The most heartbreaking thing I’ve ever seen – a photo essay of a mother and son dealing with the horrors of childhood cancer. Don’t read it or look at it if you’re not somewhere you can have a good cry (seriously, unless you have an extremely cold heart or thick skin – you will).
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3 responses to “Heartbreaking”
Heartbreaking. I am in tears. Both for the child, and for failing to “scream” during the talks my co-author, San Anselmo resident David Borgeson give on cancer prevention. Your post will raise my voice…no microphone needed!
On the optimistic side, there are things we can do to lower the risk of this horrible scenario. Children that are exposed to home and garden pesticides have up to a seven-fold increased risk of leukemia. (As a mother of boys, since evaluating the study on dogs that live in households where lawn weed killers are used are twice as likely to die from cancer, my children will never see this placed on our lawn!) Nitrates in food may raise the risk. Consuming more fruits appears to lower the risk. I could go on and on, but it is important to remember, that there is a lot we can do to try to avoid seeing our own children in this picture. Thanks for sharing.
Lynne Eldridge M.D.
Co-Author, “Avoiding Cancer One Day At A Time: Practical Advice for Preventing Cancer”
http;//www.avoidcancernow.com
Kevin,
This is one of the most touching stories I have read in a long time. It is amazing at what a parent will do for their child, there is nothing that is too much or too difficult when it comes to one of your own. I am in tears as I write this, and it makes me appreciate every moment I have with my children, because you never know if it will be your last. Thanks for a great story.
Will
Dude, you could have warned me! Now I’m sitting at my desk with little puddles of tears surrounding my keyboard. As the father of two healthy young girls it scares the holy shite outta me to think that one of them could get sick. I do not know if I have the depth of character to be as strong for them and for my wife as they would need for me to be or expect for me to be.
This woman should be saluted for sharing this heartwrenching experience with the world. While it may never keeping any child from getting sick, it will certainly provide many children with an extra hug and kiss from their parents.
Kids need more hugs.