Dealing With My Daughter's Cancer

by Lin Zyl
(East Providence, RI USA)

When my sixteen year old daughter was diagnosed with bone cancer, I thought my world was coming to an end. I was already dealing with a terrible marriage and was at a bad place in life. I didn’t think I would have the strength to be there for my daughter when she needed me most.

The nurses who administered the chemotherapy suggested I try two things to get through the tough moments. Their first suggestion was that I take things one day at a time. If a day seemed too long, I should take things one hour at a time, and if that was too long, then minute by minute. This was simple, but very effective, advice.

During stressful times, we tend to look at the big picture, thinking of the vast span of the future and wondering how we will get through it all. It’s much easier to cope when you break down the situation moment by moment.

The second suggestion was to practice yoga. I had already known that yoga was good for relieving stress, but I did not realize why. When I began doing simple yoga, my body reacted immediately.

All the aches and pains I was taking for granted disappeared. Those same pains were the result of my daily stress. Without the physical aches, I was able to deal better with the emotional aches.

My daughter is in remission and things are looking great. Because of the stress relieving techniques suggested by her nurses, I was able to be her strength when she was weak. That means the world to both of us.