My cousin is currently in the midst of assisting her son who was recently diagnosed with liver cancer. The poor baby (he’s just two years old!) has been going through rounds of chemo since his diagnosis, and he just had major surgery to remove the rapidly growing tumor located on his liver. My cousin has been at the hospital with him 24/7 to make sure he’s being taken care of properly and is comfortable, but it’s taking a toll on her as well as her husband and their older son.
I’ve been trying to come up with something that I can do for her to help ease the heartache and give her some comfort. I know she’s been given loads of books, movies and puzzles, but those work for only so long. She was also given a gift certificate to a spa nearby the hospital, but she said she’s afraid to leave the hospital for too long because she doesn’t want her little boy to get scared thinking that she’s gone away. I would love to do something… anything!.. for her, but I’m stumped.
Does she have a laptop? At times like these, most families gain support from networking with other parents in similar situations. Check out caringbridge.com...they allow families in this situation to create a website where they can post progress reports and receive messages from family and friends. A Nintendo DS lite might be a nice distraction for her (especially those brain games.) Otherwise, how about a bag full of some arts and craft type things that she could use to make decorations for the room. Copy and enlarge some family pictures that she can hang in the room for them to look at together. Will hope and pray for the best for them.
Wow Katie, this is truly a heartbreaking, very difficult situation. I have a 2 year old and I just can't imagine. :(
I understand the dilema...she just doens't want to leave her baby alone and who could blame her. Is there someone that her son knows well, like you or grandma or someone else that can relieve her for some time either everyday or a couple of times a week, at least for some time so she could spend time with her older son. I can only imagine the toll this kind of thing takes on the whole family. We've had a lot of cancer in our family but we were all old enough to understand and pitch in. Maybe you could help her by researching some kind of support group for the older child and help by either going with him to that or relieving one or both parents so they could attend with him. I think as a mother of 2, it would bring much more peace knowing that the other child is taken care of and happy.
Anyway, I don't know if that helped...my heart aches for your cousin. Our church always helps people in need by making them meals and stuff. That is always such a tremendous help. the last thing you have time for in those situations is something as simple as making food. What a help that was for me after I gave birth to my kids. I appreciated it SO MUCH. Just another idea.
I will say a prayer for your family today. Please will you let us know how they are doing. God bless you all and may He be with that little one who is suffering.