Amazing photographs, no wonder they won the Pulitzer Prize. It's not a world, thankfully, that too many people get a glimpse into.
I can relate to it on so many levels. First off, I'm a nurse, and 23 years ago began my professional career working at Children's Hospital in Boston. Since then I've worked in an adult hospital in Boston in cardiac care, but even so have been involved in my share of critical illness and death and dying over the years. It's what I do and I love it, but it's not easy work.
I also was catapulted into the world of cancer myself in 2003 when I found a lump in my breast one day and then spent the better part of a year undergoing surgery, chemo and radiation. My twins were only 5 at the time and had to be told so they understood why Mommy had no hair, looked different and didn't feel well.
We went on our first
Disney cruise 12 days after my diagnosis. It had been booked for a long time and my doctors told me to go. The kids turrned 6 on the ship. Although I had a good time, I was also filled with angst at the time - am I going to die? Will I live to see my children grow up? Will they have to suffer the pain of losing me? Memories of all the sad cases I've been involved in over the years came flooding back. Somehow, I never thought it would be me, especially at such a young age. I was terrified...
Then one day at breakfast on the cruise, I noticed a family next to me was on a Make A Wish cruise - they had a terminally ill child. All of a sudden it dawned on me - thank God it's me and not one of my children.
As bad as it was for me, it would be worse if it were my child. Way worse...
I understood when she let her son drive. I find myself doing things like that sometimes with my kids, too, because I want to make sure I do it with them; or say it to them, have that discussion... Where before cancer I figured I had all the time in the world, now I worry I might not (even though as far as we can tell, I'm good). Cancer has given me a healthy respect for life. And memories.
For the past two years we've done the Relay for Life also. I captain a team, and that Survivor's Walk is very emotional, as is the night in general. If you have the opportunity to give to the American Cancer Society, please do so. You don't think you or anyone you love will ever need them, but when you do, they're there. They run Look Good, Feel Better programs, provide rides for people without them, give books for children of parents with cancer, etc. Little things that are so important...
My heart goes out to this family. That Cyndi is one strong woman! It's easy to see how when one child is sick all the energy goes to that child and the others miss out on attention for a while. That in and of itself must be so difficult, especially for a single parent. I will keep them all in my prayers.
Thanks for posting, allie5.
So so sad that anyone ever has to go through something. I had to give my babies hugs after that. I truely can not imagine.
