Ollie

Ollie's breathing has been quite labored over the past several days, which has been worrying me. The steroids he is taking are horrible for what they are doing to his body. He's ravenously hungry all the time and has gained a horrible amount of weight in such a short time. Poor kid. He still has sleeping issues, but hasn't been sleeping as much through the day as he was a few weeks ago. He's been saying a few things that just take my breath away. He told Ed and I yesterday... "I'm going to die soon aren't I?" How do you even begin to respond to that. Does HE know? Is the Spirit preparing him for it??

Last week my friend was over helping with dinner and getting Eden's birthday party off to a start and Ollie was sitting on the couch and just started crying. He said that he didn't know why he was crying and then said, "Cancer is strong." I told him that he's been so strong in battling it. He has so much on his mind and he doesn't speak much about it. He just keeps most of it in until he can't handle it and then breaks down in tears. He's been not wanting to spend the night anywhere lately either. I think it's because he's afraid to die anywhere else but home.

This whole situation makes me feel ill... absolutely ill. It has been two years of constant wonder... when is it going to happen? How is it ultimately going to take him? I know it sounds sick and hopeless to say that, but it is a sick and hopeless situation. We were given a death sentence when we heard the words 'Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma'. Do the research and you will realize that kids generally pass away within 9 - 12 months. We have had no hope. The only hope I've been holding onto is the hope that one day I will see him again. Even that faith has been shaken throughout this journey.

We've been trying to focus on daily things to do during the holidays and have had fun painting ornaments and decorating the Christmas tree, but I'm just not in the Christmas spirit this as much year. Now I understand why so many people dislike the holidays when a loved one is ill or has passed away. The holidays are supposed to be full of joy and gladness, but I'm just feeling like I'm holding on by a thread. While most people are fussing over getting their Christmas shopping done or Christmas cards sent out, I'm racking my brain with trying to figure out what more we can do for Oliver. I just feel like there is nothing more we can do. I've seen this journey played out in so many other children... too many other children.

I just feel lost... masking my pain with busywork around the house, trying to stay strong in front of the kids and everyone else. Pain and grief really do make a person a great actor. There is so much more that goes on behind the smile that I try and have plastered on my face. I can't hardly handle this pain that I am in and I don't think anyone else that I talk to can even comprehend it. I just feel like most people don't understand. They just can't understand. Life has brought on so many emotions which is utterly overwhelming, especially now. The other day I just sobbed until I was hoarse and my eyelids were swollen. Probably the worst cry that I'd had since he was diagnosed nearly two years ago. The reality of what is happening just hits you at the strangest times and spirals out of control. I just laid in my bed and screamed into my pillow. I thought my head was going to explode. Sometimes I feel like I just can't hold on any longer.

Everyone says that we are lucky we've had two years with him and although I agree that we have truly been blessed with that, it's been a nightmare living each day wondering when the tumor would start to grow again, because it always does. Will he live until his birthday? Will he live until Christmas? Do you have any idea what that is like?! That is the way that the DIPG story plays out. Everyone has their opinion or their advice to give, which I try and listen to, again with a smile on my face always trying to give everyone the benefit of the doubt because they just don't get it, when sometimes I just want to start screaming and say, "You have NO CLUE what the last two years have been like!!!" EVERY SINGLE PERSON'S JOURNEY IS DIFFERENT. I also have a mental illness that rears its ugly head on a daily basis and another child that won't eat and may need a feeding tube. Some days I just want to stay in bed all day long. "You've got to be strong for your kids." Yes... yes... I know that and when I break down sobbing??? Does that mean I'm a failure because I just couldn't keep it together in that moment? I just can't hold it all together all the time. I can't do everything that everyone else thinks that I should be doing. I can only do what I can do. I can only run as fast as I have strength and right now... I feel like I'm crawling. I haven't given up... I'm still here and haven't taken any drastic measures. I have just felt lost for two years. Up and down, up and down. My world is just spinning out of control and I just feel like I can never measure up.

TIRED * OVERWHELMED * SAD * WORRIED * SCARED * RUSHED * I just feel like life is in fast forward and we are just scrambling to get through the day and make memories. Rush, rush, rush. I want to slow down and just enjoy the time we have left with Ollie.