My Son ran in the Terry Fox Cancer Run...for me!

cathy1968

Yesterday many of the schools my area (near Toronto) were having their annual Terry Fox Run for Cancer.  At last years run (September 2011) I hadn't yet been dx'd, that came at the beginning of October 2011.  Now I'm 11 months past end of treatment, mx only for pure DCIS.  Of course it was a lot to deal with last fall, and I talked about it at that time to my then 10 year old son and 3 year old daughter.  I kept it truthful and positive (there ARE a lot of positives with DCIS) and for them that was more or less it.  Which is a good thing; they don't need to know about my fears and insecurities, and how often I come to this board for emotional support! 

So, getting back to yesterday, my son is now 11 and I knew he'd be running in the Terry Fox run.  The school had sent home info and requests for donation (which we did of course!) etc, etc, and in the midst of all the back to school business I hadn't given the whole thing a lot of thought, not even in terms of my own experience. 

Well, I went to meet him at the bus stop yesterday afternoon and as I watched all the kids stepping off the bus, I noticed they all had their Terry Fox Run for Cancer stickers still plastered on the front of their shirts.  Imagine how surprised and moved I was when I saw my son's and on the line below "I'm running for..." he had printed "My Mom."

Thank goodness it was sunny out so I was wearing sunglasses as I immediately teared up.  I felt a mixture of extreme pride in him for being so grown-up and caring, but also sorrow that his mom having had bc is a fact of his life.  As usual he was chatting all the way home with his buddies who live near us, but when we got to our front door and it was just the two of us he shyly asked me "Did you see my shirt?"  "Yes" I said as I hugged him, "and thank you."  DH was also very moved when I told him yesterday evening and we both told our son how proud we are of him for thinking of me.

This bc jouney has not been fun, but I am blessed to have a wonderful family.

On a lighter note, when I later went to pick up my daughter from kindergarten, she announced "Mummy, we ran for Terry Fox, but we couldn't find him."  Ah kids, they keep me young!

Moderators

You are certainly blessed and should be proud of your son!! What a great kid -- and your daughter sounds like a hoot!

Thanks for sharing!

--The Mods

cathy1968

Thanks very much for your nice comments, mods!

I just wanted to add that I am really touched by the support from my family:  My Mum went to get her hair cut the other day and her local salon is doing pink highlights for October bc awareness!  I'm not sure if she would have done so pre my bc dx, (she may have as she is quite the adventurous woman) but I know she is now especially proud to make this contribution.

FYI the campaign is called Highlights for Hope, I think it's a great idea for awareness.  Much like wearing a pink ribbon, no one is profiting at the expense of bc patients but rather simply putting awareness out there in a fun and fresh way!

Marple

What a sweet and wonderful gesture for your son to do.  And your daughter as well.  She still has the innocence of youth.  Her comment on 'not finding Terry Fox' is one of those Reader's Digest moments.  No wonder you are so proud of them.