Back to school

[Jane]

I wrote about this in my blog, but I wondered if some of you have some advice.

Josh has been through a lot since April and hasn't been in school since then. He's got more baggage he'll be carrying with him when he goes back next week. He's got a port now, he'll be on IVs until October. He gets all of his calories via g-tube. He's anxious and depressed. He feels like people will treat him like "the sick kid". Its going to be a tough few weeks.

Any advice for making it easier?

 

[thelizardqueen]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>Jane</b></i>

He feels like people will treat him like "the sick kid".</end quote></div>

Like I commented on your blog - I was in a similar situation to Josh during the 11th/12th grade. I find that we worry more about what people will think of us, then the other people themselves. I think if Josh doesn't worry, and acts as if things are "normal", then others will follow his lead.

 

[Seana30]

Jane,

I don't have any words of wisdom for you but I will keep Josh in my thoughts.

Josh is 15. Will he just be starting high school or will he be a sophmore?

Take care

Seana

 

[Jane]

Thanks Liz, that was my advice too. Its been a long vacation, most people won't even remember he was out for so long. If he acts like nothings changed, they'll treat him like nothings changed. He did the same thing after his g-tube placement in seventh grade. He hasn't been the same since. He told me everyone treated him different after that, but its because he acted differently toward them.

Seana, he's going to be a sophmore (2nd year at this school).

 

[Lilith]

Tell your son not to worry about what people think of him.  In
the grand scheme of things, it doesn't matter.  As long as he
acts like a normal guy, that's the way he'll be treated.  At
least, that's what I found with my own experience.  I just
stopped caring what other people thought and went about my
business.  Things turned out fine for me, and I think they
will for Josh too.

 

[Jane]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>Lilith</b></i>

Tell your son not to worry about what people think of him.  In
the grand scheme of things, it doesn't matter.  As long as he
acts like a normal guy, that's the way he'll be treated. .</end quote></div>


All good advice Lisa, and its our stand exactly. Unfortunately the poor kid ONLY worries what people think of him.<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">

 

[anonymous]

He is at that age where he can only think of himself and what others think of him. It is normal. I would tell him to maybe make a joke out of it if someone asks, an try to hide that he is worried. If he jokes around people will feel more at ease and he will feel better

Sue 24w/CF

 

[Liza]

Hi, I can't offer much help here but just wanted to say that I am so sorry he is going through this difficult time. It seems only to recent that we went through the same type of thing with our older daughter. Although she did not miss the consecutive amount of school it seems your son has but she had a rough sophomore year and got her port placed that spring. At this age it is all about how they look not only to themselves but to others as well. She at first refused a port and has always refused a g-tube.

Has he gone to school with most of his classmates for a while? Do his friends know about his CF? If so, then they probably know what was going on last year. Like others have said, if he acts like it's all normal then they will not percieve it to be "different". At first my daughter would not even consider going to school while on IV antibiotics, even after her port. Fortunantly, after her port placement and that round of antibiotics she was good to go for almost two years. Her senior year she did have to go in for a tune up. She was so anxious to get out of the hospital and get to her Model UN event that she didn't even think about having to hook up during the lunch break. She just told them she'd be back late from lunch. IF people ask, "hey, where were you at the end of the year last year?" he should try his best to be honest, a simple "I got sick or I was in the hospital" may suffice.

He'll be in my thoughts that he have a smooth transition back into HS. It's a tough time for him and you because we never want to see our kids go through this. It's tough enough being a teen.

Liza
(Mom of 2teen girls w/CF0
(ages 19 & 16)