Thanks for your share. What an amazing and inspiring story. Shedding some tears, linked to some emotions. I can relate to a lot, my (15) has alopecia, our connection has always been strong. But even stronger now I take good care of myself as well.
For the rest I’m bit speechless 
Thanks again for posting and touching the feelings within myself
You are an amazing person.
Thanks for sharing. Big hugs and much love for you and your family.
Thank you for sharing this. It’s a huge piece to understand your story better. It’s har that is is such a painful story.
Your son is a worior just like his mom is.
Beautiful u should be proud Dana he’s so like u and by the the smiles he’s a happy wee man we’re all here for u x
Thank you for your kind words 
it was hard to share about him. I have alot of shame and guilt around not being the best mom I could be for him. But I am definitlg making that change and doing it everyday, not just for him but for me too he is my entire world. My absolute everything! And I’m glad that I CAN be the mom that he deserves today! 
Awe thank u so much!! I definitly felt it!
Thank u for sharing abit about yourself and your child too. I really relate to what you said about the connection always being strong, but that its stronger now since ur healthy. I feel this for sure. Now that I’m healthier I’m doing more with him. I take him for “wagon rides” in this huge park behind our building. He loves it and I run with him in the wagon so he feels like he’s in a race car lol I wouldve never done things like this if I was using. I wouldn’t have the energy to run or be outside for that matter. The bond grows with our kids when we ourselves are healthy too. I am not familiar with alopecia. If you feel comfortable doing so, can u explain what that is? Thank u again for sharing
Thank you Menno! That means alot it really does!! Hope ur well
Thank you so much for ur post. Thruout all his treatment and surgeries and therapy and our struggles with homecare and nurses and all his appointments, I really lost myself bcuz I dove into taking care of him and what was going on with him (which Is soo important bcuz he needed that). But I never had that chance to work on myself and I didn’t know how to handle the pain of everything that was happening. He is quite abit more stable and healthier and more independent now than he was years ago and so I had to make time for me to get healthy in all ways (with my physical health, my emotional and mental health, my recovery, my spiritual health). He needs me to be healthy so that I can live long to be there for him as he grows thank u for the beautiful compliment also
Thank you Colin! That really means alot! I appreciate you so much!
Wow… Dana you are sooo strong 
. I cannot know what it’s like for you, I can only imagine how hard it must be. I don’t pray ever but I’ll give it a shot for you and your son. Hugs 🫂 to you both.
Oh wow… that’s really kind and meaningful of you to try to pray even tho u normally don’t. That means alot! Thank u Dan
Oh my beautiful friend.
I am just now reading this post. I hope you ended up having an OK night. You have so much on your plate, that is a lot to deal with emotionally, mentally and physically. I am so proud of you for finding the courage to open up about it so that you can lean on us for support around this now.
Love you so much. You’re a great mom.
@Butterflymoonwoman Hi Dana, I just came across this post about your beautiful son. I cried, because I thought how much more can be thrown at this woman. Your strength in life and your strength in recovery is amazing. There is something very special about you, and as I said before, we around the world are cheering for you (and now your little boy!) If you write the story of your life, I would buy your book - no kidding. Blessings, prayers and much thanks for your openness and kindness to all.
Awe Stella 
thank you so much! 
It was hard posting this and I actually almost deleted it a few times before and after posting it lol My son is my whole world! I’m grateful to be his mom and I’m grateful that God gave me this responsibility to care for him during his treatment. He has always been well taking care of and never has gone without but at the same time I have a ton of regret bcuz I wasn’t always the most involved (as in I didn’t have the energy to go for walks or to play at times or do puzzles or play dough or whatever). But that has completely changed. I cant change the past but I’m grateful that I have become a healthier mom in many ways so that I can be an even better mom for my boy. He is definitly my biggest motivator (even tho he doesn’t it). Thank u for ur very kind words girl 
Awe… ur making me tear up lol omg ir words are beautiful. U know what’s funny lol… is that when he was diagnosed eith his brainstem tumor, I honestly blamed myself for it bcuz I felt like everything that had happened in my past was being used as punishment for me and my son. I know this isn’t true now but I sometimes wonder why all this stuff has happened to me… kind of like when am I gonna get a break already lol I’m not comparing my life to other peoples of course (we all experience awful things in our lives and quite frankly people have experienced worse than me) but I do wonder what the reason for all this is? I often have wondered why I am still alive today thru everything that happened 8+ years ago when I was at my worst. And I think God knew that my boy would need the care that he needs, and somehow God saved me in all those circumstances so that I was able to be alive today to take for my son. Idk… just my thoughts 
My mom thinks I should write a book but I don’t know if I have the ability to sit and go thru that . I have written my story out in short form and have shared it with others way back in the day at mtgs, jail, detox centres etc. That’s when I was doing more service work but alot has happened since then and I never updated it. But thank u for the beautiful compliment Hugs to u my friend
I can relate 100% to having given my special needs child as much as I could. She never “went without”, but I was not there 100%, I was suffering deeply. We have a chance now to make amends for that.
Hi Dana, by the time I write this you’re probably asleep or nearly there after this brutal 36 hours awake - you’re going to sleep like a stone.
To tell you the truth my first thought is you are exactly the person for this. This gentle soul is sheltered in the arms of God, acting through you, through your organic, complex, dedicated, web of love and emotion. Is it easy? Hell no. Are you exactly what this child of God needs? Yes. All of the ins and outs and ups and downs of your life together are essential and none of them are your fault. I know it doesn’t feel that way sometimes and that’s ok, but it is true.
It takes a lot of courage to open up about this. It’s kind and courageous to open this space, to invite people into your journey to be human with you, to accompany you.
Thank you Dana 
It is emotionally heavy that is for sure.
One way to maybe explore this would be to partner with a writer, who would interview you at times that work for you - and the interviews could pause when you need time - and then do the actual writing on your behalf. I don’t know if it’s possible to get someone to do this for free but I imagine there are aspiring writers out there in the world for whom a compelling story like this would be a strong addition to their résumé, and might help them move forward in their career. The book could be credited as “Dana ____ with [writer’s name]”.