The worst thing about family members having severe illnesses is that often times I feel like I am unable to do anything about it. Though I wish I could just take it away from them, I have learned that being positive in the face of the affliction is one of the most important part of the healing process.

Recently, my father was diagnosed with lifetime leukemia. While he won’t show any signs of the illness until further into his life, it is still disconcerting to think that there is something slowly eating away at my dad. It is especially nerve wracking due to the fact that my mom had breast cancer years ago. Thankfully, my dad is getting chemotherapy and 95 percent of patients go into remission for lifetime leukemia.

Enough of my sob story. The most important thing of these experiences has been thinking positive despite what feels like the world is ending. It is so easy to look at the negatives and think that there is absolutely nothing that can change what has happened. It is easy to bring yourself down thinking that there was something you could of done to prevent it. You had no idea it was going to happen so just breathe and keep a cool head. Keep in mind that not every case of cancer is terminal.

What you really need to do is be a support system for the member of your family who has the disease. Not only is cancer debilitating physically, but also mentally. They need to know that you are there for them through this. The thing I most admired when my mom had cancer was all the people that came to her aid when she was sick. I was still a little boy and it scared the life out of me to think that my mom was so sick. Even through this fear, her friends were there for her the entire way. Food was provided, as well as uplifting and encouraging words. Little me did not understand how important that was for my mom. Years later however, I realized that if they had not been there for her, things would have been much harder for her.

I wish my parents did not have to go through this, but I have the utmost hope that we can get through it. If you are going through a similar situation, then keep your head up and stay strong. You can get through it too.