La da da da life goes on: Chronic Illness and Perspective

March. So far this month has brought some momentous changes in the world - namely, the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear emergency in Japan.  The little things we deal with day to day pale in comparison to this tragedy. And, I'm sure somewhere over there are people dealing with chronic and terminal illnesses who just had their entire world turned upside down on top of it.  It's all perspective. What most of the rest of us are dealing with is teensy by comparison.

Perspective. Recently a friend of my son's came to live with us. He was kicked out of his house so I opened my home to him. It's someone my son has known for a number of years. His mom, who is also a single parent like me, was diagnosed last year with breast cancer and just finished her treatment; she has some kind of liver involvement now they are researching, and will find out in a few weeks if the treatment worked. It had spread to 7 of 9 lymph nodes. They also have have a very difficult home and financial situation outside of dealing with a significant health situation. And, whether it's something wrong with her brain from the cancer or the treatment, she is treating him horribly. I don't mean this in an even remotely light way. I feel sick and immensely sad about the things she has said and done to him. I try to tell him that it's probably because she's sick that this is happening. It still doesn't make it right nor excuse the behavior, but maybe it gives a reason for it. It's hard enough as adults for us to deal with someone we love treating us horribly, let alone a teenager who has yet to develop all the skills we learn as we get older in dealing with this kind of situation. Right now we are just going day to day. I don't know how long he'll be with us, but keeping him safe and stable, and giving him support, is the least I can do.

So a new journey begins for me, raising two boys, and doing everything I can to stay healthy in the meantime by managing my illness so I can be there for them. And, remaining aware that what I'm dealing with is the smallest of potatoes compared to the rest of the world.