Dear Mom & Dad,
There are a lifetime of thank you’s that I have not always owned up to, but I wanted to let you know today how grateful I am for everything you have done for me the past six weeks.
1. Thank you for never making me feel uncomfortable when the steroids made my face look like a grapefruit and my stomach resemble that of a seven month pregnant woman. Even though I looked like shit you still refrained from commenting and that is something that means more to me than any edible arrangement could.
2. Thank you for sleeping on an uncomfortable hospital chair for over thirty nights and thank you for continuing to stay with me in the future even though you both know how obnoxious hospital visits can be. Even though I’m almost certain your bed was more comfortable than mine.
3. Thank you for never leaving me alone and always taking on the role of nurse because it is obvious to those who have seen me that my daily cocktail of medication makes me loopy and out of it. I sure as hell wouldn’t put up with some of the crap you have dealt with when it comes to me but I am lucky you remain constants in my life.
4. Thank you for letting me lean on your support on the bad days and thanks for being there for me when i get upset and have trouble accepting that this cancer is real. I know how hard it has been for you to watch me transform from the twenty-one year old college student to the twenty-one year old cancer patient but you have taken this diagnosis and made it a little more bearable.
5. Thank you for calling me beautiful when I consider myself a fat, bald, ugly ogre. It’s painstakingly obvious that I am unrecognizable in comparison to how I looked just six weeks ago, but you both haven’t let that phase you. The fact that your compliments and love has remained unchanged throughout this cancer means more to me than any chocolate covered strawberry ever could.
6. Thank you for committing yourselves to driving me to every single appointment and taking me out when I need a change of scenery since I am unable to operate a vehicle. I feel like I am back in middle school since I have to be chauffeured everywhere. However, I have not heard a single complaint from either of you and that makes me even more appreciative of the time you have committed to helping me get rid of this damn leukemia.
7. Thanks for giving up nights out with friends, date nights together, traveling plans, and more just to take care of me and make sure I am never left alone. I’m sure you both need a long weekend to relax and not think about cancer but having you with me at all times shows me how much you are willing to give up just to make sure I am okay. While a strong cocktail on a tropical beach sounds a lot nicer than having to feed your daughter a pharmaceutical cocktail of medications each morning and night, I’m thankful you have made the sacrifices you have in order to take care of me.
8. Thank you for being my best friends and best parents a girl could ask for. I know that you weren’t expecting to be stuck hanging out with your twenty-one year old daughter for the next two years of your lives but I am lucky that you have gone above and beyond to make sure I am comfortable and entertained.
Basically, you two are my best friends, my heroes, my role models, my caregivers, my bank, my landlords, my partners in crime, and an endless list of other things. I will never be able to repay you for the support and love you have shown me throughout the beginning stages of this stupid thing called cancer and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love you both more than words could possibly express and I hope you know how appreciative I am of everything you have done for my benefit.
Thanks for being the coolest cats in the game.
– Katie
Cancer is Stupid 
Beautifully written Katie. You are blessed with two beautiful giving parents. That’s what makes you the beautiful women, inside and out, that you have become. As my Mom used to say God loves you and so do I.
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Katie, Your are beautiful inside and out, do not ever think otherwise. Cancer is a ugly illness that tries to take everything away, it is obvious you are superior to its ugly ways. I know you will keep on showing us what true Love and Beauty is all about..
Love GMA
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What an AMAZING letter! You are very lucky to have such great parents but your parents are even luckier to have such a loving and beautiful daughter. As a parent, you always wonder if you’re doing the right thing for your kids. To receive a letter like this from your child would mean everything.
Thinking about you every day — the kids can’t wait to come visit this summer! xo
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Gpa here…
Your Mom and Dad are amazing. I’ve known that for a long, long time.
You see, Katie, this is what parents do. In your Mom and Dad’s eyes you and your siblings will always be the most important thing in the world. No contest.
They made a commitment when they brought you into this world to love and protect you. They changed your diapers, watched you throw up, get ear infections, bring “kid germs” into the house so all could share, make bad decisions, wreck the car, and lots more I’m sure. But the commitment never, ever varied.
How do i know this. Well, your Gma and I are parents too. Come to think of it, your little ass wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for us, a secluded parking place in the woods, and a dead rabbit back in 1966. Poof! Hereeees Kristy!
Your Mom was our first. Crap, we were 18 years old and had no idea what to do with your Mom. Couldn’t give her back. Couldn’t sell her. So we kept her . We were young, confused, and clueless. But we figured it out and even though she was loud and at times difficult to deal with (come to think of it not much here has changed) we fell head over heels in love with her. And committed ourselves to her and her well being for the rest of our lives.
Safe to say this approach worked out good. With the experience we gained from your Mom we decided we wanted some more kids. Poof! Here came your Aunt Jennifer and about a year later Aunt Shannon. Then we quit. We ran out of money and completely debunked the belief that “third time is a charm” as far as having a boy child. I was so pissed (there were no ultra sounds back then) when a girl was born that I wanted to name her Ted. Gma said absolutely not. So we named her Shannon.
Still kinda’ intriguing to think that you almost had an Aunt Jennifer and Aunt Ted…..
It’s great that you are so appreciative for what your Mom and Dad do. I know lots of kids (children & adults) who don’t. And they definitely have gone way above and beyond. But, my dear little pumpkin, that just what true loving parents do.
Until you become a parent it’s just hard to appreciate that special bond, that unquestionable devotion a parent has to a child. Or maybe it just takes a bitch like cancer. Whatever, you are obviously enlightened.
God bless you my lovely little grandchild. I love you and am also here for you no matter what.
Peace, Love, and Fuck Cancer.
Love,
Gpa
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Gap said it better than I could. Your mom and dad are the best parents in your world .. Love and Kisses. Gma
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Katie just wanted to let you know we are still thinking of you. Stay strong, its a long fight but you got this. The biggest advise I have came from the strongest person I know “Lauren” Find the good in every moment!!!!!! No matter what it is. If your having a bad day, you are still having a day and thats good!!!!!
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Thank you, your family is a inspiration to all..
God Bless You
Dixie Ashby ( katies grandmother)
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Katie, wow. That was so beautifully written. You and your parents are in my thoughts and prayers. Now go give the Big C as ass kicking.
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Thanks for letting all of us know what not to say, regardless of how you feel about yourself, you are still my beautiful granddaughter, cancer and the treatments cannot take your beauty away, you are still an amazing young women. Your inner beauty and courage are amazing. You did bot chose to have cancer None of us would chose to have Cancer or any other type of illness, regardless of what people say, we are all pretty stupid on the proper way to ask the patient how they are. I know there are ways to handle this but, but being a caring friend or relative we only mean well. We would never intentionally say anything to offend.. My dear granddaughter, I admire you, have no choice but to tackle this Cancer head on, I want you to know we mean well even if we offend you at times, we are all ready to be with you , all you have to do is ask..
I love you,
Gma
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