Poll: Warning, it's a downer

katie277s

Well this isn't really a poll, but...

As some of you may know, I follow quite a few carepages of children that are diagnosed with cancer.  I just watched a video of a little boy named Trey that is fighting Stage IV Neuroblastoma.  They did a short movie on him, it totally brought tears to my eyes. 

In the video, they had interviews of Trey's parents, along with his grandparents.  It got me to thinking...who is it harder on?  IYO, would it be harder to be the parent of a terminally ill child or the grandparent?  If you think about it, the grand parent has to not only watch their grand child suffer, but their own child suffer as well.  What do you think?

jennieliz

Parents.  While it's awful for all involved, I cannot imagine having to go through that with my child that I gave birth to.

joseysbride

Parents.  Of course, the grandparents love the child dearly, but nothing is the same as the love a parent has for their own child.

mlm1128

I think it is still worse if it is your own child.  My brother was 23 when he was diagnosed with cancer, it was horrid for my parents.  I can't imagine how it would have been if he were little.  It was tough on my grandmother as well, but still not the same.

Now, it may have been hardest of all on my other brother who is his identical twin. 

DandR

parents, hands down.

Bellisimo

While it's hard for both obviously, I'd say it's harder on the parents.  I used to work as a Child Life Specialist and worked closely with the pedi. hem./onc. population and even set up their Caring Bridge pages.  I cannot tell you how all consuming it is for the family....their constant care, hospitalizations, clinic visits, treatments and constant scans and tests.  The siblings have a tough time too!  The emotional upheaval is something that I've never seen anything comparable in my life.  I cannot even begin to imagine what a day in their shoes is like.

A-baybride

Parents - nothing could be worse than losing your child.

My little brother had neuroblastoma.  After he died I swore I'd never have kids because that was so hard to endure as a sibling, I couldn't even imagine how horrible it would be as a parent.  (obviously I didn't keep that promise)