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Cancer Cole Health Mothering Ryan

What to Tell Kids About Cancer

One of the biggest concerns on my mind right now are my boys, Ryan and Cole.  Not only are they adjusting to a divorce, but they also will have to deal with my cancer, the surgery, my being away from them for at least a week, and my recovery.

It is hard to know how much to tell them regarding my health and surgery. I don’t want them to be scared or wonder why no one is talking about what is happening with Mommy.  On the other hand, I don’t want to scare them or give them reason to worry unnecessarily.  Ryan picks up on everything, and Cole is right behind him. 

So far, I have told both boys that I have an owie in my throat.  I have told them I have to go to the hospital for an operation, and that will make the owie better.  I have told them I have to stay in the hospital for a few days, but they get to have special time with their dad, and their grandparents.

They both seemed okay with this, but Ryan told his dad that my condition is serious and I could be in the hospital for a long time.  That wasn’t the easy going attitude I was hoping for, so I am going to have to adjust my comments and work with Ryan so he isn’t so concerned about it. 

This is the hardest part- trying to make my boys feel secure about my health, when I don’t feel that myself.  One of my friends tells me she thinks there is a little Superhero in every mom.  I hope she is right, because I need my Superhero Mom-Knows-What-the-Right-Thing-to-Say-to-my-Boys powers right now. 

On a happier note, I was finally able to get Ryan’s five year pictures, and Cole’s three year pictures done.  I will be taking these to the hospital with me.  I will look at them often to remind me- this will all be worth while if  I can be healthy for Ryan and Cole.

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Categories
Cancer Health Me Mothering Parenting

Results from Ultrasound

Despite us having a major blizzard in Colorado, my doctor, Dr. T., was at work and called me with the results of the ultrasound on my thyroid today.

She said the ultrasound confirmed there is a nodule on the left part of my thyroid, as she suspected.  The doctor at the hospital, who read the ultrasound, suggests that I have a biopsy on the nodule to determine if it is cancerous or not. 

Dr. T. said nine times out of ten, it is nothing- it is like a benign cyst.  She also said they would be looking for anything atypical that would suggest the startings of something cancerous.  Dr. T. is sending my file to an ear, nose, and throat doctor in town, and as soon as he gets my file I will get the biopsy scheduled- I am hoping it can be as soon as next week.  I didn’t think to ask how long after the biopsy they would have results, but I am sure it can’t be more than a few days. 

I didn’t want to hear any of this.  I was wishing Dr. T. was going to say it was nothing- I just had an odd shaped thyroid.  But, since that isn’t the case, I have to take the next step.  I know it is for my health and the odds are in my favor.  Yet, I am terrified in that little place in the back of my mind.  Someone has to be that one person who isn’t okay.  Of course I hope that isn’t me, but what if it is? 

I can’t even really go there mentally right now.  Friends and family tell me not to assume the worst.  But when you are a mother, (or a father) it is so hard. How do you look at your precious children, and not wonder if you will be healthy for them?  How am I going to explain this to a five year old and a two-and-a-half year old if it comes down to that?  

I have way more questions than answers now, and all I can do is keep taking the steps to lead me to the point where I will have the answers I need. I just hope and pray they are the answers I am hoping for- that I am one of the nine, instead of that one.