Fighting Childhood Cancer
September is one of my favorite months. It’s time for Fall to approach, providing nights with coolness which lingers into the early morning. It’s amazing to step outside cuddling a hot cup of coffee and breathe in the fresh, brisk air. It’s wondrous to watch the leaves change from orange, rust, reds and even mauve. And when the wind blows just right, it’s like being in a ‘leaf wind storm’ as they flutter all about, doing their part to create a beautiful, colorful blanket on the ground.
Another significant occurrence in September is ‘childhood cancer awareness’. It’s a month dedicated to increasing awareness and honoring those children who are battling cancer. Additionally, their families, the medical teams who work tirelessly in an effort to find a cure, the doctors and nurses who care for the children, and others who help in a variety of ways to help them get through this incredibly difficult time, are also paid tribute for all they do.
Progress in research, is being made, as survival rates are rising. But given that still, almost every week on average, nearly 300 children are diagnosed with cancer, there is still work to be done so that no child dies from this evil disease.
I’ve had several close adult friends lose the fight with cancer, and another friend currently in Hospice fighting for her life. It’s hard to lose a friend to this horrible disease, but somehow the loss of a child or watching a child suffer through chemo therapy, radiation, tests and more, which drains all the joy out of life ….his life, just exhausts and depletes a body of everything that seems natural!
Sometimes, as ‘outsiders’, these situations leave us frustrated and frightened. We want to do something, but we can’t figure out what! Words seem so inadequate. First and foremost we can pray. Yes, pray. We can ask God for comfort, strength, wisdom for the doctors, the right medications and a list of other requests.
Get informed! You need not be an expert, but if you have some knowledge about what’s going on through common research, it’ll be easier to respond to needs. If there is conversation, you can offer a shoulder, along with a bit of understanding as the parent, (or caregiver) shares his or her journey.
We can also do something, even if it seems like a small thing. Take the family over a meal, offer to watch any siblings, clean the house, do laundry, mow the lawn, and any variety of other creative things that can and will ease some of the stress they are dealing with.
Many movies (especially the Hallmark ones at Christmas!) will tell you that giving a gift card is so impersonal. But giving a gift card can be a welcome gift for groceries, gas, parking, meals while traveling, even medications or other supplies at the pharmacy, and even a taxi or coffee shop! It’s likely it’ll be easier for the recipient to accept a gift card than funds outright. That said, a ‘Go Fund Me’ page isn’t out of the question either.
There are organizations like St. Jude Children's Hospital, who cover the cost of the expenses for care at their facility or others who may offer assistance like Texas Children's Hospital when possible, or even the American Cancer Society and others who will help with financial assistance, if needed. But there are likely other expenses which may not be covered within the framework of all families; and actual funds are needed both during the ordeal and even the months that follow, once recovery seems like a likely outcome. The extended hospital stays, continual doctor visits, medications, lab work, and more can deplete family finances and otherwise run down even the most hardy of us!
One of my favorite ways to ‘be there’ for my friends fighting cancer is to reach out via a card or note they receive in the mail. Yes, email is an option, but an actual piece of correspondence which projects love and encouragement can provide a huge dose of joy and hope!
I was pleasantly surprised when a good friend I lost from cancer some years ago shared with me before she was taken from this life, “I love to get the cards you send. They help me get through!” I didn’t send the cards because I expected that—in fact, I was honestly floored by the comment! But I didn’t know what else to do, given the proximity of where my husband and I were, to where she lived.
Mail in our mailboxes seems to be largely bills and advertising. It’s wonderful to find an encouraging piece which we can open and hold in our hands. It’s personal and in a very real way one of the nicest things you can do which costs a little time (I make mine on the computer), an envelope and a stamp!
Best case scenario, the child beats the cancer and is finally on their way to recovery, and finally able to go back to school. The journey isn’t finished. There is always the threat of relapses or recurrence and the endless lab work and doctor visits. Never forget what they’ve been through; help when you can and always share of yourself whenever possible.