Raising a healthy and happy family was the most important objective in our lives. We seemed to be succeeding with four daughters between the ages of eight and twelve. Life was good.
Then without warning our oldest daughter, Alisa developed some symptoms that, at first, seemed minor. But as the days passed and she didn’t respond to the antibiotics, we knew we were looking at a serious health problem. We were lucky to have good doctors. Not everyone is as fortunate. I learned from other families that you couldn’t let the medical community send you away without a definitive diagnosis. Push until you get an answer. Remember – this is your child.
After making several visits to the doctor’s office, we were referred to another city to a pediatrician. After a couple of days of testing, the doctor called us into his office. Little did we know that we would hear the words, “Your daughter has cancer!" From that moment on our lives changed forever. Our daughter had Hodgkin’s Disease.
Alisa was sent to Boston to get the best care. This was a choice that we felt was in our best interest. Boston would have all the latest treatments. Everything that I read about Hodgkin’s Disease described it as a fatal disease.
It was a daunting task trying to keep the family going. Everyone was feeling the effects of Alisa’s illness. Once your family starts this journey, there is no turning back. It is a roller coaster ride at it’s worst. Alisa was challenged physically and the other children were challenged emotionally. We tried our best to maintain normalcy. The one important lesson that we learned right away was to be honest with everyone. Alisa would get any information from the doctors as soon as we did. We were also honest with her sisters. I told them to try not to worry excessively - - if things weren’t going well we would tell them. Otherwise life went on as usual.
This was the beginning of a whole different way of life. Hospitals became the home base for Alisa and me. Gerry, my husband, stayed home with the other three girls and tried to keep things going as usual. It was hard when we were apart but we made use of and treasured every minute we had together as a family unit.
Over the next year we dealt with radiation, surgery, chemotherapy and relapse. In Part II of No Guarantees with Childhood Cancer I will discuss radiation.
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
Infectious diseases like polio and smallpox are virtually unheard of these days. However, cancer, asthma, and life-threatening allergies are on the rise in children. In fact, cancer is the number one cause of disease-related deaths in children, according to the American Cancer Society. As well, asthma rates have more than doubled in the last twenty years.
When I think back to my school years, I can only remember two children who had asthma or allergies. At that time, peanut butter sandwiches were allowed in school. As well, no one knew what anaphylaxis was or what an Epipen was! I also never knew a child who was diagnosed with cancer.
However, I cannot say the same thing about children growing up today. At my daughter's birthday party last year, two of the eight children who attended had severe food allergies. I also personally know people whose children have battled cancer. Some have won; others were not so lucky.
So what is going on? Well, in the last fifty years, a minimum of 70,000 synthetic chemicals have reportedly been created. These chemicals are being used in our food and everyday consumer products that we buy. What is most frightening is that the majority of these chemicals have not been tested for their effects on humans. And now, there is more and more literature that is showing that their overuse is disrupting our bodies? natural defense systems.
Many people believe that manufacturers would not sell unsafe products to consumers. Well think again. You may be suffering from aches and pains that are related to chemical sensitivities, but do not even know it. Formaldehyde is one of the most common, of many, chemicals found in our everyday household products! As defined in the 17th edition of Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary, formaldehyde "is used as a preservative," and "has been shown to be carcinogenic in certain animals and is possibly a carcinogen in man."
So what are we waiting for? Are we going to wait for the government to step in and protect our children? Think of how long we were exposed to cigarette smoke before it was finally recognized that second-hand smoke could cause cancer. By recognizing that chemicals are causing many serious childhood illnesses, we can begin to control what our children are exposed to in everyday life.
Kimberly Gingras has sinced written about articles on various topics from Insurance, Parenting and Types of Cancer. Kimberly Gingras is a work-at-home mom of two young children. She has a university degree in a health-related field. She teaches that it is easier to stay healthy than to get healthy. Visit. Kimberly Gingras's top article generates over 8100 views. to your Favourites.
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