Sunday, June 24, 2012

Cancer Still Sucks.

I'm going to apologize at the outset for not having a better title. My brain is not even functioning on the lower levels. I'm not sure I even blink anymore. And if you really want full disclosure (pretend you do), I've showered three times in the last thirty-eight days. Four, if you count that time with the baby wipe. The usual TK dramz have kicked it up to a whole new level. Baby TK went back in the hospital last month and now she is on a feeding tube. It's been about as much fun as you can have without having any. She's going to be ok, but I have to hook her up to a machine that we've nicknamed The Matrix five to six times a day, and do math (because fuck you, America, for not getting with the metric system), and wield a stethoscope, and order medical supply deliveries like I used to order shoes, and pin a baby down on the regular to shove a new tube down her face and ohmahgawd what happened to my life? But I digress...

 This is me right now. Except with unwashed hair.

If there's anything that will flip your life upside down and put everything in perspective, it's having a sick kid. Right before Baby TK went into the hospital, a friend of mine told me her best friend's four year-old was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma. I'm not even sure how a parent processes those words. It makes me physically ill. I would have a lot more words for it if my brain weren't mush.

 Also me right now.

We have a special kind of hate for all things cancer on this blog, and this little boy's story just really hit home with me. My friend Ali has sent up an account to help pay for his medical bills. Trust me when I say you can have the best insurance and the bills are still crushing and never ending. The person who brings you a pillow is different from the person who brings you meds, and a whole different person takes your blood pressure right before a different person takes an x-ray, etc, etc, etc and they all bill separately. Not to mention all the other things insurance doesn't cover, like parking, and meals for the parents (when you have time to eat), and gas for when you want to visit your house, and new books and toys to keep your sick kid occupied, and your stupid mobile phone bill because having damn near unlimited minutes seemed like enough before you spent 24/7 on the phone with doctors' offices, insurance, family, and friends.Again, I digress.

Ali is selling shirts and bracelets too. All the info will be at the bottom of this post. I know times are tough, but please consider donating. No pressure. (Just know God will kill a kitten AND a puppy if you don't. He'll take out the cute ones too.) Either way, be sure to hug your kid today, or a friend's kid. But not a stranger's kid because that leads nowhere good.



The PayPal account for direct donations is nathanscause@gmail.com.

12 comments:

  1. I love you with my WHOLE heart for this Katherine. You are a rare gem indeed to think of anyone else, much less a friends friend, during your own struggles. Bless you and the horse you rode in on!! Xxx

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    1. TK is a rare gem indeed!

      Hope you and your family are holding up as well as you can in this very difficult time. xo

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  2. ***Crying out my eyes right now!***
    My youngest son is Nathan, he's 6 and we would love to help another Nate's family!

    Is there an address to mail a check, or do you prefer paypal?

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  3. If anyone else wants a mailing addy, just let me know & I'll hook you up with Ali. Thx!!

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  4. I can't even imagine how devastating and life changing it must be for a parent when their child is diagnosed with cancer (or anything else serious!)

    My heart goes out to their family.

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  5. Cancer truly is a bitch. As a mother, I can not fathom what this family must be feeling. I will keep them in my prayers, and will happily give what I can to maybe ease done of their financial burden.

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  6. Hey, my prayers are with you, TK, and Nathan's fam...I've been where you are (kinda)...my oldest son was a 25-wk preemie, (he was a twin, his brother did not make it) but we were lucky, no feeding tubes, just on oxygen for 11 months...then, because cancer sucks, at age 17 a carcinoid tumor was found in his right lung (precancerous). Before we had time to process this, he was in the OR having 2/3's of his right lung removed; I'm tearing up again now just thinking about tha ttime, and you are still living it-I'm so sorry, it is so hard, I know! Good news, though, Josh just graduated from college last month, and his CAT scans have been clear for 4 years-he's never gonna run a marathon (but then, he never wanted to, so that's good) but he should be ok for everything else he wants to do! You just never know what people around you are going through...my heart has been so touched by Baby TK since her birth (I saw her pic on Twitter-so adorable, what a smile!) and now Nathan!! I don't usually talk about my boy much, but sometimes it helps to know you're not alone? Hang in there, Moms, we can get through anything for our kids' sakes!

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    1. I'm so late in replying. That was really sweet. So glad your son is ok.

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  7. Praying for your family and Nathan's family TK!

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  8. I am blessed to know you TK and I will do what I can to help you and to help Nathan's family. Thank you for posting about this.

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  9. This is Nathan's mommy. You girls are such gems! Your kind words and well wishes are truly appreciated!

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  10. I don't have children of my own but I have a niece that I love more than words... I'm not sure how I (or any of my family for that matter) would deal with something like this. Cancer is a cruel fucking asshole and I wish it would just go away for good. Thanks for writing about Nathan, TK... I'll give what I can to help...

    And TK -- baby TK couldn't have asked for a better mommy (and daddy and brother, of course) and she's going to get through all this shit and she's going to be a happy, healthy little person!! Love you!

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