Category: Life After Cancer

  • Healthy Choices: Essential Oils

    I’m happy to announce that I have joined doTERRA Essential Oils as a wellness advocate. I was introduced to doTerra by a friend who has been using essential oils for years now. In the past she has given me oils for stress/anxiety, stomach aches, fever and body aches, and they have worked every time. At…

  • YouTube, Armor, and Winning the War

    As some of you know, Ian has a YouTube channel (link). He’s been making and uploading videos since he was 7 years old. I have been monitoring his site. I get an email whenever someone comments on his videos, and then I delete and report anyone who makes a nasty comment. He’s been called names…

  • Relay for Life: A Survivor’s Story

    It’s been five years since Ian was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor: Primary Adenocarcinoma of the Brain. It was rare, one in a hundred million; the tumor had sprouted tentacles, and we didn’t know for sure if we had found it before it had spread; there was no protocol for treatment; there was no…

  • A letter to my son on his ninth birthday

    Dear Ian, Happy birthday my darling boy! Your birth nine years ago brought so much joy to my life. You were an answer to prayer then as you are now. We’ve been through so much together and have come out stronger and better because of it. You have taught me so much about life and love.…

  • My MRI by Ian Hawkins

    With a little help from Mom. I have an MRI today. I’m going to take you through my MRI. Last night I was upset about getting another MRI. I asked my mom if other kids have to get MRIs all the time like me. She said no. At least I only have to go once…

  • How Heroes Are Made

    Last night, Ian told me he’s getting picked on by kids at school. Ian told one friend that he’s going to be Spiderman someday, and that friend told other kids. Those kids now pick on him and tell him that he’s not going to be Spiderman. Ian was angry and sad that people didn’t believe…

  • Special in Every Way

    “I think we need to put Ian in special education.” Ian’s teacher was saying something about the anomalies in his learning abilities, but my breath caught in my throat, and I only pieced together what I heard after “special education.”

  • Do you remember when you were my only friend?

    Ian and I were on our way to play miniature golf last night, and he asked me this innocent question: “Mom, do you remember when you were my only friend?” “What do you mean, buddy?”

  • Ian Knows Pain

    Besides the obvious struggles, Ian’s Cancer treatments three years ago have created other problems for him now. The radiation machine that zapped the bad cells in his brain also deteriorated Ian’s gums and teeth. Two years after his treatments, our dentist told us Ian needed to get eight caps on his molars. The two-hour procedure…

  • Positively—Scared

    I feel like a failure. I write about staying optimistic through whatever life throws at me, yet I’m scared of that very possibility. Ian recently had an MRI that came back clear, thankfully, but it was because of my fears that he had one last week instead of next month. Two nights in a row…