When a family member becomes seriously ill, the entire family is affected. Everyone needs to learn how they can best cope with it. Don't let the disease become your identity You can manage an illness, or it can manage you. Are you becoming a full-time patient instead of a human being with a disease to manage? Investigate every avenue of rehabilitation and create the highest quality of life. Do 100 percent of what you can do. Communicate If you don't talk about your feelings o