International Childhood Cancer Day – raising awareness about childhood cancer
Having worked closely with Recovery Haven Kerry Cancer Support House for nearly 10 years I have learnt so much from children and their families and been privileged to have supported and met them along a journey of struggle, recovery and hope .
This is a little story I have written to mark the day
The day my family turned into superhero’s
Once upon a time their lived a little girl called lucy, every morning Lucy would run down the stairs to be the first to feed honey. Honey was a new puppy Lucy’s parents rescued from the dog shelter. They knew she would be loved and well looked after in their home. Lucy had a big brother called Noah who loved football and his play station. Lucy was always running into Noah’s room playing tricks on him and he would complain and tell her to get of his room, as big brothers do.
Lucy complained of a pain in her leg not a big pain just a little one, her mom said they are growing pains and she was growing into a big girl. One morning Lucy’s mom noticed while Lucy was running down the stairs she had a little limp. Not a big one a little one, the one only a mom or dad would notice. Lucy’s mom made a very quick, smart decision to bring her to the doctor. The doctor said he wanted lucy to have an X-ray at the local hospital. Mom and dad spoke on the phone, as lucy was sitting in the waiting room, to her surprise dad arrived. Lucy’s parents spoke to the doctors and than told her they had to make another journey to another hospital.
Lucy noticed a change in her parents faces, lots of phone calls. What was all the fuss? Why did everyone look worried ? Lucy wondered. When lucy arrived in the big hospital everyone was so kind, the doctors and nurses smiled, waved and even one doctor had very funny jokes. Lucy didn’t like some of the tests the nice nurses and doctors had to do, but they needed to find out about the little limb her mom seen with her super smart eyes. Lucy’s brother Noah send photos of honey beside him on his bed and he even was looking after her teddies because she seen he was holding one in a photo.
As Lucy was playing with some Lego, her mom and dad sat on the bed and told Lucy they had something to tell her. Lucy was worried because she noticed that look in her parents face again. Tears rolled from her moms face and Lucy’s dad told her she had cancer, the doctors are going to make a plan for your treatment. Lucy’s mom told her they would tell her all about the treatments before they would happen and she could ask the doctors any questions she wants. Lucy said she knew something was wrong as her mom cuddled her and as her dad wiped her tears.
At that moment a beautiful nurse walked into the room and said I heard you say you noticed your parents face change lucy, your right it did and that’s because they have got a shock. I want to see if you have noticed something else about them asked the nurse. Through her tears Lucy said no I don’t they just look sad and worried. The lovely nurse asked Lucy’s parents to stand up and face the window so Lucy could see their backs, now Lucy use your imagination and tell me what can you see….. lucy looked closely and smiled a knowing smile… I see capes, I see superhero capes. So do I, said the nurse . Your mom and dad know what to do to help you Lucy, they will take turns to stay with you, your brother will feed honey until your home. You will all have your own powers of bravery, courage and will support each other and we will look after the rest. Lucy’s big brother Noah, face timed her and told her he was still going to throw her out of his room when she came home, they all giggled. Honey was snuggled up beside Noah, Grandma and Grandpa were doing a great job in minding Honey and Noah. That’s the day they discovered they were a superhero family.