Hi Lori,
Thanks for the book recommendation. We can always learn new things! My daughters were age 4 and 7 when I was dx'd with CML and they knew I was sick for quite sometime before the dx. After my initial biopsy, and meeting with an Onc/Hem, I was directly admitted to the hospital for 3 days to stabilize me, (102.5 fever), high white count, (305,000), and give me a tranfusion of 2 units of packed red cells, and get me started on hydrea. They also did a blood draw for HLA tissue typing in case the need arised one day. We have been completely upfront and honest with the girls from the get go, and even though they were small, they have huge hearts and a desire to learn about my disease. My oldest daughter even entered a contest in school and wrote about my CML and was a Finalist! Proud is not even close to how I felt! We have had the possible "death" talk initally, but now, we don't even think about it. They see how much I have improved and they still remain supportive and giving. They also know about my tests, and I occasionally bring them into my Onc/Hem's office. Unfortunately, I can barely get a word in edgewise with my Dr. and his Staff because they talk to them and love them so much! :-) The CML has been a blessing in many ways, as they have learned alot about themselves and about accepting change, and moving forward, no matter what. In some ways, those lessons are invaluable in life, and they have shown that they are still happy, solid, and well adjusted girls that can take on anything! Moms and Dads are not supposed to get sick. We never would wish it on anyone. But, if you are going to go through this, it should be with the people who love and care about you the most. It has been quite a bonding experience and when my girls come up to me out of the blue, and tell me they love me and give me a huge hug----Well, I can't think of anything better than that! Sincerely, Lynn (Snickertoons) Dx'd 12/03 PCRU Zavie #692 400 mg --- In [email protected], "Lori White Wasserman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > 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 --------------------~--> Dying to be thin? Anorexia. Narrated by Julianne Moore . http://us.click.yahoo.com/7visLB/gsnJAA/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. 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