Close friend has leukemia

DrewDevil · #1 10-20-2006, 07:23 PM

One of my oldest and dearest friends is very sick with leukemia.

She has just discovered that she has acute lymphoblastic (or lymphocytic) leukemia ("ALL"). This is the most common form of cancer in children, but it is more rare, and more serious, in adults. She began a brutal chemotherapy regime yesterday and will be in and out of the hospital constantly for the next 6 months.

Our families are very close and she and I grew up together. During college, she and I dated seriously for more than a year before realizing that we were better suited as friends. A few years later, I helped set her up with one of my other best friends, and I was a groomsman in their wedding. They have been married for more than 10 years and have three kids, ages 7, 5 and 2.

My friend just turned 35 in September.

I am pretty much in shock over all this, and I don't really know what to do. So if you pray, I ask you to pray for Jennifer, her husband Doug, and their children, Jason, Madeleine, and James.

bisonbison · #2 10-20-2006, 07:28 PM

sorry dude. do what you can, stay sane.

JasonK · #3 10-20-2006, 07:42 PM

That really sucks dude. There's not much you can do other than continue being a close friend and maybe offer to help out with watching the kids or things like that.

Phresh · #4 10-20-2006, 07:44 PM

That's awful. I can't give any solid advice here, but hope for the best.

TexArcher · #5 10-20-2006, 07:50 PM

Best wishes to your friend and her family.

Stay strong for her.

Klompy · #6 10-20-2006, 09:14 PM

I can't really give any good advice for this because it's a friend. I don't really know how to handle this but about 3 years ago my mom had breast cancer and the best thing I could do was jus be a friend and act like everything is normal. The only thing I can say is to not act like anything is strange, just be your normal self. If you do this your friend will at least feel like she's at home.

Geoffrey Bonal · #7 10-20-2006, 09:23 PM

its not your fault so please stop your QQing now

Golden_Rhino · #8 10-20-2006, 09:29 PM

Sorry to hear it. A friend of mine had cacer a few years ago, and obviously I was crushed when I found out. I didn't feel much like joking around, but I felt that I had to. the best thing for your friend is to not treat her like a faberge egg and act the same as you always have around her.

renodoc · #9 10-20-2006, 11:38 PM

nasty beat, ALL in an adult.

Have her go to a big center-- best odds of sucking out.

Austiger · #10 10-21-2006, 12:20 AM

One of my closest friends died of leukemia about 7 years ago. He was 29. He left me his beautiful black lab who is still here lying on the floor next to me. There is nothing I can say, but I feel for you.