u/AlexisKGC

Hi…I wasn’t really sure where else to put my thoughts on this and I could really use the support. My mom was diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma (a very rare, very aggressive) soft tissue sarcoma in 2022. The 5 year survival rate is 15%. The cancer originated in soft tissue in her right arm and after a few rounds of chemo, surgery and a broken arm she was in remission. We were so hopeful that would be the end of this nightmare but it’s been the complete opposite.

Fast forward to now, the cancer has spread throughout her entire body and into her spinal cord. She is now paralyzed from the waist down and has very little control of her arms and hands. My dad has been her full time caretaker with help from my brothers and I, but her health has deteriorated to the point where that is no longer enough. Our family has deteriorated to the point where I no longer recognize the goofy, loving people we all used to be. My mom has become extremely depressed and the emotional toll this has taken on all of us can not be overstated.

To make matters worse, she is relatively young (55). I’m the eldest daughter (29) and have 3 younger brothers. I also have a 5 month old. The only thing I want in this season of my life is my own mom. Learning how to be a mom without her physical or emotional support has been one of the most challenging parts of this journey.

I came to reddit because when I look around at my support system, none of my friends are going through anything remotely close to this. It literally feels like a never ending nightmare that I can’t wake up from and it seems like since she became paralyzed, there is a new challenge every day. It is the most alone I have ever felt.

Reading the stories about how cancer has touched all of your lives has saddened me deeply, but it also has made me feel like I’m not alone in this terrible chapter of life. I’m not sure what I’m looking for out of telling my story, I just needed to type it out and tell it to anyone who will listen.