I’ve been going through the motions over the past few days, trying to live life as if everything were normal. And in my life, everything is normal. As a matter of fact, everything is amazing. My kids are healthy as can be, my husband adores me, and I’m doing pretty well myself. DDL and the Cloth Diaper Finder are doing amazing and the work is piling up but that is great.
In another family though, things aren’t great. A friend’s daughter is losing her battle to cancer. She is 2.5, she was born in November 2008, the same month as my own son. She has already beaten retinoblastoma but she lost her eye. She received a glass eye and wears glasses. A few months later her mother noticed her behavior was changing and saw a lump on her shoulder so they took her to the doctor. Just like that she went from normal healthy 2.5 year old to a baby girl with cancer that is spreading so fast they have very little hope. 1 day was all it took to change that family’s life forever.
And just like that I was reminded how lucky I am. I neglected my inbox and squeezed my babies and cried over them. MY baby is the same age. That could be my son but it isn’t. Why? Why should anyone, let alone a 2.5 year old baby girl, have to get cancer?
I think most of you know that I don’t practice a religion. These are the times when most people would pray for this little girl. Instead, I am sending my positive thoughts their way, for whatever that is worth. If you do pray, I think the family would appreciate any prayers. And if you don’t, positive thoughts work, lighting a candle, anything.
My friend Kristen who runs Giving Diapers, Giving Hope suggested we also work on getting breastmilk for her. Apparently there have been studies that show breastmilk causes cancer cells to commit suicide-more on this here. In case there are any breastmilk donors in the Oshawa area (in Canada) this is where they live. I’d be happy to coordinate with anyone willing to donate breatmilk for them. If there is a miracle waiting for this little girl, perhaps this is it.
I’m not writing this for donations for the family, or to make anyone sad. I’m merely writing out my feelings that have been hanging over me for the past few days. I’m lucky and I know it. I think I’m just having a hard time with the why. Why do I get beautiful healthy babies when others don’t? I don’t know what I would do in this mother’s shoes. She also has another baby who is not much over 1. She may never truly know her older sister, and that breaks my heart.
My amazing group of mothers has worked together to secure a photographer who will be taking pictures of this beautiful baby girl and her family. His work is simply stunning and I know these will be cherished forever. With the extra money we have raised we will be covering shipping fees for any breastmilk donors who want to ship milk out, and hopefully we have enough to then send gas cards or buy a parking pass for the hospital in case she is admitted again. I’m honored to call this group of women my friends because they always come through for anyone in trouble, just like the Wonder Pets, but better.
Even though this post isn’t soliciting donations I know one or two of you might want to help. If you do I have a Donate button. I’ll collect any donations and forward them to one of our moms who is local to Oshawa and who is helping us make this all a reality. Our group of moms has already raised a few hundred dollars for the photos and the shipping fees. If you are interested in donating breastmilk you can email me kdrosas {at} gmail {dot} com. If you are within 2 hours from Oshawa or Peterborough Ontario there is an option for a friend of the family to pick up the donations as well!
Hug your babies as tight as you can every chance you get and tell them how much you love them.
