MY BABY HAS CANCER!: 2012

MY BABY HAS CANCER!

A very special friend of mine is dealing with something that most parents can’t imagine. Her twenty-seven year son is battling cancer. We spend so much time quarreling with or not speaking to our children over foolishness. So much time is wasted on things that are not important. We live as if we are guaranteed to wake up tomorrow. All the pettiness of life goes out the window when your child falls ill. The computer isn't going anywhere. The malls and bars are not closing anytime soon. Loved ones are only here temporarily and we must use the time we have with them wisely because we never know when our number is going to be up.

It started at conception; cells dividing and multiplying. I can still remember the first flutter in my belly. It was you, letting me know, “Mommy, I’m here!” My womb was your first home and also our bonding place. I was your mother and I was your first love. Labor and delivery was far from fun but seeing your precious face made everything that I went through worth it. No one else in the world matters; it is now all about you. I reflect on your life more now than ever. The first time you smiled and the way you looked at me as if I was the most beautiful woman in the world. You depended on me and trusted me. Even at times when you were mischievous, you were still my good boy. I was hard on you when I needed to be because I wanted you to be the very best person you could be.

I look at you now. My twenty-seven year old baby has cancer. He’s trying to be strong for me. I’m trying to be strong for him. I love God but I still question why this is happening to my son; my baby.

I remember when my second child Terrence was born. I was twenty-four weeks pregnant. I went into labor and little did I know that both my unborn child and I were dying. I had an emergency c-section and prepared for the worse. When I woke up hours later I was being congratulated. I had a one pound, eleven ounce baby boy. I couldn't believe it.

I had never heard of neonatal intensive care. The first time I saw my child in that incubator, I nearly passed out. He had hair all over him and was connected to so many wires and of course a ventilator. When I saw my child fighting for his life, I had to leave the tears behind and give him what he needed most;

HIS MOTHERS STRENGTH!

Five days after his birth, the doctor came in to speak to me. He told me that he wanted me to get stronger before he said what he had to say. The doctor told me that my heart stopped while in surgery and that Terrence wasn't breathing at all when he was delivered. This physician said he had two lives to save. I was a little frightened but then me being me I said, “I must have been going to hell because I damn sure didn't see the light!” That doctor fought to save my life and the life of my son. I had to continue the fight. I was at the hospital everyday with my child. Terrence was born in 1991 so he stayed on the ventilator for almost eight months and because of that lost his vision. He is now twenty years old. Does he have health issues? Yes he does but he is still here because God wants him here.

I share this story because my friend and I are similar in the fact that we are strong women. Our boys have something better than any medication. If you watch the St. Jude specials, the mothers are like rocks. They know as much as the doctor’s and they are tough as steel. God gives us that strength. The pain of our children is our heartbreak. We stand when we want to crumble because God is carrying us in His loving arms.

Looking into your twenty-seven year old sons eyes is hard to do because all you see is the baby you carried for nine months, the toddler taking his first steps, and the way he smiles at you that certain way to make you give him what he wants. You see all the memories as you pray silently for your baby to survive.

I pray for God’s will to be done. I ask that your family and friends allow God to come through. Everything in life happens for a reason and there is something to be learned from this experience. God, faith, and love will get us all through this trying time. God is the ultimate healer and even when things look grim, He has a way of pulling a rabbit out of his hat. When we believe, God smiles and rewards!

It is important that we remove ourselves from the distractions of this world. We say “live each day as if it’s your last,” but how many of us actually does it? Whether we live twenty more seconds or twenty years; we have to stop taking life for granted and cherish the time we have with our loved ones.

I really didn't want to speak about death but I will say this.

The circle of life is so amazing. Look at our humble beginnings on this earth. So many people fear death and understandably so, but know that our spirits are too big for our bodies! Death releases our spirit and allows it to go back to the Creator! God made the world beautiful and made sure that we had everything we needed but the precious humans that he created destroyed what was meant to be a great place.

There are people here that have a specific job and then God takes them home. Death is not the scary event that everyone dreads, unless you’re being tortured of course.

Listen to God and let him guide you! Embrace the lessons and prepare for whatever he has in store. He loves you! God loves your son and he has this situation handled. God can do the unthinkable! Trust Him and he will show you what his healing hands can do!

MY BABY HAS CANCER!

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

MY BABY HAS CANCER!: MYBABY HAS CANCER!A very special friend of min...