I have recently shared a few fellow cancer fighters pages and updates on my personal Facebook page. I don’t do it often, but sometimes my heart compels me to do so. I share so that a child or family can receive extra thoughts, prayers and love. Also to continue to bring awareness to pediatric cancer. Some of the reactions I’ve received from doing so, have been surprising. I am so thankful for those friends and family members who have been supportive of my girls as well as other cancer warriors. And who do comment so nicely and heartfelt on my posts about them. Some friends have reached out via text that they are thinking of our friend, or they are heartbroken when I posted about Grant passing away, or praying for Hannah hearing the news of relapse. Thank you, sweet friends. Thank you.
But then there are the other messages I’ve received, or comments I’ve heard. Some have asked me to stop posting about childhood cancer. “Your girls are in remission, stop being a downer.” “I can’t look at those posts of sick littles, it makes my stomach hurt.” These comments hurt me. Hurt my heart. Yes, my girls are in remission, but remission IS NOT THE END. It’s a great step, but our nightmare isn’t over. And it never will be. (I don’t let that define us, though. We are happy and we continue to move on with our life, but that doesn’t mean that we never talk or think about childhood cancer or the others still fighting.) I am sorry that the photo of our friend fighting for his life made your stomach hurt, I hope you never have to experience the feelings his family feel. That my family feels. I don’t wish it on anyone. I don’t post to make you sad, but to bring awareness to the issue. To give you a small, small glimpse into this life. Our forever changed life that includes childhood cancer. It’s our reality, and I’m sorry if that reality makes your stomach hurt or makes you sad.