Loss of adult child to brain cancer

@holly56 My heart breaks for you, and the journey you and your family has been through. I hope someone reading your post can step up and share what they know of this cancer. I have no doubt your son's case may have helped some medical professionals to better understand this condition. You all are in my thoughts and prayers for support at this difficult time.
Ginger

Hello @holly56 I am so very sad to read your post. I am sorry for your loss and wish there were some words that would provide comfort.

My wife had a different type of brain cancer, but I will never forget her neuro-oncology doctors saying on various occasions 'there is more we don't know about the human brain than we actually do know'. In my wife's case we, too, were told it was a rare cancer in women her age as well as from an unexplained cause.

Connect is a large community and I hope there are others who will be able to converse with you on this specific cancer.

Wishing you peace,
Scott

Thank you Scott and so sorry for your loss. Is there a group of families/spouses etc that lost their precious loved one that meet either by phone or annually? If not, maybe we should form one and meet invdifferent states each year? A place where everyone has felt the heartache and difficult journey we experienced and are left to carry on.

Hi @holly56, Losing a child at any age turns our world upside down. It's not the right order of events and impossible to understand that young people have to suffer disease.

I'd like to bring @daniellemarie into this discussion as well. Danielle's daughter passed away a couple of months ago from a different rare brain tumor called Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma tumor (Pxa) I think she might appreciate knowing that she is not alone. Sometimes it can help to talk with others who have been there and to share things we can't even talk about with other family members.

Good morning @holly56 Thank you for the kind words.

I imagine there are on-site groups that gather in various locations. For instance, the hospice program we used, even though my wife chose home hospice, offers a grief and loss support group here in my small town. I also know there are various groups for grief and loss throughout the Chicago area, but am not sure about other areas. I'd guess local churches might offer something too. Plus I discovered our local funeral home and hospital also knew of support groups in our area, too.

It was the isolation I was battling, which actually brought me to search out Connect. I particularly appreciated that it was 'on call' 24/7 for me!

While Connect is worldwide and the logistics of setting up in-person groups would be outside its design, perhaps your local hospital would be interested? In the meantime, remember we are here just a few keystrokes away to share, listen, or for venting!

How are you doing today?

@holly56, I hope you have seen the posts by @kristap31 and @daniellemarie. They too both understand what it means to lose a child and can share their experiences in this discussion dedicate to losing a child.
Holly, how are you doing today?

Hello my name is Danielle.... I lost my 10 years old daughter Danica 1-28-19 to PXA brain tumor/cancer. It’s been very hard to live and go through this pain 💔😭

There is nothing to say that will take away this horrific pain. Except to say I lost my son in 2016 and this forum is a good place to find support. Do not hold in your feelings please. If you have a counselor, then consider talking to someone personally. As I write this. I am at my grief therapists office. Blessings.

Hello @daniellemarie, I agree with what was posted by @georgette12, in that there is little that we can do or say that can possibly relieve you from this terrible pain of losing a child. The time you spent with her after her diagnosis up until her death had to be very draining and emotional to your mind, spirit as well as your body.

I would encourage you to share your feelings here, but also to find a grief support group where you can talk face-to-face with others who have experienced similar losses. I would also encourage you to write. Keep a journal or just write short notes each day to the daughter you lost, date these notes and keep them in a box or drawer so that in the future you can look back on them.

You need to take care of yourself physically. As you have been through a long process with your daughter's illness and death, you need to practice a lot of self-care right now. Eat well, take walks or do other exercises that will help you relax. Practice mindfulness.

Counseling, of course, is a great way to help you through the grief process. Losing a child is the most difficult loss possible so be good to yourself.

Will you keep in touch?

Dear @daniellemarie,
I am so sorry and echo @georgette12 and @hopeful33250. I have not gone through this, but a close family member of mine has.
She had a beloved pet for many years and that helped her tremendously.
Her church family offers a grief and loss group; she has participated and now leads it (MANY years after her losses).
Also, some of her extended family members have been extremely supportive.
Again, I am so sorry! Children should outlive their parents...