Dear Bloggers,
This week is the last week before the summer recess of the high schools so it was time to hand in the books for this year and in the evening hours I should bring her to school again for the final schoolparty. Just before we took off to school I got an e-mail from school reporting that one of the students had passed away in the weekend. The kids had to gather after returning the books to hear what had happened. I felt sorry for the parents who had lost their 15 year old daughter.................(I am not many times out of words but this made me silent.)
That means another family has lost a child on leukemia. And it pisses me off. BUT… i am also glad that I am there, or was there so that it might be easier for her.
It must be horrable and mindblasting to hear, ” She has blasts in her blood.” ugh.. what does that mean…and there is no time left to overtink it. “You’ll need to admit her immediately.” ugh, do they mean now at this moment. After the first round at the hospital and the treatment with medication, seeing recovery coming.
Then to hear “She can go back to school if you’re comfortable with that.” Does this make sense? NO. None of it makes sense because they’ve just told you that your child has cancer. WHAT!!!! Not possible.
So we need Leukemia to come to a hold for all the parents of new leukemia patients out there. We need a program where we can help newly diagnosed families and give them a bit more hope as their will be more money for research and maybe we could team them up with old jolly busters like me
.
Maybe there should be a person, not just a message board where they can connect and ask the questions that need to be asked. Do I give certain medication before or after breakfast? Not that we would be able to answer every question….. but it is sure nice and more human to have someone to ask.
Of course it isn’t just the message that has me up in arms about leukemia , it is a daughter, a family member and only 15 years of age. It could’ve been my girl or your kid or even a schoolfriend of our children.
That does sound harsh and yes this child is gone. But basically what it means to you is that another child was diagnosed with cancer. Leukemia, the 2 year treatment, cancer. The one with the 95% survival rate at 5 years after diagnosis. The one where the parents freak out. Oh, wait, that is all cancer isn’t it.
The school party was cancelled and at school they made a memorial room for this girl, out of respect I am not mentioning names as it must be pretty tough to cope with this loss. My thoughts are with them and I can only send you love.
The Old Sailor,
