirational! For even other suffering situations
Brilliant. Good for you for making these cards. It IS hard to know what to say. And congrats on beating it!
These are fantastic. It's amazing how many times you hear the same things over and over.
Ummm, I'm glad that I found some random treatment on line and it was a journey - an amazing one that changed my life for the better!
Those are perfect! I know my mom got to the point that she didn't even open cards, if we got one in the mail she'd tell me to just chunk it!
Great responses from someone you can trust to know how they will be taken. Should be sent to anyone who you know feels lonely in a bad place
Finally someone published all the quippy little things going on in my head! Thank you, thank you!
I absolutely luv these and completely agree with all ! Where can I buy them? Ps - just had my 2nd Mastectomy due to cancer
I mostly buy cards that are blank inside as I seldom find one with appropriate wording. These come straight from the heart. Excellent.
Often, it appears that the person who has cancer is stronger than everyone else and he or she has to empathise everybody...
I habe cancer and my close friend is fighting terminal cancer in the hospital right now...let me tell ya these cards are good.
I think you and other good people who encounter Cancer are Angels in Training! X I love your cards. Take care, Brave Lady. X
This is incredibly beautiful and applies not only to cancer, but almost to all human tragedys.
Terrific! I've had cancer twice, and it's amazing the dumb things people say. Love all of these!
Having walked this path, these cards are great!! They definitely support and advocate for the patient. How do I get some?
Love these! Also like a friend of mine said, there needs to be "I promise not say its god's will" and "I promise not say this is a blessing"
I was just recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. This is still so new about what's going to happen. I love your cards they say so much
Merci merci merci pour cet article ! Je sors moi-même d'Hodgkin et je m'y retrouve totalement <3
Emily, I don't know you, but I love you for making these cards!! They work for many other rotten things beside cancer. SELL THEM PLEASE!
I still love these. You need a line of sympathy cards. People say really stupid stuff then too.
I love these so much! You need a line of sympathy cats too...people say really stupid stuff then too.
thank God for that. I hate the random 'cheer you up' style hashtag campaigns. they dont help, but honesty and love surely do.
brilliant. What a load of old tosh some of the 'cheer you up' campaigns are. Hashtag f**k cancer is not helpful. Honesty is. And love.
Amazing. Please make one that says "I'll sock the next person that says GOD IS TESTING YOU, get back to your faith"
OMG Yes!!! I hate this response. Like my cancer doesn't make me feel like c**p already.
Load More Replies...
Stunning cards. Some of this are very appropriate for baby-loss too, I shall be purchasing some/ making my own.
My mum would have loved these, well done, they are so on the nail!
I think they are perfect. When I went thru stage 2 breast cancer I went thru the same thing.
This is great. Maybe you can adapt the 'internet treatment' one for IVF too? WOuld be much appreciated.
These are great! Can you adapt the one on 'internet treatment' for IVF, too? Much appreciated!
The best, and actually easiest thing to say is "I'm sorry". The next best is to actually be present and listen,
They for got the ol' "Yes, you have cancer, but I could get hit by a bus tomorrow!"
They forgot the ol "Yes you have cancer, but I could get hit by a bus tomorrow!"
I think they are just awesome! I got some cool cards from my friends during chemo and stuff. But I would have definitely appreciated these !
Seriously? Do you have no empathy? This is an article about cards for cancer patients! F**k off with your unrelated spam!
Load More Replies... Those are beautiful. And indeed sometimes you just don't know what to say when something bad happens. That's the thing I always sayin those
Wow, got tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. I hope I never need a card like these but I'm so glad they are there! xxx
Fantastic, your comments hit the mark as they should. You have been there done that. So many people do not know what to say or what to do, when I feel like that I have found that a hug works best. The hug says everything for you. If not able to be with the person one of your cards would be great to say what I want to say to them.
These are awesome...another general phrase I get sick of is "whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger"...I could go on..but that's just one.
