25 June 2009

I Hate This Disease

Everytime I read of another child who has been diagnosed with dipg, or see a picture of another child who has to rely on steroids for relief from swelling or hear of one more family who will no longer be able to tuck their child in at night, touching their cheek, stroking their hair, giving one more kiss before entrusting each precious gift to angels for safekeeping during the night - I hate.

"I hate..." is a phrase we try not to use - it's ugly. I seem to reserve it for steroids and dipg.

I hate what diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma does to children, robbing them of so much that is child. Running thru sprinklers, riding a bike, coloring, saying "I love you". I hate what it does to families, robbing them of a precious child. Stealing away a lifetime and changing countless others.

Liam, Tanea, Luke, CJ and just hours ago, Sadie - they have left behind them parents, brothers, sisters, family, friends, a world now less because they are gone, but so much better for them having been here at all.