The Childhood Cancer Blog
The Childhood Cancer Blog
Today is Alex’s 30th birthday. That is a milestone! I remember turning thirty myself, with Alex and her brothers by my side, and reflecting on how my twenties had been such a time of growth — graduating college, starting my first full-time job, getting married to my high school sweetheart, and welcoming three children into the world.
As I think of Alex today, I feel a deep sadness that she never even reached “double digits.” Imagining her as an adult is almost impossible as the milestones she has missed have now created an enormous chasm between who she... Read More
Dear Alex,
It has been a long time since I wrote to you. It is not for lack of thinking about you; of course I think of you often. Sometimes I think about the girl you were and all the sweet and fun times we had together—it still makes me smile every time I picture you laughing.
Other times, I am haunted by all you endured in your life—when I look back there are times all I can see is how terribly hard your life was. It makes me sad, and makes me worry if I was the best mom I could be at those moments. Did I say the right things and offer what you needed in those moments... Read More
The night before my daughter Alex was born, I had some contractions, but I thought they were fake. Alex wasn’t due for six weeks. We were still getting used to the enormity of the love and responsibility that came with being parents to one child, our then 15-month-old son Patrick. Never would I have imagined that the next day, Jay would be speeding me to the emergency room straight from the doctor’s office.
Alex, my amazing daughter, was born one hour later, a beautiful, healthy surprise. She’d keep surprising us over the course of her life — and even afterwards.
If Alex... Read More
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