Life changing diagnosis

[Vanessa04]

My 24 year old daughter was living her best life. She had just returned to work after maternity leave. I was enjoying looking after my baby grandson. Then I received a call that would change our lives. She had been taken to the ER after experiencing a seizure. She was previously fit and healthy, had never even been on antibiotics. Within hours we were told she had a brain tumour. At first it was benign and slow growing, then it became stage 2, then 4. A month later, she is facing a high grade, aggressive glioblastoma. In her case, the more rarer version of paediatric type diffuse high grade. She has gone from energetic and full of life to needing a wheelchair.  The seizures mean she can’t care for her baby. She had to stop breastfeeding. I left work and I care for her and the baby while her partner works. I am struggling to come to terms with the shock, the grief. I can’t sleep from constant worry. As a nurse, I know more about what she’ll face than I can bear, but most of all, I just can’t bear to lose her. Anyone else have a younger adult facing similar circumstances? She’s 24, but to me she’s still my baby girl 

[Susana_CCNSW]

Hi Vanessa04,

Thank you very much for joining our community.

I am so incredibly sorry you are going through this. There are no words that can truly ease the staggering weight of what you are carrying right now, thank you so much for sharing your pain with our community.

It is profoundly unfair. To go from the pure joy of watching your 24-year-old daughter embrace motherhood to navigating a diagnosis as aggressive as hers.

Your world has been completely upended. You have stepped into the roles of full-time caregiver, grandmother, and protector all at once, putting your own life on hold while her partner works.

The physical and emotional exhaustion of that alone is immense, but the mental burden you are carrying is even heavier.

I hope other community members can share with you words of support and encouragement.

If you would like to access some emotional support, like counselling service or perhaps joining a carers telephone support group, please call our support and information line on 131120 and see what other services are available for you or your daughter.

Warm regards

Susana 

Cancer Council

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