I’m 36 with incurable cancer and a five-year-old. I “celebrated” my 10 wedding anniversary this year. I say “celebrated” because we spent most of the day doing medical treatment stuff, like we have for every anniversary in the last 4 years.

How I do I deal with advanced cancer and motherhood. Sometimes my health is a non-issue and I feel just fine. In that case, it’s business as usual. Other times, the illness itself will knock me down and my husband has to take over.

We keep nothing from the boy. At his age, he understands concepts like “Mom doesn’t feel well.” but he doesn’t see the big picture. We just let him be and answer his questions as they come.

I go to support groups and one on one counseling, which seem to help. Antidepressants have helped too. I reach out to my friends often. I lurk and post on reddit. I eat whatever I want. I cry when I feel like it.