Living and Coping With Life-Threatening Illness: An Interview with Jacob and Beanna Martinez

Grass Roots Health

Every day in this country, hundreds of patients of all ages receive bad news from their health care providers. What is it like to be diagnosed with a life-threatening illness? What do you think about? What are your emotions? How does you cope with the associated losses such as a loss of energy, function, a job, or a career? How do others treat you?

Many patients in this condition say that it feels like they have a “scarlet letter” etched on their forehead but that only others can see it. They believe that others communicate with them and treat them differently. Many of the patient’s “friends” stay away because they do not know what to say. Patients in this condition say that their social life becomes much smaller, and that “superficial” friendships are dropped in favor of spending time with those who really count.

Patients with life-threatening illnesses indicate that health care providers focus too much on medical and physical interventions, give too little information, appear uncomfortable talking about death, and do not include family members in conversations. Furthermore, informal caregivers (e.g. family member) report exhaustion and a lack of information. The informal care givers say that health care providers do not appreciate the impact of the illness on their lives and rarely consult them. Family members of the patient wish that health care providers would tell them when death is inevitable and would avoid telling them about futile medical treatments.

Listen as host, Tim Jordan, explores these and other issues with Jacob and Beanna Martinez. How have they learned to live with and cope with life-threatening illness? Listen and find out.

Resources for this podcast:

Article to Read: (2022). Schimming, C. Eight tips for coping with a serious diagnosis. The Mayo Clinic Health System. https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/8-tips-for-coping-with-a-serious-diagnosis

Article to Read: (2024). Robinson, L., Segal, J., and Smith, M. Coping with a life-threatening illness or a serious life event. Illness and Disability HelpGuide.org. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/grief/coping-with-a-life-threatening-illness.htm

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Grass Roots Health is sponsored by the 1795 Group. www.1795group.com

Grass Roots Health is produced by Tim Jordan. Jacob and Beanna Martinez were booked by Tim Jordan. Artwork by Danielle Procopio. Audio editing and mastering by Christopher Stoll of Audio Flare Recording, Toledo, OH: https://www.audioflare.com/

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