Day 12. Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. GO GOLD for GETHIN. Gethin was diagnosed with Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma at only 18 months of age. Up until that point he had been a healthy and energetic baby and toddler with no obvious warning signs of impending illness. His diagnosis required a chemotherapy regime which caused his small body several infections and side effects, amongst which were breathing difficulties requiring frequent and lengthy periods of oxygen supplementation, which meant he was constantly in hospital. He learnt to run and ride a trike in those halls and that is where he made his friends. While other children attended playgroups and playdates, he was often on isolation or confined to a hospital cot attached to tubes and wires. This became his normal for a while. Today Gethin is a happy, active and healthy 4 year old who attends school and although he remembers moments of treatment, he now enjoys a normal and relatively carefree childhood, full of the freedom he yearned for. He is one of the lucky ones. There are many overwhelming emotions that accompany remission....fear (because you now know too much), overwhelming and daily gratitude, guilt (aka survivors guilt) and a responsibility to cherish every moment and to give back. It also brings perspective and a deeper empathy for others. Some of these emotions are healthy and some are not. We know the road is never-ending and we wish all those children that are surviving today a long, happy and healthy future. We wish their families, parents, grandparents and siblings some peace of mind. May you all thrive! #GladiatorGethin
Posted on: Sun, 14 Sep 2014 16:19:49 +0000
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