Illnesses Are Not a Contest

Navigating life with a child who has a chronic pain condition is a journey that's often hard for outsiders to grasp. Yet, people outside our experience often have plenty to say. One odd comment we hear surprisingly frequently is, "At least it's not cancer." Such comparisons, meant to comfort, instead leave us with frustration and disappointment.

Suffering can't and shouldn't be ranked. Every health issue has its own set of battles. Saying one condition is less severe because it's not cancer disregards the relentless nature of chronic pain and its effects on every part of life—from playing to resting, from learning to managing everyday activities. It downplays the struggles our family endures, the never-ending medical visits, the financial strain, and the emotional weight of seeing your child in perpetual discomfort without relief or a foreseeable end. It dismisses the victories Evan makes despite his pain. 

Our path is not just about making it through; it's about ensuring he still experiences a happy childhood despite his condition, while we push for greater understanding and support. His condition has no cure and minimizing it isn't helpful. Comparing it to other diseases only serves to ignore and silence what people with chronic conditions endure.

The need for empathy, support, and validation is the same across all struggles. My child's pain may not be cancer, but it's his reality, constant and deserving of acknowledgment and support, without being diminished by comparison.