tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506064328898764765.post1559427530709480754..comments2023-08-29T02:45:40.934-05:00Comments on Dad's Diary - a journey through childhood cancer: A new type of neuroblastoma counselingMark Dunganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18139784704905490034noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506064328898764765.post-85047812252071623852010-04-25T18:23:06.621-05:002010-04-25T18:23:06.621-05:00There is nothing more irritating for me than when ...There is nothing more irritating for me than when i have to explain what NB is. Also being told that I am strong or need to stay strong for my son or pray and everything will work out is a waste of their breath. Research it and share what you learned, share others' positive outcomes, this is much more useful.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00279919930002680189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506064328898764765.post-46201893265939100852010-04-13T21:52:01.270-05:002010-04-13T21:52:01.270-05:00Mark,
I appreciate your thoughts on this. The so...Mark,<br /><br />I appreciate your thoughts on this. The son of my best friend (our kids practically grew up together) has just been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at the age of 25. I know they are overwhelmed as he was just "getting out in the world." Any advice on what to say or do is most appreciated. I just feel so helpless.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506064328898764765.post-90360605566253516472010-04-13T12:38:29.174-05:002010-04-13T12:38:29.174-05:00Yes! Awesome, awesome, awesome idea and please te...Yes! Awesome, awesome, awesome idea and please tell them not to just assume that the child will be okay. Even if they think so, just be supportive and don't tell them you know that will survive because no one knows that.Cryshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15226823968605652490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506064328898764765.post-57882761121548899322010-04-12T14:30:16.598-05:002010-04-12T14:30:16.598-05:00Mark,
I just had a similar conversation. A woman I...Mark,<br />I just had a similar conversation. A woman I am friends with has another friend whose child was just dx with NB. She asked me - What did people do that helped? What was just noise? It felt so good to be able to lay it out there honestly, without trying to spare any feelings. I hated being told I was strong (like I had a choice?), I was also told, like Dawn, that I needed to think positively. Why? Because cancer cares what I think? I wanted all my friends to Google NB before they talked to me. Read it yourself, and then we'll talk. And yes, help down the road gets sparse. We were (thankfully) flooded with help at first. Sometimes it's harder now, that my brain is no longer so numb. The reality feels a little more harsh a year later, without the security of constant treatment. Someone just ripped off his life jacket and told him to swim - what if he sinks? People think we should be happy (and we are of course) but we're also terrified and not many people understand that.<br /><br />A support for family and friends is much needed... can you tell?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506064328898764765.post-88074947626803388872010-04-12T11:53:39.124-05:002010-04-12T11:53:39.124-05:00Mark,
WOW! Amazing! What an amazing opportunity. T...Mark,<br />WOW! Amazing! What an amazing opportunity. There are so many things I wish our family and friends could have heard from the get go. I don't know if I could list them all if I tried. One thing I heard often, was that I was not thinking positively, that I was being too negative. That was because besides Kevin and me, no one really understood the gravity of the diagnosis, or the poor prognosis, and that made it really difficult for me, especially. I wasn't being negative, I was just being realistic. Others didn't get that. Anyway...all that to say, I think this IS a great opportunity! Maybe you could do a presentation on cd or dvd, or even online, for the supporters of families of the newly diagnosed? <br />Keep on going!!~Dawn~https://www.blogger.com/profile/14682446219403000777noreply@blogger.com