During the twenty-six months that Kendrie was on treatment for leukemia, she took 2121 pills. Approximately 2121 times, we encouraged her to try to take them the “normal” way ….. just pop them in her mouth and swallow with water.
During the twenty-six months that Kendrie was on treatment, she had to swallow numerous doses of nasty-tasting liquid Zantac to counter-act the stomach upset caused by the steroids. She hated the stuff, so we encouraged her to learn to down it quickly, like a shot … just toss it back and swallow.
When her treatment was over she developed exercise-induced asthma and started doing an inhaler before soccer games and practice. We encouraged her to learn to use her inhaler properly …… take a deep breath, hold it in your lungs, let it out slowly.
Last month she developed a wicked cough that the doctor thought might be helped with a twice-daily inhaler, so we made doubly sure she knew the proper way to inhale.
Today we took her back to the doctor because not only was the cough worse but she was also complaining about ear pain and was (is) completely stuffed up. The doctor said to discontinue the twice-daily inhalers but gave her a steroid nasal spray to use in an attempt to dry her up. So Blaine has spent the evening teaching her the proper way to snort something up her nose (something I simply, totally, and plainly CANNOT DO because just the thought grosses me the hell out.)
So basically, we’ve spent her entire life teaching her the various ways to use drugs. Short of explaining a beer bong or IV cocaine or how to shoot up between her toes, there is nothing now she cannot do successfully.
And yet we’ll be shocked when she DOESN’T “just say no”.
Go figure.
13 comments:
Kendrie seems to be pretty darn comfortable in her own skin; she'll probably look at any kid who tries to push drugs on her and call 'em a dumb*ss. And then she'll laugh at their poor technique....
Interesting! Finn just started on a nasal steroid, too! Let's talk drugs. Is Kendrie using Nasonex? We're using that and Simply Saline. The chemo wreaks havoc on their sinuses. Oh yes, makes me so excited for winter.
Oh, Kristie, you just made me pee my pants. Marielle walked a similar road, as you know. I keep thinking how do you tell your child to say no to drugs when you've coaxed and prodded, promised gifts, stood on your head, done everything humanly possible to take meds...nasty meds, sweeter meds, just all the meds it takes to get through cancer treatment?
On top of that, I think I have the only kid in the world that loved getting LP's. She had her broviac removed after only 9 months, she hated it so much. At age 3, she made up her mind that she would rather have pokes. That meant gas for the LP's. The first time, as she slipped under she looked at me and said, "I love you, Mom". All the nurses though that was so sweet, but I knew what it meant....she loved the feeling the gas gave her.
Sure enough, after waking she said she loved the gas, it made her feel like she was flying around the room and could she have another LP tomorrow?
All the Oncs thought it was great, one Onc even said, "Hey, all she's been through if there's something she loves about treatment, great". But, in the back of my mind, I kept thinking, "I've got to watch out for her when she gets older".
Marie
www.caringbridge.org/visit/marielle
I can probably teach her the beer bong when she gets older!
Hope Kendrie is feeling better and tell Blaine we're thinking about him!
Never thought of it that way, but she does seem knowledgeable. But, with your good parenting skills, she'll be just fine. (although she'll probably hav a few shots during her college career - kids will be envious she knows how to do them so well).
Shoot up between your toes? just when I thought I had heard it all....
Ah, but she WILL just say no....she's fought too hard for her life to throw it away, even when she's a teenager walking around in a self-absorbed, hormone induced fog {{{sigh - personal experience speaking, here...is this the same child I gave birth too?? etc., etc.}}} As for snorting things - I can't live without my Afrin!! I love it - almost as much as I love my Zantac (which I down just before I eat ANYTHING that's even the tiniest bit acidic). Now, beer in a bong instead of water???? That's REALLY gross!!
LOL!! Thanks for the laugh. :o)
Poor Kid, so sorry she is not feeling well with her cough etc. Hope this steroid nasal spray works for her. But ya know, I think with her loving parents teaching her she will "just say no" Wendy
Perhaps having taken all those drugs already, the novelty will have worn off and the "recreational" drugs will have no appeal?
Been there - done that might just become Kendrie's motto! That and the fact that she might have just mastered the "bribe" technique too.... You really were NOT expecting Kendrie to be your shopaholic were you??? Hope she is feeling better soon.
With you and Blaine as her parents, Kendrie will be way to busy doing cool things to do drugs. Plus, like Pam D said, she'd probably put anyone who offered her drugs in the their place immediately, just as her momma would!
Never quite thought of it that way... probably should have since Hunter actually takes great pride in what a good pill-popper she is! Yipes.
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