It's been nearly 9 years since I was diagnosed with cancer, and I had surgery and have been cancer free since then. So, even though I get anxious when testing has to happen or get the cancer blues once in awhile, I have generally gotten past it for myself. For my grandson, not so much.
My precious Owen was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma when he was 12, and he just turned 14. He is "clean" and seems very well recovered from his treatment, having grown his hair back with delightful curls and having developed muscles and looking so healthy now.What a blessing!
But the emotional scars are there when I think of what he went through and what might have been. When I watch him play soccer or flag football or run cross country, I marvel at his strength and at the same time I often feel completely weak myself. I would not have survived losing him.
I know his younger brother is still affected very strongly by the experience of Owen being sick, and I hate that for him. Cancer doesn't just physically affect one person. It can emotionally destroy a whole family for awhile, and the wounds don't really ever heal completely, I don't think.
