Usually when I sit down at this keyboard the words just flow and my fingers fly. I rarely have little to say. In our house now, the words start, and then we trip up on emotion and tears and giant lumps in our throat. We are scared and anxious and profoundly, profoundly sad. My beautiful niece was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia this week, and she will undergo a procedure today to determine the extent of the cancer and then she immediately begins an aggressive treatment plan. She is strong and tough and funny and these are all good things, but she is still ten and it’s the hardest news we’ve ever heard and any one of the many, many family members that love her so would take this burden on for her in a heartbeat. We would appreciate your thoughts and prayers for her through today and this weekend and for the long road ahead.
Last night I curled around my own fourth grader while she slept and I cried into her hair. We can only do so much, only so much, and that’s the rub of the double edged sword that is parenthood. It is such fierce love and fierce fear that battle within our minds and our hearts. I have been on this seesaw for almost a decade now, the push and pull of let-go-let-go-hold-tight-hold-tight. It’s exhausting, that balance, and I collapse into bed, arms tight around my daughter, and dream of my sister-in-law doing the same. We are all firmly on the hold-tight side, and this seesaw is crowded with all those who love her and hold her dear.
I discovered your blog during the 6 months that my beautiful 9-year-old daughter and I lived in two different hospitals (190 consecutive days from Aug2011 to Feb2012) while she battled AML (diagnosed out of the blue in a robust and perfectly healthy child who had never been sick).
So many of the ALL patients (all children) we met along the way are in remission, and/or have had successful bone marrow transplants. Repeat that sentence to yourself regularly. Also get everyone you know to register at “Be the Match” (marrow.org)
Prayers for your niece, and for her parents and for all who love her.
xo
Thank you.
We will keep your niece, and the family, in our thoughts.
Xo-nana
My thoughts and prayers are with you, your family and your beautiful niece.
We are thinking about you all. The Pitmans