Those are the precious, poignant words of a small child who has been watching his mother over the last couple days processing the news of her diagnosis: an aggressive cancer that is steadily progressing. In order to start her treatments and continue the fight for her life, she will have to wean her even younger child far earlier than she’d hoped.
For most breastfeeding mothers, I think, it’s hard enough to wean when it happens naturally, but when something like cancer forces you to wean abruptly, well, it seems cruel, really. I’m sure that is not the only thing that has felt cruel to Emilie, mother of two from St. Paul, who is in the middle of this nightmare. I don’t know Emilie personally, but she’s part of a writers’ listserv of which I am a member and contributor. We’re the same age, live in the same region, are both writers, wives, Catholic Christians and mothers of young children. With all of these commonalities, it is no wonder why reading about Emilie’s news this morning brought me to a state of weeping. My heart is breaking for her.
I’m a firm believer in the power of prayer, and I hope that those of you who are believers in this as well will join me in storming heaven with petitions for Emilie. I know there are other mothers of young children in a similar place. We hear of them all the time. They are all deserving of our thoughts. Emilie simply happens to be one with whom I felt an instant connection based on our shared interests and experiences and stage of life. To view Emilie’s blog, click on the link below.
I hope that today, the sun is shining where you are, as it is here in Fargo, ND. And I hope that all you parents out there can find a little time today to hug your children and feel gratitude for life, no matter what trials you might be enduring.
Peace to you…
I feel your pain and anguish when you talk about Emilie having to wean her youngest. Just two years ago my cousin had to do the same thing. When she went into the doctor because of a lump in her breast they told her they thought it was just a blocked milk duct and to come back when she was done breastfeeding. She felt it was more than that and quit right away. Jamie found out very shortly after that she was diagnosed with Stage 3c breast cancer. On the positive side she is now cancer free and doing very well. It has been a very difficult couple of years for their young family and now her husband is struggling with severe back pain and just recently had back surgery. Cancer is a terrible disease, but she can over come it with prayer and medicine from doctors the Lord has guided.
Thanks so much for your comment of hope! I will make sure to pass this on to Emilie. Your sharing is a gentle reminder, too, of the wider perspective: a life is at stake, and in that context, the early weaning is obviously very much secondary to the more important task of keeping a mother alive. I hope Emilie’s story can be one of success and life too.
Roxane, I just had a chance to read this. What a beautiful, empathetic post. Thank you for writing it, and for your part in storming the heavens for me.