Who Am I?
After all I went through as a child, it refused to let me be me even into adulthood. I even had a bout recently a few months ago after 20 years of being very healthy. I found myself asking, “Who was I and who did I become?” I am certainly the same person from before and […]
I can be a voice: Raising Awareness
While driving today I was thinking back to the sick little girl I was for so many years. It is not only this time of year, September being Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, that the memories are fresh in my mind; I often reflect on my experiences and how I got to where I am today. […]
A Flash Back
I spent some time with my brother this weekend and we were able to catch up with our families and talk about everything else going on in our crazy lives that often keeps us from getting together. His work, kids, two monster dogs and life in general keep him busy; While for me-my son, lots […]
Looking Back
I know we cannot go back in time and change things that have already happened, but I do want to share something with you that I shared during my interviews in New York the other day. I told each of my interviewers for every magazine we met with that day that, “If I could change […]
A Flashback
I like to share different experiences from my childhood when I can. It not only helps me to talk with others, but might also help others to ponder their own problems and experiences that they have faced while dealing with a sick child or family member. I remember when I first became ill and wanted […]
Dealing With a Sick Child
I often think of my parents and what they went through while I was ill as a child. It saddens me to imagine the pain and difficulty they faced as parents to three children, one of them incredibly ill. When I was sitting with the families at the Ronald McDonald House the other night, I […]
My “Normal” Childhood
Summer is here and these days remind me of certain times in my childhood. Although it was anything but normal due to my illness, my parents did their very best to make our family life ”normal” for my siblings and I. I remember taking a trip to the Amish country; I think is was a […]
How Did They Do It?
Today I went to brush my hair and thoughts swept through me from my childhood. Actually it was a story my mother told me when I was a bit older and recovering from my cancer. As she brushed my long blonde hair when I was so very sick, she told me that she would cry. […]
Memories
With the deep snow falling in the north today, memories of my childhood creep into my thoughts today. As a child, the snow came more frequently during the winter and my memories of playing in it come back to life. The only problem was while I was very sick I would bundle up to play […]
Traveling With a Sick Child
What a challenge for my parents, three children, taking a vacation, one child is extremely sick. Where do they take us? How will I be as sick as I am? What if something happens? We managed to take small family trips during the time I was so ill. From what I remember they were always […]
