My baby boy is hurting and it's tearing me apart He's only eight years old so his life should be carefree But life hasn't worked out like it should He's had to grow up almost overnight because my health's so bad
Arthritis came upon me when I was just a kid Years of pain have taught me how to deal with its effects I hate the damage that it's done to me but that's my cross to bare But now this horrid disease has crossed the line It's causing hurt in ways that I never quite expected I've learned to handle aches and pains and all the endless surgeries So many things I've missed out on and yet so many things I've learned When all the repercussions of arthritis affected only me,it wasn't quite so bad
Now, life has taken a turn that has really pissed me off Because now my little boy is suffering and that just isn't right In eight short years he's endured so much and handled it so well He's had to sit and watch his mom go in and out of hospitals almost every year Calls to 911 were made by him when he heard me cry out in pain He felt so helpless since he couldn't fix me up Yet in my eyes I saw before me a shining knight in white So brave and even fearless Have that happen several times and it has to take its toll on anyone Yet, so much more on children
So many things he's wanted to do with me, but physically I couldn't His life gets put on hold so my body can repair itself And that definately isn't fair But through it all he's held his head up high My little boy took care of me each and every day Some days it seemed my little boy was more a man than just a child
This last time I left the house for a simple three day trip I kissed my boy, said good-bye and promised I'd soon be home One careless misstep on my behalf and life threw my family a twist Six weeks later I made it back home - two more surgeries complete
Now my little boy is so scared - he doesn't know what's safe He worries endlessly that something bad might happen to his daddy or to me Simple things that used to bring him joy now make him shake with fear He's gotten very clingy anytime one of us leaves his sight He used to be so bubbly and happy all the time Now moodiness and anger are taking over portions of his life It isn't fair - it isn't right - in fact, it downright sucks I place the blame for these changes right where it belongs Arthritis now has claimed my little boy as yet another of its victims
How do I explain to an innocent boy that it's okay to worry and even to be sad but that's not where he should focus all of his concerns? I'm an adult and even to me it doesn't make sense I've had a lifetime to adjust to what arthritis has done to me - not so for my little boy What do I do to ease his pain and fear and give him back the childhood that should be his?
I know his reactions are normal and his anger justified He doesn't know what to do with the emotions that he feels deep inside If he's like me right now, he probably wants to scream and shout out loud for all the world to hear Three simple words would sum it up: "Arthritis, you suck!" Maybe we should try it out and let him rant and rave and shout I don't know what will work amd make him feel safe again But, I'll keep looking until I find an answer, no matter how long it takes Somehow, someway, my little boy will be happy once again Until that time - one thing is for sure No matter what it takes from me - I won't let arthritis ruin his life!
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