Telling the family
Now this was going to be tuff. We had been doing all we can to deal with this alone. Had it not been for the need for an operation on the 19th of December we had decided not to tell our family until after christmas.
The procedure on Monday the 19th forced our hand.
Fortunately (or unfortunately) it was Siena’s birthday on the 17th and we had arranged for our extended family to celebrate Siena’s birthday and the new home. So we would have all the important people in one room.
On Sunday the 18th all arrived with big smiles, hugs and kisses for Siena and the rest of us. The usual excitement of seeing a new home etc etc so the day was evolving beautifully. I keep looking over at Petra knowing that the time would arrive that we would need to share the news. Even writing about this makes me feel a little ill. We decided we would wait until after we cut the cake, sang happy birthday and then all the children would be outside playing.
It was time.
Petra was magnificent. We decided she would tell them. I thought I may not have gotten through it and was worried any sign of emotion from me would rattle my mother even further.
Without sharing to much it was the hardest thing I/we have had to sit through to date.
The word “cancer” comes with such baggage that notwithstanding what I have is treatable it takes time to cut through that baggage so as there is an accurate understanding.
That day was an important first step on letting those around us understand what we have been dealing with and will deal with. There have been and no doubt will be many more of those conversations.
No doubt
My Unplanned Sabbatical 