“I Try To Stay Strong, But Sometimes You Need To Cry”: Playing The Role of Cancer Caregiver and Mom

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The survival rate for children with cancer has improved an incredible amount over the past few decades — currently nearly 90% of children diagnosed with the disease will survive. Still, playing the role of caregiver and mom for a child with cancer is really difficult. There’s a thin line between wanting to be strong for your child, and dealing with the emotions that come with watching your child suffer.

NYC-based photographer Jayne Wexler recently sat down with SurvivorNet to discuss her son Justice’s experience battling acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). The family has been through treatment, relapses, and recovery together.

“Being a caregiver is a huge job,” Jayne said. “Fortunately, my husband and family were very supportive … it’s really hard to see your child go through this. If it could be me, I would take it in a second. You just go on auto-pilot and you just do what you have to do.”

Jayne also touched on the many components that go into dealing with cancer. As a parent caring for a child with the disease, that doesn’t leave a lot of time to sit down and deal with your own emotions.

“You don’t have that much time for yourself,” Jayne said. “I try to stay strong, but then sometimes you just want to go and cry, and you need to cry … it’s good to cry.”

Personally, Jayne found therapy to be really helpful. Pediatric cancer is a lot for a family to go through, Jayne said, and just having someone to talk you through it can make a huge difference.

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