Family bond

Having a family bond is so important when dealing with a illness. I come from a Greek background and so in my younger years my family was tight, and I was fortunate that even my American family is close. Though I have lost that closeness because of my adventures in life. I thought also because I was the black sheep of my family that was not a piece of me.
 I am grateful I got to spend my kids younger years as a stay home mom, but bringing them back to the US from a small village in Greece scared the life out of me so I kept them close. When Dimitri was in 5th grade and life was getting troublesome in school, friends introduced a school for my kids that allow me to be in the classroom several hours of the week allowing me to know my child's world away from my adult life. Then not only am I grateful that my bosses allowed me to take that time away from work to provide a better education for my children. So I have been fortunate in many ways. To better the case even on bad days I have learned to reach their level of understanding and always be there for them. Yet I still didn't understand my family. My husband Cristian and I have also had our ups and downs. He came into my life with my baggage and him having his own. My children's father not taking his responsibilities, and having to deal with my emotions and my kids illness I would ask so many times "Why is he with me?".
We recently got to experience a 3rd party in our home for a couple of months, and watch the situation I finally came to realize how strong our bond truly is. I got to see the beautiful people my children are becoming and that they are honest, compassionate, considerate, loving, independent people. To see the love and trust they have for both Cristian and I, and how much my relationship with Cristian has grown. I am the luckiest person that life allowed me to create that bond and all my hard work didn't go to waste. I know that while my kids have to live with their trials with Thalassemia they can trust every step of the way that we will be there for them in how ever possible. That is so important to create that with your kids or family member dealing with an illness, love is so important. Also don't baby them and tell them they can't because..... As hard as it has been to teach them to become responsible, independent people because of course I just want to save them every time. One day we will perish and they need to know how to save them selves, but also having that confidence in them selves to live their lives to the fullest, it is one life let them make the best of it.