Rebuilding With Jennifer Garam

Rebuilding With Jennifer Garam

When Did I Lose Faith in Humanity?

It started when the pandemic hit.

Jennifer Garam's avatar
Jennifer Garam
Nov 23, 2024
∙ Paid
Woman's arm holding a globe in a field
Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

When I was going through treatment for ovarian cancer, I felt like being sick with a serious illness gave me X-ray vision into people’s souls — and their character.

For the most part, this superpower allowed me to see that people were kind and compassionate. Countless friends, acquaintances, and even strangers rushed in to help me when I needed it — offering everything from companionship at chemo appointments to homemade meal drop-offs to words of support and encouragement, and so much more. And in my casual, day-to-day interactions, I was usually met with care and kindness. Overall, how people treated me when I was going through cancer treatment renewed my hope in humanity.

But sometimes, people were a*sholes. And to be an a*shole to someone who obviously has cancer — well, that’s a special kind of sh*ttiness.

Here are some examples:

This post is for paid subscribers

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
© 2025 Jennifer Garam · Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start your SubstackGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture