Cancer is always a terrible diagnosis not only to the patient but also to the immediate family members. Simon Waring, 53, went through that not just once but twice.
As reported by Herald Sun Australia, Waring shared his story in a documentary about pediatric palliative care around the world called Little Stars, produced by Australian Sue Collins and Mike Hill. Waring lost his wife, Millsom, and his son Marmaduke only about a month apart in 2012.
Marmaduke was the first one to be diagnosed. He was discovered to have a growing malignant tumor called neuroblastoma during a routine urinary tract examination because he developed a fever. He was treated with intensive chemotherapy for the next 10 months and was initially declared to be clear of the disease.
However, around the same period, Millsom was diagnosed with breast cancer after she discovered a lump on her breast while breastfeeding in a holiday trip in Byron Bay. To treat her disease, she underwent mastectomy, chemotherapy, then radiotherapy.
She didn't quit her job in the University of Melbourne, where she worked as a lecturer for politics and sociology, but her disease caused her to lose energy and weaken her immunity that Mr. Waring had to step in and care for Marmaduke, along with his 3 other siblings.
In the early months of 2011, when Millsom had completed all her treatments, their child had relapsed, and this time, the cancer was aggressive as tumors appeared in other parts of the body such as the hip.
A few months after, despite the equally aggressive treatments, both his wife and son became terminally ill. A year after, his wife died and a month later Marmaduke.
He describes some of the events as "surreal," but he continues to hold on for himself and his other children. He has encouraged everyone to go through counseling as part of coping with grief.
In the meantime, he wishes to express his thanks to the palliative care team who made sure Marmaduke would have the least pain while he spent the remaining days with his family at home. He hopes that by appearing in the documentary, he can offer his help and support to other grieving families.
