Kids/Cancer/Life (1 Viewer)

[northern exposure]

The St. Louis Bob thread and other posters sharing stories about their loss of a child or the child becoming very ill has been dominating my thoughts lately.

My youngest son plays football and will be starting high school in the Fall. He was "recruited" by the dominant High School in the city to play for them. Last night the Coach had a Zoom meeting to let the parents and players know what his plans were given that COVID restrictions are starting to get lifted.

One of players on the call was a boy that was diagnosed with Cancer about 18 months ago. He played on the same minor football team as my son. I remember sitting at a practice with his Mom as she told us the story. One night after football practice her son said he felt a lump in his armpit in the shower and asked Mom to check it out. She said she expected to find a small lump from a hit he took at football practice. She was shocked to find a lump about the size of a tennis ball. As sheer terror flooded through her, her son looked in her eyes for a response. She said she knew she had to be strong for her son. She had to reassure him and not reveal the panic running through her brain. She calmly told him they would go to the Doctor and get it checked out. That was the beginning of their cancer journey.

It was sure great to see this guy smiling, looking healthy and ready to get out their and play some football.

So, I have rambled here. But, it felt good to type these things out so they aren't just rattling around in my head.

tl;dr version.

If you, your spouse/partner and your child/children are healthy, be thankful. I am not a religious person, but you are truly blessed.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

Thanks for sharing. I agree, good to hear some feel good stories amid all the sad ones. 
 

Hope you’re having a great day. It’s beautiful and sunny here. Enjoying it even though I’m “working”. 

 

[northern exposure]

Thanks for sharing. I agree, good to hear some feel good stories amid all the sad ones. 
 

Hope you’re having a great day. It’s beautiful and sunny here. Enjoying it even though I’m “working”. 

Yes, it is a great day today here as well.

When we were on the Zoom meeting last night, we were looking at all of the kids& parents to see who we recognized. My wife pointed out a boy and his Mom to me that I didn’t recognize at first. She then mouthed his name to me with tears in her eyes, I got choked up too. Our son, 14, just looked at us like WTH?

The Boys don't go to the same school and we used to just see the boy and his parents at games and practices. So, due to COVID, we hadn't seen them until last night. We felt bad for not keeping in touch and following his progress.

We both gave our son a big hug when the meeting was over. He just gave us a strange look and asked if he could go on the Xbox now.

 

[cheeseypoof]

Had very similar feelings as you describe the mother having twice in my life with my son.  Granted his issues aren’t cancer but they are serious, and life altering.  
First when he was 10 and diagnosed with Long QT syndrome.  It’s a genetic issue with the electrical system of the heart.  Takes too long for his heart to recover after a beat.  Been on beta blockers since he been 10 and now has an implanted cardiodefibrillator.  Biggest things were limited caffeine, no contact sports and don’t swim alone.  We carried a AED with us for years.

Second time was when he was diagnosed as a Type 1 diabetic at 19.  Again, not cancer but still has life altering ramifications and serious health effects if not managed properly, which he has struggled with at time.

It seriously scary stuff as a parent but you need to subjugate your fears and put on a mask in front of them.  Not always the easiest thing to do.

 

[northern exposure]

Had very similar feelings as you describe the mother having twice in my life with my son.  Granted his issues aren’t cancer but they are serious, and life altering.  
First when he was 10 and diagnosed with Long QT syndrome.  It’s a genetic issue with the electrical system of the heart.  Takes too long for his heart to recover after a beat.  Been on beta blockers since he been 10 and now has an implanted cardiodefibrillator.  Biggest things were limited caffeine, no contact sports and don’t swim alone.  We carried a AED with us for years.

Second time was when he was diagnosed as a Type 1 diabetic at 19.  Again, not cancer but still has life altering ramifications and serious health effects if not managed properly, which he has struggled with at time.

It seriously scary stuff as a parent but you need to subjugate your fears and put on a mask in front of them.  Not always the easiest thing to do.

I like to think I'm a good parent, but I pale in comparison to people like you and this boy's Mom. I have been a team trainer for most of my son's years of football, so I've been there to calm/help him through the first time he got the wind knocked out of him and when he has taken some nasty hits and couldn't get back up right away.

I like to think I could step up and as you put it "subjugate your fears and put on a mask". But, to be honest, I hope I never have to.

 

[cheeseypoof]

I like to think I'm a good parent, but I pale in comparison to people like you and this boy's Mom. I have been a team trainer for most of my son's years of football, so I've been there to calm/help him through the first time he got the wind knocked out of him and when he has taken some nasty hits and couldn't get back up right away.

I like to think I could step up and as you put it "subjugate your fears and put on a mask". But, to be honest, I hope I never have to.

I also hope you never have too.  It’s not really a conscious thought.  The key is to be up front with them, in an age appropriate manner of course.  My kid has been through a lot, his own health issues, my ongoing cancer treatments and all the health issues his mother had before she passed.  Somehow, someway, he is a very well adjusted young adult.  We never babied or coddled him.  Again not a conscious thought, we just did it.  It helped his mother and I were of the same mind set.