Why Every Mom Should Be Aware of Childhood Cancer

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Childhood Cancer Awareness, Cancer Survivor, Cancer Mom

I have struggled to find what to write this September for National Childhood Cancer Awareness month. For those who know me, that is truly unusual.

Recently, a young woman in central Iowa deceived her community by portraying her preschool child as a child diagnosed with cancer. She gave her daughter drugs and attached a feeding tube to her. She accepted money from her supportive community that was saddened by her daughter’s story.

As a mom of a child diagnosed with cancer, this was the ultimate insult. Many of my fellow cancer moms were equally offended.

Clearly, this woman is mentally ill. And, I hope she is able to be treated for her illness.

Being a parent of a child diagnosed with cancer was never a choice I would have made.

So here goes….

“Hi! I am Lisa, and my daughter had cancer.”

Our family is one of the lucky ones. We are very blessed. We have lost too many young friends, and that continues to make this nightmare never-ending.

Childhood Cancer Awareness, Cancer Survivor, Cancer Mom
My daughter after her biopsy

February  2, 2007.

Every cancer mom can tell you the exact day their journey with childhood cancer began. My daughter had a headache and vomited once. I thought she had meningitis and took her to the emergency room. Little did I know. Meningitis may have been a better diagnosis.

Over the following eight months, my daughter endured 14 rounds of chemotherapy and 31 radiation treatments. She and I lived away from home approximately 75 percent of those eight months.

My daughter became a pale host of protruding bones with dark eyes sinking into her beautiful face. Amidst the despair, her spirit never died.

Childhood Cancer Awareness, Cancer Survivor, Cancer MomBecause, you see… our kids are our very best patients. They don’t ask, “Why?” or even, “Why me?” They accept their treatments with faith very few adults possess. These kids play when they feel good. And they rest when they are tired.

We pump them full of poisons to kill their cancers and other drugs to kill the side effects from those poisons. In fact, we often make them sicker in order for them to get better.

Yet, these kids are so amazing.

In the last seven years plus, we have lost some very close young friends. These children and their families melded into our family.

Childhood Cancer Awareness, Cancer Survivor, Cancer MomWe miss them every day… not just in September.

Our kiddos need to be celebrated and supported.

In our country, less than five percent of all research dollars from our government and private organizations is designated for ALL OF OUR CHILDHOOD CANCERS COMBINED. Our kids need more support.

While I celebrate and give thanks for my daughter each day, I urge each of you to do the same for your children.

Because, the day before my child was diagnosed, I wasn’t a cancer parent either.


Meet Guest Blogger Lisa Hulsing

Childhood Cancer Awareness, Cancer MomLisa Hulsing grew up in Estherville and attended the University of Northern Iowa and Drake University. She is currently a pharmacist and lives in West Des Moines with her husband, Steve, and their three children, Regan, Nick, and Gabby. She is a founding member of BeatCancerToday.org. This is a local charity created by parents of kids diagnosed with cancer. In 2010, she was a recipient of Lite 104.1’s Outstanding Woman You Should Know award for her work in the community bringing awareness and raising dollars for pediatric cancer research and support programs.

 

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