As I’ve already mentioned in my previous post, my two kids are the best! It’s obvious that they are smart people, my son having earned a PhD and is now a professor of psychology specialising in developmental psychology (mostly aging) and my daughter surviving Law School and becoming a very successful child advocate.

When I was first diagnosed, Renee was completing her undergraduate studies here in Sudbury and Eric was in grad school in Thunderbay 12 hours away.  Renee really was my rock!  She came with me when I had my head shaved, came with us to my doctors’ appointments, learned to cook so that she could help out (and Lord knows BT doesn’t know the first thing about cooking except of course for his famous pickled eggs).  She kept me grounded and stopped me from feeling sorry for myself.  She studied in my room when I was resting and kept me laughing with her strange antics.  We had our girls date nights when we would stay in my room, eat popcorn and watch chick flicks (no boys allowed).  She also helped me style my wig, usually using her brother’s head, and would comment on my clothes and makeup making sure I didn’t go out the door looking like garbage.

I know this journey was very difficult for her but what a trooper she was! Knowing that she couldn’t confide in BT because of all his feelings, she did so with her close cousins Krista and Tara and of course her bro.  It was about 2 years into our journey when she met her husband, and his fabulous Italian family (we’ll get into his wonderful family when I talk about my friends).   He was her rock when she needed him.  He stayed by her side and his weirdness and general goofiness made us all laugh!  He “closed the deal” and convinced her to marry him (did I tell you what a great salesman he is).  Again, Silvano, don’t let this go to your head, you know part of her agreeing to marry you has to do with your Ma’s cooking! He not only helped Renee but, don’t tell him this, he helped BT and myself as well!  I could tell you funny and weird stories about him but that would seriously take way to much time (maybe my next blog will be titled Quirky Son-in-laws And How to Deal With Them).

 

Two years into their marriage, they announced that they were expecting our grandchild.  What a feeling! That I would actually get to meet my grandchild.  I can’t even describe to you how I felt, even though all of you grandparents out there know what a joy these little beings are for us. It was even more so for myself because I didn’t think I would be around long enough to meet them.  My beautiful Daniela was born on Easter Sunday 2015 (Renee was pissed that she missed brunch) and I had the awesome privilege of being there when she came into this world.  She stole my heart from the first minute I saw her and she has given me even more reasons to fight!  When she was one, we got the news that Renee was expecting again!  Holy shit! how was I going to find room in my heart for another little bundle of joy?  But our little Filippo found a way to make room in my heart!  I can’t even begin to thank my daughter and her husband for this wonderful, fulfilling experience of complete love and beauty that are grandchildren.

 

 

 

 

Now for my wonderful, handsome and somewhat nerdy son Eric.  You know Leonard from the TV show Big Bang Theory? Well that’s him, the cool, smart nerd but with style!  His battle in this story that is my not-so-fabulous journey is a little different from that of his sister because he was so far away during the first years of my battle.  I feel that it was even more difficult for him because he couldn’t physically be there for us but believe me, he was always there for us. His logical and analytical way of dealing with situations helped his emotional dad cope.  He researched my medications, my treatments and came with to doctors’ appointments when he was in town so that he could ask questions that BT and I would forget to ask.  Through it all he was able to juggle his studies and support our family with not only his solid logic but also with his sense of humour.  When he moved to Waterloo (about 100km from Toronto) he was there to support BT when I had my surgeries and put up with my bizarre reactions to medications (you know what I’m talking about Eric).  As much as Renee was my rock, Eric was BT’s.  Dealing with BT’s feelings is a full time job, and he knew how to handle it.  It helps that he’s a doctor of psychology specialising in gerontology let me tell you!  He had to use all of his skills on us that’s for sure.  Poor bastard!

The day of his convocation was the proudest day of our lives! Dr. Eric Theriault!! Yup! That’s my boy!  The only “problem” was that his doctorate took him even further away from us to Manitoba.  It was worth it though because that is where he met the love of his life Tierra.  She is a generous and loving soul that we all fell in love with the first time we met.  She passed the Renee test which says a lot! She is a perfect fit for him because she doesn’t take him too seriously (did I tell you he has a bit of a stick up his butt at times?).  Despite all of his weirdness, she loves him completely.  What more can a mother ask for? Well more grandchildren I guess.  They are set to be married in October and I’m totally pumped!

 

 

Now that you’ve met my family you can understand why, despite everything, I am truly lucky.  I didn’t mean to brag but come on! I have reason to.  I also want to take this time to reinforce my belief that your health doesn’t only belong to you, it belongs to your family and your friends. So for those of you who think that your bad habits, like smoking, eating crap and living a sedentary life is only your business, you cannot be more wrong.  When you are sick, you are not the only one suffering.  Everyone who cares about you is also suffering.

Next time I’ll introduce you to my friends who have also made my journey a little easier.