Pocket money

I really am blessed with children who have the most caring personalities.

Zander and I were driving in the car yesterday when he said the following:

“Mom, I get R100 pocket money”   I want to give R25 of that to …… and R25 to ….. because they don’t have a lot of money.

Now, R25 is not going to buy them much if anything but that is not the point.  He is willing to give away half of his pocket money because those families have less than us.

How absolutely sweet of him to be thinking of these families.  We weren’t talking about people with less money than us or how blessed we are.  They were just on his mind and he wants to help.

I do love that child very much.

 

 

Advertisements

What did you do?

What did you do when you turned 16?

Well, Jason spent his afternoon donating blood.

 

He has been wanting to donate blood ever since I was diagnosed with cancer.  However he was still too young and could only do so once he turned 16.  He wouldn’t wait one day longer and did it on his birthday.

You make me so proud, Jay.  Such a selfless act and in honour of me.

He received two gifts, since it was his first time.  On our way home Jason saw a homeless man and gave the scarf he received to him.

Thank you for being the awesome son you are.

Happy birthday.  I hope that life treats you well.  That you will have more smiles than tears.  That you will learn from your mistakes.  That you will always know that you are much loved.

Soos die son.

 

Remember when

Remember when you first have your baby and you don’t sleep at night?  You tend to think that’s the worst part of being a parent.  The no sleep.

Then it’s their 2nd birthday and it’s almost as if tantrums were in one of the gift boxes.

Then at three where they believe they can do everything themselves and heaven forbid if they want to wear a unicorn outfit with elephant shoes and they can’t find something like that.

Then school, first exams, first love … and heartbreak.

It doesn’t compare.

Giving your child their first car.  That’s tough.  Yes, I know there will be other things even more scary but this is his life.  The lives of his friends, in a car.

I hope you understand how much I love you and how much I need you here with me.

Congratulations on your first car, Quintus.

Please be safe.

I love you.

 

Hair and radiation

Let’s just start with the fact that my hair seems to like being this short! So much for hair growing out faster after chemo. 🙄

I started radiation on the 2nd of July. Blond and short hair as I started my first session. I remember seeing one of the chemo nurses and we spoke about hair. She wanted to see if my hair has grown much and she commented on how white my hair was. I personally loved the idea of blond hair.

Jump to the following morning, the day after chemo. All of a sudden I have short, DARK hair!! Literally the next day.

Coincidence, maybe but wow the very next day after my first radiation?

Oh well, so there goes the blond hair. Thought I might be blond again, like when I was younger.

Lesser known side effect

There are so many side-effects when it comes to cancer treatment, that I don’t think it’s possible to name them all.  Some less important, that doesn’t affect your day-to-day life too much and others that do.

When they realized I was allergic to the chemo … the second one and then the third they gave me because I was allergic to the second one.  Go figure.

Anyway, they mentioned that my nails might fall off.  I shrugged it off.  Who’s nails just fall off!?

Apparently mine.  Although I’m doing all I can to keep them, while giving my nails the chance to grow out healthy.

Unfortunately I had already put gel on my one hand before I thought of taking a photo.  My right hand is the worst.  Where my nails are white, they are no longer attached to my finger.  Imagine putting your hand in your pocket, picking up anything, taking something out of a bag.  All with nails that lift up.  I’m trying though.  Trying to protect them.

I honestly hope that they won’t completely fall off.  One can only live in hope.

 

First radiation appointment

I searched the internet for days. I could not find anything about the very first radiation appointment. I didn’t want information on the first radiation session but on the first appointment.

What happens when they say they measure you? What do you wear. Do you have to get undressed (you know, for matching underwear’s sake)

So, for the sake of keeping record and someone else searching for the same answer, here goes.

It is not the same as getting radiation on your face. This I know from when Tommie had skin cancer and got radiation for that. There they make a mask that you will wear with every session. The mask gets fixed to the table so that you can’t move. Since I am claustrophobic, I am hugely thankful I don’t have to do that.

I met up with one of the nurses, who went through the treatment with me. How many sessions and what it will cost. Let’s just say that I am thankful that we have medical aid. I signed many a form and got some advice on ointment I could use. I was also told that I could not get any water on the radiation site, which basically means I won’t have a proper bath for that seven weeks and four weeks after radiation stops. Here’s to hoping that we have a long winter.

After that I went to radiology for a scan. Well, they gave me a little piece of cloth that is supposed to go around my chest. I will wear this at every session. I found it hilarious. There I was lying with said boob cloth and they pull it up to take measurements and put it back. Over and over again. I mean really….were they trying to hide my breast from me because clearly they needed to see. (Yes, I know most people feel more comfortable having it covered) Also, once radiation actually starts I will feel more comfortable being covered too).

My arms were up in some contraction and off I went into the machine. Lights were used to make sure I was correctly positioned. Once they were happy, I got my very first tattoo ever. Then three more. Just four tiny dots to make sure I lie in the same position every time.

Four tiny dots that will a permanent reminder of what I have been through…

End of an era

I remember his very first rugby match.  Passionate from the very start.  I remember one little player of the opposing team running through all the players on the field.  It was Quintus’s turn to sit next to the side-line.  He looked on, shouted and when that player came past him, he ran onto the field and tackled him.  He couldn’t just stand by and watch.  That feels like yesterday.

Then I blinked and he played his very last hockey match.  With the same passion and love for sport as when he started as a little boy.

I’m going to miss watching him play.  I’m going to miss seeing him do what he loves.  I’m going to miss the passion.

Don’t blink.  It’s all it takes for them to grow up.