Dear, Katie.

My heart breaks for you. My diagnosis was indeed different than yours, but what makes us similar is that I have gone through 2 rounds of OC, as well. The first was when I was pregnant with my second child and my firstborn was barely 2 years old.

My second round came when my kids were just 3, turning 4 and just over a year old. It's so hard to explain to them what's going on. I pretty much did the same thing that you did in that I said that Mommy was sick and that I was going to go to the doctor every day so that the doctor could give me medicine to get better. It told my oldest that the medicine was going to make me sick and sleepy. I don't think anything can prepare them for what they witness when you are in the throes of treatment. I guess the best you can do is surround them with love, make sure that they know it's not their fault, and perhaps get them some time with other family and friends for some normalcy, so their not always seeing you hooked up to feeding tubes and IV poles.

No matter what, I wish for you the best possible outcome because you deserve a lifetime with your family. I have learned in recent years that life is indeed so very unfair. I admire your strength in the realistic tone of your posts, but I will never give up hope that science and medicine will keep you with us for a long time to come.

You and your family will be in my thoughts.

Love in OCF,
Kerri