We've met many wonderful and amazing people while living on J5 (the Hematology/Oncology floor) but some of them touch you more than others. One family we've grown close to has a 1 yr old son with leukemia.
Our journeys have been very similar. Just like Averi, R has to stay after each chemo treatment until his counts recover, so they are stuck here for weeks at a time. His mom stays with him overnight like I do with Averi, they have another son who is 10, and his parents always have smiles on their faces.
His mom and I often visit in the halls during nap time and exchange our frustrations and changes in life. R and Averi often had 'dates' in the hall that involved waving at eachother from a distance and not touching anything. :)
Last time we were in the hospital, R finished his last chemo and had his central line taken out. I was sad to see our friends go, and a little jealous since they had started chemo after us, but mostly excited that they were finally done.
Yesterday, R was admitted back on the floor. In just over a month his leukemia has come back. The options they were given for treating him this time were even more brutal and have extremely low chances of success. He was moved to the hospice room at the end of the hall today.
My heart is breaking in so many ways. It's just too close to home. I can't even imagine what his parents are going through - and yet all I can do is realize that that could be us in just a month or two. His biopsies were clean just a month ago and now he's living in the hospice room. His parents only had 7 short months with their healthy baby boy.
I have no idea what to do for them, because really there's nothing I can do, and I'm a mess. I feel so helpless. I hate cancer and I hate the void that it is going to leave in R's family. I want them to know that they will be able to see their son again. That, yes this sucks, but families are forever. I want them to realize how blessed they are to have R and experience the joy he gives them, even when it comes with trials. I want them to be happy.
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A journey through life with Down Syndrome
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3 comments:
This just breaks my heart! Even when you know and truly believe in the gospel, it still hurts that you do not get to raise your little one in this life. My heart goes out to that family. I hope they will find great joy in life even through such a trial. That is a special little boy and some amazing parents! (Just like you and Dan!)
I agree. It is totally heartbreaking. Poor R...I'm so sorry for his family.
Earth life can be so, so, hard.
I think about R and wonder how he and is family are doing. He is sooo cute. I wish his family could understand the grand plan better. They seem like such good people.
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