Emotional Impact

“CCLG parent survey reveals the emotional impact of childhood cancer.”

https://www.cclg.org.uk/news/cclg-parent-survey-reveals-the-emotional-impact-of-childhood-cancer

I read an article by The Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group; it highlights many of the daily feelings that most parents & carers experience after a child is diagnosed with cancer.

We have been unbelievably blessed to have had fantastic support around us since Dylan was diagnosed. The parents at school devised a meal rota & every Friday for months someone would drop over a week’s worth of home cooked food for us to put in the freezer. The amount of pressure that took away from us was immense; we would often be in hospital on rotation with Dylan overnight so it really helped…it particularly helped Ruari as Nick & I were often not home until late.

Whilst we are surrounded by wonderful friends & people who bend over backwards to help there is still an indescribable darkness that hangs over you once you receive the news that your child has cancer. Emotions are often unpredictable as are the minutes, hours & days. Some days you feel able to talk, other days you just don’t want to get out of bed such is the weight that you carry around constantly.

This article touches on so many subtleties & there is little I don’t identify with.

The sense of loneliness & isolation, the stress & crippling anxiety, the grief at the loss of a “normal” life, the lack of awareness, the things people say that cut through you…it goes on.

The article also highlights the improvement needed in focusing on the parents & carers who are going through horrendous emotional & psychological battles whilst watching their child being treated for cancer.

There is such a long list of unseen side effects besides the side effects of the treatments that these children have to endure in order to hopefully be cured.

Childhood cancer affects absolutely everything; life really is never the same again & whilst we all wait for our “new normal” we’re still working out how to come to terms with losing the old normal & dealing with perpetual shock.

If you have a moment, please read it. You never know who might benefit from this kind of awareness.