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.
Thank you for sharing. I just had a friend lose her 3 year old son to a brain tumor that came back with a vengeance, and went through all the same emotions that you are… disbelief, wonder, gratitude and more than a little fear for my own beautiful daughter. Keep cherishing the time that you do have. I’ll be praying for your friend and her little girl.
I think I can help be a breastmilk donor as we live under 2 hours away from oshawa. How do I find out more?
Craigandhill, here is the link for the Human Milk 4 Human Babies (formerly Eats on Feets) in South-Western Ontario.
https://www.facebook.com/#!/HM4HBSWO
Click to “Like” the page and then you will find in the lefthand side bar a Discussions tab- go to the Discussions section to post that you have milk to donate to this family, there is already a discussion topic open for this specific case, and you will get a response almost immediately from the family friend who is representing them.
Also, any questions that you have about milk sharing will most likely be answered in the FAQ (also in left side bar) or by one of the page admins (I am one of them).
Thanks in advance!!!
The link is above to let me know you want to donate milk. I will email you soon to coordinate. Thanks so much!
Thank you for sharing this story and your feelings. I think it is wonderful that you are doing this.
I only wish I lived close enough to help. I’ve struggled with oversupply issues and didn’t learn about donation until I was already reducing my storage and supplies. For my next baby, I hope to be a SAHM and plan on pumping for donation locally.
Breastmilk donations are amazing! If you do have extra next time around
there is a group called Eats on Feets that connects local moms who wish to
donate or who need breastmilk. I despise pumping and I truly admire the
moms who do this for others! It really is a gift!
Eats on Feets is now called Human Milk 4 Human Babies. The name was changed due to copyright issues, but it is the same mother-to-mother network of milk sharing that we all know and love. You can look them up on facebook- search Human Milk 4 Human Babies Global and find your local chapter in the left sidebar- there are several groups for every state/province as well as internationally. In fact, I first heard about this baby on HM4HB this morning, because the moms in that chapter area are already getting donations together. Keep up the milky love, mamas!
Whoops! I am out of the loop! I think my buddy Kristen did post to that
group them. I’m so thrilled she will be getting this gift. I do believe
there is something to this and I hope this is exactly what she needs.
Stranger things have happened in this world, like Trump running for
President.
Yes, Kristen did post. Here is the direct link to her post for breast milk on behalf of her friend’s family who is dealing with this tragedy:
https://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=195425130481740&topic=303
Whoops! I am out of the loop! I think my buddy Kristen did post to that
group them. I’m so thrilled she will be getting this gift. I do believe
there is something to this and I hope this is exactly what she needs.
Stranger things have happened in this world, like Trump running for
President.
Eats on Feets is now called Human Milk 4 Human Babies. The name was changed due to copyright issues, but it is the same mother-to-mother network of milk sharing that we all know and love. You can look them up on facebook- search Human Milk 4 Human Babies Global and find your local chapter in the left sidebar- there are several groups for every state/province as well as internationally. In fact, I first heard about this baby on HM4HB this morning, because the moms in that chapter area are already getting donations together. Keep up the milky love, mamas!
Breastmilk donations are amazing! If you do have extra next time around
there is a group called Eats on Feets that connects local moms who wish to
donate or who need breastmilk. I despise pumping and I truly admire the
moms who do this for others! It really is a gift!
Thank you for sharing this story and your feelings. I think it is wonderful that you are doing this.
I only wish I lived close enough to help. I’ve struggled with oversupply issues and didn’t learn about donation until I was already reducing my storage and supplies. For my next baby, I hope to be a SAHM and plan on pumping for donation locally.
I am so sorry. =/ There are no words. My friend just lost her 9 year old cousin to cancer this week…I’ve been holding my baby closer than ever. It feels like the world is falling apart, but my faith in God gives me peace despite the heartbreak. <3
I’m terribly sorry to hear this. It seems like every time I open my email or check my blog list, someone else is being diagnosed with some form of cancer. It’s heartbreaking. Just this week another blog author’s husband was told he has a brain tumor and was operated on. Many people already know about Coupon Mommy of 3’s daughter Emily who is fighting a neuroblastoma. I also know a little girl personally who is the same age as my daughter, who is fighting and beating leukemia. Will it ever end?
I am religious, however I don’t pray (for reasons I won’t go into) so I will send buckets full of loving care and hope and peace and positive things their way.
I count my blessings every day. I am so lucky that my child is healthy.
Sorry to hear this…. I have a 3 1/2 year old and a 9 month old and Thank God every day for them. As I read your article I was feeling the need to pray for you, too. I pray God will reveal himself to you through this horrible situation. There is great evil in this world and soaking in The Great Comforter’s love is truly a gift. I know I would live in paralyzing fear for myself, my children and my husband without Him.
Sending LOTS of positive energy their way. I have such a hard time hearing about babies with cancer. I won’t get into much detail but I feel there is no God because he kills off these innocent babies. Might make some people mad by saying that but that’s how I feel. Doesn’t make sense to me why a loving and caring God would give these babies cancer to kill them. Anyway, sending lots and lots of love their way. Breaks my heart for that poor family.