Malcolm, My kids were 10 & 11 when I was dx'd three years ago. We told them everything we knew within the first week, and have kept them fully informed ever since. Frankly, it was a relief not to have to worry about "who knows what" and whether a neighbor would let something slip to the kids. Kids KNOW when something's going on, anyway.
The first book I read after dx was "When a Parent Has Cancer" by Dr. Wendy S. Harpham, an internist and long-term lymphoma survivor who was dx'd when her three kids were quite young. She is approx. 13 years past her first dx and has weathered several recurrences, and now speaks and writes extensively. I found her approach very comforting and calm. Another good website for info on talking to children: http://www.cancerbacup.org.uk/Resourcessupport/Relationshipscommunica tion/Talkingtochildren My kids have been my biggest supporters through this whole CML journey, able to express their feelings and "get it" when sometimes it's just too hard for a spouse to handle. The kids have not fallen apart. They know what the various tests are, what my numbers should be, ask me questions (yes, even "are you going to die?"), and have absorbed it into their universe. Both have done science projects on CML at school, unbeknownst to me until after the fact. I would have never wished in a million years that they would have to deal with the serious illness of a parent, but they have matured from the experience in ways that make me proud. They have also become quite handy around the house, learning to do laundry, yardwork and to cook. As the mom to two now-teenage boys, I am QUITE thankful they are learning these skills now. I expect to be around to hear my future daughters-in-law thank me for making them self-sufficient! :*) All the best, Lori dx 5/13/02 Zavie # 472 2 yrs. 10 miu IFN daily, 1 year 600 mg Gleevec, now at .0003 ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Ever feel sad or cry for no reason at all? Depression. Narrated by Kate Hudson. http://us.click.yahoo.com/1visLB/esnJAA/xGEGAA/8zSolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> New! Sign up for local CML support group meetings in your local community at http://cml.meetup.com Apply for Commercial Real Estate loans online and submit your deal to dozens of hungry lenders in just minutes. Loan programs for all types of business and commercial real estate. Apply anytime at http://realestatezoo.com CML (Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Support List) --------------------------------- Part Of CMLHope.Com An International Community Of CML Patients For more information: http://cmlhope.com Post Message: [email protected] Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Change To No Mail/Web: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Change To Digest: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Change To Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] List Help: [EMAIL PROTECTED] CML Group Web Site http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CML Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CML/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
