Always in our prayers! Glad MB and Dennis have been by you! Hair! It will come back! One less thing to comb! Does Burkley watch Cocomelon?
What else can I do for you?
She’s so darn cute!!!! We love you Burkley and we are so proud of what you have accomplished in your little life as a 3 year old! Keep riding bikes and playing hard !! We love you and we are always always praying !! Keep it going , we are here for it!!
Caroline and all Burkley Warriors. Some additional thoughts on ‘normalizing.’ Burkley is a scamp, the problem with 3 year olds who are spunky is that they often blame themselves when things don’t go right especially ‘big sisters’ who are smart and independent. Puking, pooping, nausea are humiliating. And trying to explain hair loss is tough. So, I pulled out my file of ideas for “courageous kids”.
OK to make a mess: Water play and clean-up. Very silly. Washing dolls, dinosaurs. Finger-painting with pudding. Encourages talking, good messes, getting rid of cancer is messy.
Nausea: able to identify and communicate discomfort. Comfort foods for before and after. Comfort smells. (we had a portable toaster oven and often kids enjoyed the smell of toast). Our nutritionists ordered simple soups, custards, jellos etc which were available. “I feel like I may want a lime jello” Child size aprons which a child can ask for to indicate need. Prayers of thanks for the anti-nausea meds! Smells: now referred to as aroma therapy🤣. Montessori smell matching, comfort smells, bad smells identification. Herbal pillows (small) which can be microwaved and snuggled with (use flax seed and Mint, lavender, lemon balm. Double stitch all seams. Chemo journals child and adult remembrances to help normalize the ‘battle’ we are all facing. Both she and Wallace will need to be able to look back on this time to be able to remember and understand it. Beach ball play. Active in room even when weak play. Smashing, bashing, laughing. Good bye cancer Good bye.
Sorry if this is inappropriate. The west coast, Talin’s rotten apple throwing grandma Paula.
Jimmy and Vicki Killen