Dr.Bone's Blog

Piles of work. Patients with problems left over from the weekend. But I started the day watching my youngest son compete in a poetry competition at his school. It started with over 50 children reciting poems they memorized. He made it through the first two rounds and was in the final 10. His poem was about Robinson Carusoe. 56 lines long and complex! He did so well at home. But, in front of the whole school, he tripped over a few words. My heart tripped with him. At the end, he began to cry.

Angry and disappointed in himself. The year before his sister had won and the pressure was on. I tried to explain that you can't win everything and he still did a fantastic job, but the words fell on deaf ears. It's hard to be a parent and not really be able to console your child. Years ago someone explained that these little disappointments are called "golpes de la vida" or the hard knocks of life. I know he learned a lot from the experience and so did I.

Cancer is a bigger "golpe de la vida" but it still can be a good thing - a way to reset and rewind your life!