A Mother Grieves, and Gives Thanks to Hollister
A Mother Grieves, and Gives Thanks to Hollister
Editor,
As I sit in my Son’s hospital room next to his bed, I have so many thoughts. Thousands of questions go through my mind. I want to know why, how and what can I do. I have seen a whole new life in this hospital that I never knew existed. I mean, I have heard ‘CANCER’ time after time, but to see these children and their families go through such pain is overwhelming.
My son Michael Williamson was diagnosed with Leukemia in February of 2006. Signs, there was none other than flu-like symptoms. Never would I have thought this could happen to one of my children. Saying that it felt like a truck smacking us head-on would be putting it lightly. It took my breath away.
What my son has been through in the last few months is heartbreaking. Not only the chemo and all the medicines, but the emotions he is going through, He is in his junior high years where he should be meeting new friends and making a lifetime of memories of his childhood. But he has not been back to school since February. He has lost his hair so he is uncomfortable being around people. Some kids stare wondering what is wrong with that kid. And others make remarks that are hurtful, not knowing what they are doing to my son. I have become a over-protective Bear Mom.
Before my son was diagnosed we were trying to teach him the value of a dollar. Being only 14, he is too young to work, but he would do chores around the house and get a small allowance. We would explain to him that saving was important. So every day he would come home he would do chores or rake yards for neighbors. Then one day he came home and said he got a job emptying garbage cans and running errands for Bills Bull Pen, a comic store in Hollister once or twice a week. Then he talked to Hollister Mortgage and started handing out flyers for them. He opened a bank account and saved over 200 dollars. He was so excited that he had done what he thought he could never do,( Save 200 dollars) all by himself.
In the hospital he would say “Mom, I need to let my work know why I haven’t been there”.
Hollister Mortgage has been wonderful to my son and I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart. It has really helped. We get love and support daily from friends, family, neighbors and my work. Colleen and Mike Eastman, whose daughter had leukemia, my job Just Breakfast in Morgan Hill and San Jose – thank you.
Now my son has barely enough energy to walk around the house. He has lost over 20 pounds since his diagnosis and now every day I hear another story or meet another family that has a story. What is going on? What is making our children so sick and have to go through so much pain? Is it the water? Is it air we are breathing? No one has the answer as to why our children have to go through so much pain and suffering. I am angry, I am sad and every day we just try to make my son smile. These children are our future. My son asked his doctor why God let this happen to him. What did he do wrong to deserve this. The only thing she could say was God has a reason for everything he does. But in the back of my mind I want to know the answer to that question. WHY?
Brandi Zavaleta
Hollister