As a Stage IV cancer patient who'll always be Stage IV even after my surgery next month how about a card that says "Please don't say you'll pray for me . .. I'm an atheist but light as many candles in a church as you need for you to feel comfortable. And if they are in Europe . .. I'll love knowing there is a light.
I've Stage IV cancer and always will even after my surgery in 3 weeks. How about a card that says, "Please don't pray for me I'm atheist" but you can light as many candles as you need to feel comfortable.
Try www.gethardy.com. Best option for non drug treatment there is. Backed by doctors.
We always want to help or get close, but don't know how... those are very inspirational! For even other suffering situations
Brilliant. Good for you for making these cards. It IS hard to know what to say. And congrats on beating it!
These are fantastic. It's amazing how many times you hear the same things over and over.
Ummm, I'm glad that I found some random treatment on line and it was a journey - an amazing one that changed my life for the better!
Those are perfect! I know my mom got to the point that she didn't even open cards, if we got one in the mail she'd tell me to just chunk it!
Great responses from someone you can trust to know how they will be taken. Should be sent to anyone who you know feels lonely in a bad place
Finally someone published all the quippy little things going on in my head! Thank you, thank you!
I absolutely luv these and completely agree with all ! Where can I buy them? Ps - just had my 2nd Mastectomy due to cancer
I mostly buy cards that are blank inside as I seldom find one with appropriate wording. These come straight from the heart. Excellent.
Often, it appears that the person who has cancer is stronger than everyone else and he or she has to empathise everybody...
I habe cancer and my close friend is fighting terminal cancer in the hospital right now...let me tell ya these cards are good.
I think you and other good people who encounter Cancer are Angels in Training! X I love your cards. Take care, Brave Lady. X
This is incredibly beautiful and applies not only to cancer, but almost to all human tragedys.
Terrific! I've had cancer twice, and it's amazing the dumb things people say. Love all of these!
Having walked this path, these cards are great!! They definitely support and advocate for the patient. How do I get some?
Love these! Also like a friend of mine said, there needs to be "I promise not say its god's will" and "I promise not say this is a blessing"
I was just recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. This is still so new about what's going to happen. I love your cards they say so much
Merci merci merci pour cet article ! Je sors moi-même d'Hodgkin et je m'y retrouve totalement <3
Emily, I don't know you, but I love you for making these cards!! They work for many other rotten things beside cancer. SELL THEM PLEASE!
I still love these. You need a line of sympathy cards. People say really stupid stuff then too.
I love these so much! You need a line of sympathy cats too...people say really stupid stuff then too.
thank God for that. I hate the random 'cheer you up' style hashtag campaigns. they dont help, but honesty and love surely do.
brilliant. What a load of old tosh some of the 'cheer you up' campaigns are. Hashtag f**k cancer is not helpful. Honesty is. And love.
Amazing. Please make one that says "I'll sock the next person that says GOD IS TESTING YOU, get back to your faith"
OMG Yes!!! I hate this response. Like my cancer doesn't make me feel like c**p already.
Load More Replies... Stunning cards. Some of this are very appropriate for baby-loss too, I shall be purchasing some/ making my own.
My mum would have loved these, well done, they are so on the nail!
I think they are perfect. When I went thru stage 2 breast cancer I went thru the same thing.
This is great. Maybe you can adapt the 'internet treatment' one for IVF too? WOuld be much appreciated.
These are great! Can you adapt the one on 'internet treatment' for IVF, too? Much appreciated!
The best, and actually easiest thing to say is "I'm sorry". The next best is to actually be present and listen,
They for got the ol' "Yes, you have cancer, but I could get hit by a bus tomorrow!"
They forgot the ol "Yes you have cancer, but I could get hit by a bus tomorrow!"
I think they are just awesome! I got some cool cards from my friends during chemo and stuff. But I would have definitely appreciated these !
Seriously? Do you have no empathy? This is an article about cards for cancer patients! F**k off with your unrelated spam!
Load More Replies...
200
80