Families travel a tortuous path through cancer, where emotions subside, only to resurface later.
This is common response to a catastrophic event like cancer. For the majority of parents, these strong emotions begin to fade as hope grows. Children may need special attention and support to help them focus on hope.
After being ravaged by the trauma of diagnosis and uncertainty of initial treatment, parents welcome the rooting of hope.
Hope sustains life, nourishing body and mind with energy to endure each new trial.
Parents and children alike discover new appreciation for life, good health and sight. They cherish each new day together as a precious gift, and form a deeper appreciation for one another’s company and life’s simple pleasures.
Hope is not a way around the trauma of cancer, but a way through it. With early diagnosis and treatment in the hands of experienced doctors, retinoblastoma is highly curable and children live long and happy lives. Even when cure is not possible, life can be rich in shared blessings. There is always room for hope.
Cancer Is So Limited
By Jaqlyn, aged 14
Cancer Is So Limited
It cannot cripple love
It cannot shatter hope
It cannot corrode faith
It cannot destroy peace
It cannot kill friendship
It cannot suppress memories
It cannot silence courage
It cannot invade the soul
It cannot conquer the spirit
It cannot steal eternal life
WE C Hope
WE C Hope for today.
Small gestures of love to carry us through.
Space to breathe deep and our spirits renew.
Your comfort and peace and happiness too.
WE C Hope for tomorrow.
To hear the words “stable” or “cancer free”
No more treatments – just letting you Be.
Cherishing each day as a family.
WE C Hope for the future.
Systematic education so all are aware.
Global teamwork to improve medical care.
Families united against this cancer so rare.
WE C Hope for all families.
No more innocent faces defiled.
Action that reaches around the world.
Promising life and sight for every child.
False hope is a form of denial that diminishes emotional anguish when circumstances become overwhelming. While cathartic in immediate crisis, it can be very harmful when it prevents parents from accepting reaility and making good decisions.
Hope is created by the ability to project into the future and imagine something better than the present reality. Anticipation of that pleasure relieves pain, fear or pessimism of the moment.
Hopefulness means different things to different people. Read this beautiful alphabet of hope with insights from around the world. Create your own as an individual or as a family to inspire hope..
