Things Anyone Can Do to Help a Child with Cancer

After writing another article about my experience with childhood cancer, I wanted to write something to share with others some of the wonderful things that people did that helped me cope with cancer and most importantly, to BEAT IT.

I was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma (an extremely rare form of cancer in 1989_ the year I was diagnosed) at the age of 9, and I was not expected to live. But apparently, God had different plans for me.

I was bedridden for quite a while, until a few kind acts from others helped me to start doing more. And the more I did for myself, the better I felt. Something as simple as going to the bathroom, instead of using a bedpan, can be a big step toward cancer recovery.

There are 3 individuals who stand out in mind, as influences in my cancer recovery. I want to tell you what each of these individuals did for me, so that you may learn of ways in which you can positively impact the life of a child who is battling cancer.

First, there is my mother's cousin, who was in the hospital just about every day. No child likes to be alone, and especially not if they are terminally ill. Unfortunately, though, I did notice several of my roommates who did not have family members with them all the time. My mother's cousin helped me by being there everyday, but it is when she first took me out of the room, that I first began to feel better. It was just a simple ride in the wheel chair_ down the hall and to a window; but for me, it was like a breath of fresh air. Something about getting out of bed made me feel better. So, that is just one thing that you can do for a child battling cancer. Take them for a ride in a wheel chair; and if they are in better condition than I was in, then you could just take them outside or down to the recreation room. Laying in bed 24 hours a day is not motivating, nor is peeing (or pooping) in a bed pan.

The second influence in my childhood cancer recovery was a lady_ a nurse who shared her lunch with me. Let me tell you a little secret about children...

Children who are sick (and not babies), appreciate when you talk to them like they are human_ not like they are slow or subordinates. I did not like most of my nurses. They either talked to me like a baby or they were mean to me because they didn't understand what I was going through. You can't force a child to get better, but you can use some human psychology to ENCOURAGE them to do more things that would help them to get better.

I had not eaten for a few months, so I was being fed intravenously. When I first entered the hospital, I was 45lbs, and my normal weight was 60lbs. One day, this very down-to-earth nurse_ someone who didn't talk to me like a baby or try to force me to get better, came and casually offered me her soup. She said, "Hey, would you like my soup. I brought it for lunch. You'll probably like it, and it will be easy to eat." Being that this lady was so nice in offering me her lunch, and she treated me human, I couldn't refuse. So, for the first time in months, I actually ate something. So, if you want to help a child with cancer to get better, then treat them like a human and make suggestions instead of trying to force them to get better.

The last person that I want to mention is just one lady who I supposed just liked to visit the Children's Floor (Burnam 5 at the time) and spend time with the children. She was a stranger, but just her kind act of taking the time to play a card game with me, and then letting me keeping the cards_ this one single act of kindness made my day.

The more bouts of kindness that I experienced, the more better I began to feel. And that is why I now believe that "A merry heart does good like a medicine." I don't believe that it is any coincidence that the more happy I felt, the better that I got. So, if you want to help a child who is battling cancer, then all you have to do is think of one good way to make them smile and feel good to be alive.