Caregivers--A Different Kind of Cancer Survivor
 

I’ve never had cancer, but as the caregiver for my son who did, I feel like I’m a cancer survivor too.  I don’t mean to say that my journey was anywhere close to someone who actually had to hear the words, “You have cancer.”  But as a mother I would have rather have heard those words spoken to me than to my child.  I believe my experience as a caregiver for my son made me want to fight cancer that much harder. 

Cancer never entered my mind when I took my son to see the surgeon about the biopsy we had done for Nathan.  The doctor we first went to said that the lump on his thigh was “incased fat” and we needn’t worry.  Because the lump was sometimes painful and growing, we wanted to have it removed.  In order to do so, we needed a biopsy. The diagnosis sent shock waves through me.  I immediately tried to reassure Nathan that things were going to be alright.  In truth, I had no idea how things were going to turn out, but I did have HOPE, and that’s what got me through. 

It wasn’t until later that I found out what Nathan was thinking when he learned he had cancer.  In his own words he said, ”I didn’t know a kid could get cancer and I thought everybody who got cancer died.” 

I’ve personally never had chemo that made me so sick I couldn’t keep anything down or made me throw up even on an empty stomach.  I have, however, felt helpless as I grabbed the barf bucket over and over again for my son to use, and wished there was something I could do to ease his pain. 

I’ve never lost all my hair, but I grieved with my son the day kids called him a loser because he was bald. 

I never had to get painful burning shots for several days after chemo treatments, but I was the one who had to give him those shots.

I never had to face the possibility of being crippled because of the surgery that was necessary to save my life.  I also never had to go through physical therapy to help me walk normally or to be able to ride a bike again.  But I was by my son’s side to offer encouragement through these tough times.

I hope to never know first-hand what it is like to battle for my life because cancer invaded my body.  I do know that because of my experiences as a caregiver for Nathan, it has made me come out swinging and I want to keep fighting cancer until it is knocked out.  Thank you Relay for Life for giving me an arena in which to fight. 

We celebrate our survivors.  We mourn for those we’ve lost.  For just a moment I want to pay tribute to the caregivers.  You all deserve the “Playtex Award” because you’re such a great support to your loved ones.  Fight on!