It’s the daily mayhem we don’t see.
The highs and the lows and the joy and the sorrow of our friends with a family member fighting cancer.
I had cancer 39 years ago.
Radiation and then chemo, loss of hair and a loss of 20 pounds.
I was lucky.
I survived and today I’m blessed.
The Roberts of Ralph, AL have been sharing their journey with us, and their lives have been uprooted as 15-year-old Will Roberts fights bone cancer.
Will is taking the week off from radiation treatments, but each and every day brings challenges and roadblocks the family fights through.
Case in point is yesterday when family members were going every which way all at once.
Mom Brittney wrote about her Tuesday, and her writing is honest and raw and humorous and sad.
Wrote Brittney last night:
“THIS is childhood cancer.
“You leave the house trying to fit in a few hours of work. Your mom, your rock, says, ‘Go on. Me and Will are going to be fine.’
“You make it an hour away.
Peaceful car ride, for once.
“You pull into the parking lot, gathering your computer, when another agent points at my state car.
I immediately think, my tire. That’s my thing. I keep tire pressure pulled up at all times because I fear flat tires….
“But no. He says I’ve got fluid leaking. A puddle. Looked like oil. It was.
“We got it two blocks to a mechanic without blowing her up….
“So there I am, crawling under my car taking pictures to send Jason, and my phone rings. It’s my mom. Will has pouring blood from his nose, and she’s heading to Children’s ER.
“Now y’all know Granny stays nervous, and I KNOW what Will’s nosebleeds look like so I can only imagine that drive. Her stress. Driving in Birmingham. Will being ‘sky is falling,’ just like me.
“Meanwhile, I’m standing in a parking lot looking at my car and just tell the other agent, ‘Can you just put me out of my misery? Any way you want. Less painful is better.’
“Honestly, you can’t make this stuff up.
“A day, ANY day, in the life of the Roberts is jacked up.
“Jason was already headed toward Birmingham for his cardiologist appointment. He met them at the ER and got Will checked in. He went on to his appointment, then came back.
“Will is there getting platelets and blood. Jason now has more testing scheduled. Granny is still holding it together the best she can.
“I’m without a state car until next week. Charlie had volleyball practice and had to find a ride. Thank God for a friend who stepped in and got her where she needed to be.
“I hitched a ride home.
“And when I walked in,
I was reminded of our new normal.
“This. The blood. It reminded me of what the poison does to his little body thats given to him for any hope in the 1% chance he has left to survive.
“And we will take that 1 percent.
We will keep marching forward. I will not stop advocating.
No matter how our story ends, I will know this… We walked through hell daily and we did EVERYTHING we knew to do.
“And here’s what I’m coming for next.
“Why are cancer kids, who are expected to spike fevers, need blood, need platelets, because of the disease they already have, required to go to the ER for treatment, when their clinic is open 8 to 4?
“35 dollar co-pay versus 350.
“That’s not right.
“Cancer families should not be financially punished for symptoms caused by the diagnosis they’re already fighting.
“We had over 100,000 dollars in out of pocket medical expenses last year with gas, food, lodging, travel, medical treatment, etc. That doesn’t even include the blessings of the flights to MD Anderson that were covered by others.
“Families cannot survive this long term.
“That needs to change.
“But before this gets too heavy, let me tell you the blessings from today.
“My car did not blow the motor,
and it could have.
Will is not being admitted.
Jason’s heart is still functioning while we’re working on answers, and Charlie’s ear stopped hurting.
“I know it could be a whole lot worse, and I’m not about to test that either.”
Wow! What a real, compelling essay from Brittney Roberts.
Remember, you can follow Brittney’s writings and the family’s journey on Facebook at Brittney Battles Roberts
Let’s all leave a comment below for Will and the family.
*Pictures courtesy Brittney Roberts
