Meet Bristol & Chelsie
“It was important to us to give her as normal of a childhood as we could. We wanted her to feel the joy of childhood things like books, dolls, anything she loved. We made sure she always felt peace, comfort and love. ”
Tell us about you and your family
We are a family of 6. Clayton and I have 4 kids ages 11, 8, 3 and 1. We love our busy life with our sweet and wild kids!
What illness was your child diagnosed with?
Acute Myeloid Leukemia
“She did it all with a smile.”
What did you feel and experience learning the diagnosis?
We were absolutely heartbroken when we got the phone call. We just cried and held each other and our kids.
What surprised you along the journey?
We were surprised at how well Bristol handled the treatments and everything she went through. She did it all with a smile. We were also surprised to meet so many families going through the same journey.
“We were also surprised to meet so many families going through the same journey.”
What did you struggle with along the journey?
I struggled with not being able to take the pain away for our baby girl.
What did you become an "unexpected expert" in along the way?
I became an unexpected expert at nursing. Remembering medications, side effects, doing dressing changes etc. I also became an expert at multitasking whether that was holding Bristol and doing things or pushing Bristol in a stroller and reading a book with an IV pole in tow.
What might people not understand about your experience?
I think there is a lot that is not understood until you live it. I did not know and probably would have understood it before we lived it. It's just unimaginable. People always said they didn't know how we did it, but for us there wasn't anything we wouldn't do for our baby girl. We were dealt the cards and we would do our best with it all.
What you learned & how you found comfort
What or who brought you comfort in your journey?
Hope. Our kids, other families in the unit and our nurses.
“She showed us that all she needed was us. That was enough and she was happy.”
What or who brought your child comfort in their journey?
Clayton, me and her siblings. Bristol also loved books, music, her walker when she was feeling good and her sound machine.
How did the process allow you to see your child as a unique individual? What did you learn?
Bristol was relentless. She fought, overcame and she did it with a smile. She showed us that all she needed was us. That was enough and she was happy.
What feeling was important to you to evoke in the hospital room?
It was important to us to give her as normal of a childhood as we could. We wanted her to feel the joy of childhood things like books, dolls, anything she loved. We made sure she always felt peace, comfort and love.
How did you create that atmosphere?
We played with her and her favorite toys all the time, we snuggled as much as she wanted, and we sang her favorite songs. We dealt with our emotions outside of the room whenever possible. We didn't want her to feel our worry or sadness all the time. We just really tried to limit that.
What small gestures brought comfort that were unexpected?
Parents reaching out to see how you were even if you had never met them before. Nurses offering to spend a little time with Bristol so you could get some sleep or when nurses would pop in just to sit and chat for a few minutes and see how we were. The birthday cake, card and gifts they got for Bristol on her 1st birthday. The nurses even sang happy birthday to her fom the hallway. So many things. I could go on and on.
What is your call to action for our readers?
I think it is really important to talk more about childhood cancer.
It is important for people to know what life is really like for the kids and their families living in a hospital.
It is also really important to talk about grief because not everyone is guaranteed to win their battle and everyone should be able to comfortably talk about their journey and their feelings. Everyone I met at the hospital came with an open heart, arms and they listened. It's just not always like that outside of the hospital.
There are so many ways to help the children and families, sign up for Be The Match, adopt a family for Christmas, be a listening ear for those that need it, donate your time or toys, anything that could help brighten someone's day.
“It is important for people to know what life is really like for the kids and their families living in a hospital.”
