Re: childern

[Guest guest]

My son is 2. He knows Mommy has a boo-boo in her blood and that I go to the

doctors each month to have them make sure I'm OK. He has watched them take the

blood out on occasion. He knows that my boo-boo bothers me some days and I have

to take it easy. He also knows that I take a pill to make my boo-boo better and

that he musn't touch the pills.

For a 5 year old I would go so far as to say that Daddy has a desease that is

being taken care of by his pill. Maybe have the 5 year old help Daddy to get a

snack to take his pill or something if your son is having trouble with not being

able to control the situation (depends on the child...A type personalities may

do well with having some way to help). You shouldn't give him the

responsibility of reminding Dad to take his pill as you don't want him to feel

that he has any ownership in causing or helping the desease (you would never

want him to blame himself if Dad was suddenly not feeling well). At 5 he's old

enough to see Dad taking pills and going to doctors. He's old enough to know

that Dad will be fine and that everything is under control.

I wouldn't worry any of the kids by telling them it was a desease that could

kill or that it could get worse unless it is of immediate concern from your

doctor. For the most part I would treat it as if you had diabetes and had to

take insulin to control the desease.

By the time he is 8 or 10 maybe do a 'school project' or similar type of thing

on CML and help him to realize how lucky his dad was to be born in a time where

gleevec and other medications exist that help us all to survive. Again, I

wouldn't approach the mortality of it all until at least then...kids who are 5

have no real concept of death and can't realy understand that they are so lucky

to have Daddy alive. I appreciate you wanting your sons and daughter to

appreciate every moment they have with your husband but they can't realy

understand the concept of loosing him at their age. For right now take every

moment you can to make wonderful memories together. Take every picture you can

and cherrish every little kiss. You never know what tomorrrow brings for any of

us and you have to love every second those kids give you as a gift.

The main thing is to not give your kids too much information that they can not

understand and to make sure they don't have any ownership in 'making Daddy

better'. You need to taylor what you say to their level of understanding.

Good luck!!!

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[ ] childern

Hi my name is and my husband has CML. He was diagnosed in Dec.

of 2003 two days after Christmas and one month after our second son

was born. We both had a very hard time with this and still do. Since

then we have had another baby, a girl (finally-lol) and we are closer

than ever before. The biggest problem that we are having right now is

the question on how to tell our childern about his illness. He is

doing pretty good right now that's why we rather tell them now so it

doesn't scare them as much if he gets bad again. I have asked family

and friends for advice and all they say is just tell them like it's no

big deal or something. My oldest son will be 5 in Nov., my other son

will be 3 in Nov.,and my daughter just turned one at the end of June.

I realize that my oldest son is the only one who would really

understand at least somewhat but we believe that he has the right to

know. Please anyone who has any advice I would be so greatful.

Thankyou.