This really has been a great experience so far, even with all the financial headaches (that are still ongoing).
The boys and I have been really, really lucky and we have found some very wonderful friends so far along the way. Along with joy, sometimes you find about the sadness.
Yesterday, was a shattering day, particularly for myself. I found out about our friend daughter, who is the same age as Youngest Son has brain tumor. I have been in tears on and off. I heard the news from a mutual friend. Her friend has been keeping me informed of what is happening. The little girl is currently at Addenbrooks in Cambridge because there were no beds available at Great Ormond in London. Her tumor is quite embedded and entangled in her brain so the consultants are carefully plotting the surgery. She is taking steroids to help reduce the swelling in her brain and to build her up a bit for the surgery. The surgery will be next week.
Her brother is Son 3’s good friend, is currently in Oxford with grandparents. But he will be back this weekend and back in school next week. I hope to be able to help the family out more, anyway that I can.
As many of you read on my FaceBook account, I am also planning a birthday party for Oldest Son. Here at our home, it now, now referred to as the party gone "viral". More about that in another post. Yesterday, we have our first RSVP. It was from a really nice Mom who really cares what her kids are doing. In talking to her last night, I found out that her husband died last year. He went in to the hospital for back surgery, during surgery the doctor severed a major artery and he died a week later. With already an emotional day under my belt, lets just say, tears flowed.
In talking to her, she shared a lot of wonderful things with me not only about her and her family, but also about her son. Last night after I got off the phone her I went to talk to Oldest Son about what she shared with me. I know that Oldest Son has a different perspective about her son now, particularly since Oldest Son had categorized him as a troublemaker, because he hangs out with the kids who cause trouble. The boy also got more points (at least in our house) because apparently, as he handed the invitation to his mom, he said that she needed to call me because he could go to this party as their would be no alcohol served! The drinking age here is 18, but parents are already allowing their children to drink at parties in their homes. Something that his mom (and this mom) does not support. She shared with me that he is not allowed to go to parties where is it served. She talks to the parents to ensure that underage drinking will not be happening at the parties and if it is, he does not go.
She also shared with me that her husband was Canadian and that they lived in Canada for awhile when her son was young. She has 4 children, and her son that is Oldest Son's age is her 3rd, her youngest daughter has cerebral palsy. She shared with me that loosing her husband has been hard in the ways one would except, it has also been hard because he was an equal partner when it came to the care of their youngest daughter.
This morning in the car Oldest Son and I talked a little bit about what a somber day yesterday was, today, like yesterday is a sunny day. I am so, so grateful for the sun right now, without it I am not sure I would be able to pick myself up with all the sadness. But, really we all do it, my friend is staying strong for her daughter and family. The other mother, is staying strong and moving on without her husband.
We all hear the stories about the sad diseases and tragedies of those among us and around us. We are all affected and it touches us, individually. I know that I am just not able to read all the stories because emotionally I can't bear it all, none of us can. We all have our own emotional well to delve into and when it runs dry, it is dry. We all have these moments where we look around and are very glad for what we have and we fiercely hug our family members and love them extra-specially. This is definitely one of those moments for me.
I know that you will all be doing the same.
The boys and I have been really, really lucky and we have found some very wonderful friends so far along the way. Along with joy, sometimes you find about the sadness.
Yesterday, was a shattering day, particularly for myself. I found out about our friend daughter, who is the same age as Youngest Son has brain tumor. I have been in tears on and off. I heard the news from a mutual friend. Her friend has been keeping me informed of what is happening. The little girl is currently at Addenbrooks in Cambridge because there were no beds available at Great Ormond in London. Her tumor is quite embedded and entangled in her brain so the consultants are carefully plotting the surgery. She is taking steroids to help reduce the swelling in her brain and to build her up a bit for the surgery. The surgery will be next week.
Her brother is Son 3’s good friend, is currently in Oxford with grandparents. But he will be back this weekend and back in school next week. I hope to be able to help the family out more, anyway that I can.
As many of you read on my FaceBook account, I am also planning a birthday party for Oldest Son. Here at our home, it now, now referred to as the party gone "viral". More about that in another post. Yesterday, we have our first RSVP. It was from a really nice Mom who really cares what her kids are doing. In talking to her last night, I found out that her husband died last year. He went in to the hospital for back surgery, during surgery the doctor severed a major artery and he died a week later. With already an emotional day under my belt, lets just say, tears flowed.
In talking to her, she shared a lot of wonderful things with me not only about her and her family, but also about her son. Last night after I got off the phone her I went to talk to Oldest Son about what she shared with me. I know that Oldest Son has a different perspective about her son now, particularly since Oldest Son had categorized him as a troublemaker, because he hangs out with the kids who cause trouble. The boy also got more points (at least in our house) because apparently, as he handed the invitation to his mom, he said that she needed to call me because he could go to this party as their would be no alcohol served! The drinking age here is 18, but parents are already allowing their children to drink at parties in their homes. Something that his mom (and this mom) does not support. She shared with me that he is not allowed to go to parties where is it served. She talks to the parents to ensure that underage drinking will not be happening at the parties and if it is, he does not go.
She also shared with me that her husband was Canadian and that they lived in Canada for awhile when her son was young. She has 4 children, and her son that is Oldest Son's age is her 3rd, her youngest daughter has cerebral palsy. She shared with me that loosing her husband has been hard in the ways one would except, it has also been hard because he was an equal partner when it came to the care of their youngest daughter.
This morning in the car Oldest Son and I talked a little bit about what a somber day yesterday was, today, like yesterday is a sunny day. I am so, so grateful for the sun right now, without it I am not sure I would be able to pick myself up with all the sadness. But, really we all do it, my friend is staying strong for her daughter and family. The other mother, is staying strong and moving on without her husband.
We all hear the stories about the sad diseases and tragedies of those among us and around us. We are all affected and it touches us, individually. I know that I am just not able to read all the stories because emotionally I can't bear it all, none of us can. We all have our own emotional well to delve into and when it runs dry, it is dry. We all have these moments where we look around and are very glad for what we have and we fiercely hug our family members and love them extra-specially. This is definitely one of those moments for me.
I know that you will all be doing the same.
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