Chemotherapy

This week’s poem, a painful one, like this whole long process that we are in the middle of. Chemotherapy – the hope we believe in, but also frightening and incomprehensible and the source of some suffering.

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Chemotherapy

 

Waking from deepest depth to the screams of your adult son,

Eyes burning from the chemicals pumped into his veins.

To see his long, thin body, his smooth baby-bald head, bent in angles of pain,

Watering eyes, pink and light-scared, blood clots from his red-rimmed nose.

 

Watching bright colored chemicals drain from the bag

Into his veins, see his appetite shrink, weight falling from limbs,

Pills, vials, powders, needles, pale lips and lash-less eyes,

Gagging, groaning with aches, tied to pipes and long days on hospital wards.

 

Slow breaths of respite,

His naked head on the pillow,

His long pale body relaxed,

Slow-breathing in healing sleep.

 

Slow breaths of relief,

Trust in the treatment,

One drop at a time,

In the end he will be well again.

 

Odense 2017

 

 

21 thoughts on “Chemotherapy

  1. Touching and powerful poem Rilla. Real sad to read this about Theis. Still recall the long night we had in this flat where he displayed this in depth knowledge of rock music. Luckily a youth ful body recover better than an old one. Best wishes from me and Tanja. /Peter

  2. Dear, dear Rilla and Torben we didnt know this has fallen on your doorstep. So sorry to hear. Which of the boys is it? We send you strenght and positive thoughts. What a lovely poem.❤️

  3. Oh Rilla, I did not know, my thoughts and wishes and prayers are with you all, so horrible for you and T to watch your child suffer, but the great strength and love you all have for each other will get you through this and to a path of recovery xx

  4. Dear Rilla and Torbin, my thoughts and deepest sympathy goes to you both during this very trying time. We pray that your son will be cured and that he has the strength to fight through this very painful treatment. Be strong and take care. Lots of love

  5. Good poem Rilla , brings out the harsh reality, as well as your actual thoughts.
    Enables others to feel as you feel .
    Theis will recover, and your family will be closer and stronger because of it !
    By the grace and mercy of God the father, the salvation and healing bought for us by the sacrifice of Jesus the son and the power and comfort of the Holy Spirit .

  6. Cancer is tough shit, but medical treatment has come a long way since the times when we thoght cancer was terminal. I survived and I am sure your son will survive. Those doctors are phenomenal.
    Hugs to all of you,
    Kia and Franck

  7. Dearest Rilla. I send every bit of positive energy and love that I can summon to Theis and all of you every morning. He will be well again but what an awful time for you all.xx

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