Comments on: Teacher needing advice http://www.teenslivingwithcancer.org/2011/02/15/teacher-needing-advice/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=teacher-needing-advice Just another WordPress weblog Tue, 11 Jun 2013 20:09:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Leah Shearer http://www.teenslivingwithcancer.org/2011/02/15/teacher-needing-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-3779 Leah Shearer Sun, 27 Feb 2011 13:11:06 +0000 http://www.teenslivingwithcancer.org/?p=1904#comment-3779 Totally agree with you Kyle. The little things TOTALLY matter.

Leah Shearer
TLC Program Coordinator
Rochester, NY

]]> By: Marie Hand http://www.teenslivingwithcancer.org/2011/02/15/teacher-needing-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-3770 Marie Hand Fri, 25 Feb 2011 01:30:01 +0000 http://www.teenslivingwithcancer.org/?p=1904#comment-3770 Your student might benefit from seeing my son, Carson Hand’s cancer journey slide show. Search on youtube for Carson’s Cancer Journey. Carson had liver cancer at 16 and is now 5 yrs in remission. The narrated (at the end of it) slide show shows how family, friends, and faith helped get Carson through a devastating time. He produced the slide show for a 5yr cancer free celebration. You can also check him out on Facebook. Blessings-

]]> By: Kyle Chown http://www.teenslivingwithcancer.org/2011/02/15/teacher-needing-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-3769 Kyle Chown Thu, 24 Feb 2011 21:08:50 +0000 http://www.teenslivingwithcancer.org/?p=1904#comment-3769 The little things matter. For some reason, the big things always seeme to be covered, but the little things are always overlooked by people around me- so little things become big things. I don’t like feeling like people think I need an astronomical amount of help with everything- simple acts of kindness would go a long way. Also, whether he likes to admit it or not, the chemo is probably not the thing he’s afraid of the most. It’s often different for cancer patients, but as a cancer patient myself, I know that the mental battles are a lot harder than the physical ones for me. Ask him how he’s feeling. Really feeling. Not physically, but emotionally, spiritually, mentally, etc.

]]> By: Sparx101angel http://www.teenslivingwithcancer.org/2011/02/15/teacher-needing-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-3732 Sparx101angel Thu, 17 Feb 2011 13:39:25 +0000 http://www.teenslivingwithcancer.org/?p=1904#comment-3732 hi cristy
Im maxine and had a friend a grade ahead of me that got leukemia. I know what its like to see someone suffer. be cofident and look him in the eye when you talk to him, let him know that you aren’t afraid to look at him. Don’t be too cheery (like the social worker) because he might take this seriously and be thinking why should you be happy when my life is a reck. Instead laugh at things that are funny, laugh when he laughs and don’t,whatever you do, smile forever! its irritating enough even when you aren’t sick. And please iuf he has e-mail give him my address I would love to speak to him :) my e-mail address is Klemax10@rghs.org.za

All my love and prays
Max.

]]> By: Leah Shearer http://www.teenslivingwithcancer.org/2011/02/15/teacher-needing-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-3730 Leah Shearer Wed, 16 Feb 2011 17:48:38 +0000 http://www.teenslivingwithcancer.org/?p=1904#comment-3730 Hi Cristy,

I am so thankful you chose to contact us. The most important advice I can give you is that your care and concern are never wrong. Just by visiting you will be giving the kind of support your student will appreciate.

To be honest- it’s a hard time. And teens have it extra difficult. Just being 16 or 17 in a pediatric hospital, you might imagine he is very overwhelmed. All that is around him is the reminder that he can’t be where he wants to be or doing what he wants to do.

Most times the reaction of a teen (anger against a visiting social worker) is nothing personal. Really, it has nothing to do with that person, it’s just a way of answering back boldly to the unfairness of the situation.

Feel free to tell him about our website so that he might find a way to talk to others in his own way. You can’t imagine how much help is given just by seeing that they aren’t the only one in this. Now, that said—boys and you know I say this with love–boys can tend to at first turn away offers for “help”. No one wants to feel weak…but the opposite (strength) is the gift when they can reach beyond the fear of feeling weak.
Just by knowing he can do what he needs when it is comfortable for him.

I have this feeling that you are a very special teacher. And something tells me (because you are aware of yourself) because you wrote us here—that you will not get the same reaction as that hospital staffer.

Think of a way to connect with him—tell him a funny story about what’s going on at school. Have his classmates/friends/teachers put together something for you to take there. These are ways to make him feel still connected to his school community. Just simple ideas but done with great love—-they are healing.

I say this not as just from pulling from an idea tank—I’ve been there.
I was a sick teenager and young adult myself. These things gave me hope that the people around me would be there for me, not only through it, but when I got back.

Good luck and thank you for being a wonderful teacher–(not just of history).

Leah Shearer
TLC Program Coordinator

]]>