Kat's Junebug Rachel is such a sweetie. Kat and family came to visit us once in the hospital and Rachel climbed right on the bed to play with Nathan. She didn't even seem to notice the bald head and IVs, or else it didn't seem to bother her. She was there to play, and they did.
Around the time that they moved away again they started to have issues with Rachel. It was a wide variety of problems to unspecific to pinpoint.
Very recently Rachel lost a good portion of her vision. This led to months of testing which has led to a devastating diagnosis, Batten Disease. It is a fatal degenerative disorder of the nervous system.
I am so horrified that this has happened to Rachel and to Kat and her family. I thought I had the market cornered on kids with terminal illnesses from our small group of women. For some reason I still feel that Nathan's cancer and death should exempt his peers from similar fates. I know the world doesn't work like that but somehow it seems like it should.
Kat's main goal is to treat Rachel's symptoms the best she can and to keep Rachel from knowing her fate. Some may not agree, but I agree 100% on that. Rachel should be able to have the happiest, fullest, life she can live with the hand she has been dealt. Her job is to be a kid.
The road ahead is long and scary for Kat and her family. Please send some prayers her way.
8 comments:
How terribly sad. I will keep her in my thoughts and prayers.
With all the *minor* crap that's been going on with Cheyenne, I wonder if 2000 was not such a good year for our Junebugs.
I am so frustrated with everything.
xoxoxo
What a horrible disease. I will definitely pray for them.
Do you have a copy of that picture that I can have? She looks so normal and "there." I would love to make a print up and keep it with me for some kind of stregnth.
- K
What a beautiful child she is. Just as Nathan is a beautiful child. I don't understand this shit at all. Why does a little boy have to find out he has cancer before he is even 3? Why does he have to endure so many painful treatments, only to lose his life to the beast at 7 yrs of age? Why does a little girl that brought some joy and happiness into that little boy's life have to be given such a devestating diagnosis? Why do both parents have to watch their children suffer so?
It makes no fcking sense at all to me, it is bitterly unfair and I get so damn pissed off thinking about, and these aren't even my kids, these are kids I have never met.
Please excuse my language and know that your family and now this family too, are always in my prayers.
Rita
It makes you hug your kids tighter. I've thought about you and Kat more and more recently. It's just horrible what's happened to both of you and your sweet kids!
Absolutely heartbreaking.
I am so glad you posted that, Susan. I have been struggling with the "not fair" for both of you.
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