for moms with children

Options
caaclark
caaclark Member Posts: 936
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

Hi Girls-

I am posting this here and in the recently diagnosed forum.  Feel free to pass the word.

I was diagnosed with stage III bc in 2006 and am a long time bc.org member.  I never thought I would be able to say that!  At the time I had 3 children (ages 8, 6 and 4) and was unable to find a children's book that explained breast cancer to children in the non-threatening way I wanted to relay to my children. So, I wrote my own.  My goal is not to make money but just to fill a void that I saw when I went looking for children's books related to the topic of cancer.  If you want to check it out the link is:

http://outskirtspress.com/webpage.php?isbn=9781432751296

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited April 2010

    My girls are older, but what a wonderful way to help others in the same situation. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • fionn
    fionn Member Posts: 44
    edited April 2010

    Hi

    my daughter was 9 and my son was7 when i was dx. They were very worried because my sister died from bc when she was 38. Here i am 5years later and i think they are not as scared as they were. I think that they thought i was going to die straight away where as life is normal again and they are back to leading normal lives. It would probably be a great idea to have a good way for children to hear it, it was because of my sister that my children took it so bad at the time

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • karen1956
    karen1956 Member Posts: 6,503
    edited April 2010

    Carol...We were Dx about the same time...me 2/3/06...at the time my kids were 7, 16 and 19...I found a great book...fiction based on fact.....the title was something like The Year My Mother Was Bald....I read the fact part and DD (who was 7 almost 8 and in grade 2) read the fiction part....I will check out your book when I have more time...it is always nice to see info for our kids that is helpful!!!  4 years later my kids are 12 and next month the older two will be 21 and 24...my youngest DD does not like when talk about the negative aspects of BC, like it coming back etc, but she has been an active part of my Tx and survivorhsip.  I am quite involved with the local Komen chapter, so she sees me "play it forward"....thanks for sharing about your book.  Hugs, Karen

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • apple
    apple Member Posts: 7,799
    edited April 2010

    good for you.  I LOVE the title.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • everyminute
    everyminute Member Posts: 1,805
    edited April 2010

    Carol - Congrats!!!  I know when I first got here you were one of the first to comfort me and I still repeat some of your advice in my head when things get scary (make friends with the fear and rather than trying to run from it - which is how I live - also known as keep your friends close, your enemies closer).

    Anyway - good for you girl!!!!  Great job!  Your family must be so proud!!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited April 2010

    Carol - what an amazing thing to do. Good for you!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Bugs
    Bugs Member Posts: 1,719
    edited April 2010

    Awesome, Carol!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • YATCOMW
    YATCOMW Member Posts: 664
    edited April 2010

    Wow.....I am impressed!   How wonderful for you and so many others!!!

    Jacqueline 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • LittleFlower
    LittleFlower Member Posts: 405
    edited April 2010

    way to go Carol! 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • maryannecb
    maryannecb Member Posts: 1,453
    edited April 2010

    Good job...so proud of you.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • M360
    M360 Member Posts: 356
    edited April 2010

    Carol, what an amazing gift and what a talent!  I am recommending your book to the BC Center that I go to.  They have a library there and are always looking for new books.  My girls are older but I think for older children to talk with younger children or maybe have a book reading in a Cancer Center for families with younger kids would be great.  

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • caaclark
    caaclark Member Posts: 936
    edited April 2010

    Thanks, everyone.  I love the idea of a book reading in a cancer center.  Thanks for the idea!

    I really hope the book helps someone.  My middle daugher (who was most concerned about the no hair aspect of chemo) said that her favorite part of the book is...

    "The worst part of chemo was when Mommy's hair fell out.  We knew that it was going to happen because Mommy told us ahead of time.  After a while we got used to it and Mommy was still Mommy.  She was just Mommy with a hat.  She still played with us as usual, helped us with our homework, read stories to us, and snuggled with us."

    I think that is the tone of the book.  Sort of a matter of fact feeling of what happens.  Since children are ego centric (at least mine are!) they really want to know how it will affect THEM.  My kids laugh everytime they read that page, which I love!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • karen1956
    karen1956 Member Posts: 6,503
    edited April 2010

    I love the part you quoted from the book...even though my youngest is now 12 and I am 4 years out, I want to get the book....

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Mom3
    Mom3 Member Posts: 170
    edited April 2010

    My little ones are 3 and 5. I'm wondering if the book is for smaller children such as mine.

     What a great idea. I too looked for something to read to my kiddies about my dx when I learned I had bc, they were 1 and 3 at the time, and found nothing.  It's been awhile and they have since forgotten b/c my hair has grown back, etc.  but what a fantastic idea. 

     Kudos to you!! You're an insipiration to us all.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • caaclark
    caaclark Member Posts: 936
    edited April 2010

    I would say that the book would be appropriate for children as young as 3 and as old as 12. 

    Also, thanks again for all the positive comments.  I really appreciate them coming from those of us who have been there.  I hope the newly diagnosed moms with young children find it helpful.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • kimber3006
    kimber3006 Member Posts: 586
    edited April 2010

    Well done - I love it!  We got a coloring book from the hospital when I checked out after my mx.  It had pictures of "mommy needs to sleep a lot" and "daddy looks worried and sad sometimes" kind of stuff with spaces for our little boy to draw a picture of how that stuff happening in his house made him feel.  It was really nice, but very long (waaaay longer than my then-4 year old's attention span) and I would have loved to have a child's view picture book like you've done.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Pure
    Pure Member Posts: 1,796
    edited April 2010

    Awsome-I love it! Congrats-this is so great.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • farfaith
    farfaith Member Posts: 46
    edited April 2010

    what a wonderfull way to help others i have 3 children just started my chemo last thursday. mine are 10,8,and 3 1/2  i will look for your book its so hard when they are young i found the best thing is to tell them what might happen so when or if it dose it dosen't hit them so hard. may God bless you and yours.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • farfaith
    farfaith Member Posts: 46
    edited April 2010

    just got you book cant wate to get it thank you carol

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories