The house is strangely silent and, empty again...
No one is playing the guitar, nagging about computer time, turning up the volume of the tv too loud, staying up too late, or slamming the door to his room shut.
And no wonderfully contagious laughter is heard along with that adorable baby giggle.
Alex went to a camp with his class mates last week and, this week he's at a camp for siblings of children suffering from cancer.
There'll be various activities and, a great opportunity to connect with others going through a similar ordeal. , Along with lectures about different types of childhood cancers and, schoolwork. All expenses payed for by the Swedish Childhood Cancer Foundation.
I miss him, but I do believe that this will be a great learning experience for him and, a chance to have fun along with kids his own age, who understand why it still may be hard to laugh sometimes.
All this have been tremendously hard on me and B, but I can't even begin to imagine how Alex must feel, spending hour after hour in the pediatric oncology ward, where the air is thick with anxiety, when he should be in school, or hanging out with his friends.
It can't be easy to be 14 and, locked up in a hospital room, where he has to watch his brother get hooked up to machines all day long and, then endlessly helping out by reading the message flashing on the screen of the IV-pump, pushing the button to silent the alarm or, pushing another button to call the nurses to let them know that there's an issue with the IV, again.
And if it's not that, then he's trying to help out with keeping his brother entertained when he feels sick, or preoccupied with something other than those thin, ever so interesting lines, where one poison after another slowly is dripping into his little baby body, to fight the greater poison lurking within.
The Swedish Childhood Cancer Foundation are helping out with entertainment as well. Every day there's different activities for the children: clowns are coming to get them to laugh. There's a music group where someone will play the guitar and sing with them and, there's a art and creativity group, where they can paint and draw and have fun with colors.
There is also a person appointed by the Swedish childhood cancer foundation, who's job is to support the siblings. She has been taking Alex and he other kids out for treats, such as an afternoon at the movies, a bite to eat at McDonald's, a sky view tour on the outside of The Globe and, she's also been trying to keep them preoccupied while at the pediatric oncology ward, with baking and the like.
It has been invaluable and, I'm ever so thankful for every time that Alex has gotten a moments break from what's been happening around him and, to his baby brother.
Still, every time he leaves our room to get on the computer they keep in the kitchen, he's surrounded by sick children, likewise hooked up to machines, but with the strength and, energy to laugh and play anyway. And, by parents with cheerful, supportive voices, but with broken hearts and a haunted look in their eyes.
They have reason to worry...
For even though the treatment of cancer in children and in teenagers has improved considerably over the last decade, especially in the subsequent quality of life of these children after treatment. Some children may still experience permanent adverse effects.
Cranial radiation in small children may damage the development of the brain, and cytostatic agents result in adverse effects influencing growth, fertility, hearing loss, and organ failure. However, one must remember that failing to give treatment to children with cancer is the most “serious” side-effect of all.
Children are the most admirable little fighters in the world. If you can fight like a kid, chances are that you'll be well on your way to achieve your goals. Even when they're sick beyond comprehension , they'll be crying one minute and, laughing and playing the next.
And yet, 25 % of the children here will never make it to adulthood...
It is a heavy notion to bear...
Still there's so much hope in the gigantic leaps forward that survival rates have taken in this country thanks to research during the last 30 years. A research, which to 90 % is finance by the Swedish Childhood Cancer Foundation.
Cancer in children is no longer a death sentence. Instead, since 1995, three out of four Swedish children with cancer survive. The partnership between research and clinical work has resulted in this impressive achievement. The future ambition of the Swedish Childhood Cancer Foundation is of course the same as the one of their families, that all children suffering from cancer will be cured.
Most individuals agree that being healthy is very important. It is hard to understand why children should fall ill with a fatal disease, and the thought of our very own children or grandchildren suffering is almost impossible to bear. Children should not fall prey to life-threatening diseases, it is unfair and senseless.
This view is precisely why a lot of individuals, as well as associations and companies, pledge their time and/or money for this cause. All activities carried out by the Swedish Childhood Cancer Foundation are financed by means of donations and legacies and, every single one of you, no matter how great or small the contribution, have my deepest, innermost heartfelt gratitude.
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