George's Compass

By Amanda Gervais

George's Compass: How to Navigate Grief is a heartfelt and deeply moving guide written by Amanda Gervais, inspired by the profound loss of their son to leukemia. Through the lens of their own personal journey, the author extends a compassionate hand to other parents grappling with the overwhelming weight of grief.

 

In this tender exploration, readers are invited to embark on a journey of healing and the wisdom gained through navigating the depths of sorrow. Each chapter of "George's Compass" offers insight, comfort, and practical guidance, empowering readers to find their own path forward through the labyrinth of grief.

 

From the initial shock of diagnosis to the turbulent emotions that follow, the book gently leads readers through the stages of grief, offering solace and understanding along the way. With compassion and empathy, the author delves into the complexities of loss, inviting readers to embrace their emotions as a compass and reclaim a sense of control amidst the chaos.

Through intimate reflections and poignant anecdotes, "George's Compass" celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of connection. From the healing canvas of visualization to the importance of self-care and nourishment, readers are offered practical tools and holistic approaches to navigating grief with grace and courage.

 

Ultimately, "George's Compass" is more than just a book; it is a beacon of hope for those who are struggling to find their way through the darkness of loss. With its heartfelt prose and gentle guidance, this book serves as a companion on the journey toward healing, reminding readers that even in the midst of grief, there is always a guiding light to lead them home.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Amanda Gervais
• Release date: Feb 15, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224007196

Book preview

Chapter 1

Introduction

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I never imagined myself as the type to write a book. Seriously, author on my resume? It sounded more like a punchline than a career move. But here I am, staring down the daunting task of putting words on paper. The idea scared the living daylights out of me, as I’m sure it still does from time to time with famous authors.

Who's going to want to read my book, anyway? Do I have enough interesting things to say, or am I just going to bore people to tears? The jury is still out on this one

Let me tell you, the struggle is real. The pain is real. And the fear? Oh boy, that's as real as it gets. But when life calls you out, you can't just ghost it. Right?

So, I had to switch up my mindset. Suddenly, I was convincing myself that I am a writer. An author. Like, for real? Me? This is what I based my ideas for this book on is mindset. How the brain is such a powerful tool.

This whole revelation hit me during one of those soul-searching drives home from the hospital  where my son Dylan was battling leukemia. The universe threw this idea at me: Write a book about Dylan. Share your journey with other parents going through the same hell. It was like the universe had my number.

Now, facing your child going through cancer is a nightmare no parent wants to tackle. But, surprise, surprise, here we are, living it.

How could I turn down the universe when it dishes out an idea like that? So, I embraced my newfound identity—author-in-the-making.

And let me just say, the universe has a quirky sense of humor. One day, on my drive home, I decided to get my first tattoo at the ripe age of 44. Spontaneous much? Blame it on the universe again. I saw an image, Googled a tattoo parlor, and bam, I was inked. Dylan was just as shocked as I was.

The universe, with its mysterious ways, kept pulling me into this whirlwind story. It reminded me that even when life throws you a curveball, there's a support system waiting to catch you, and sometimes, it even sends a few laughs your way.

Chapter 2

Rock Paper Scissors

The day Dylan mentioned feeling a lump in his neck was etched into my memory like a somber tattoo — March 24, 2023. For a parent of an active kid who rarely complained about anything, it was an unexpected alarm bell.

Got a sore throat? I asked, envisioning maybe tonsils acting up or just a common cold. That was the only symptom he spoke of. Seemed odd, but hey, how bad could it be? He even wanted his girlfriend over that night, so it couldn't be that serious, right?

The next day rolled around, and Dylan's neck was playing host to more lumps and stiffness. We decided to call the doctor on Monday to get it checked out. Monday arrived, and he called me from school, expressing that his neck felt increasingly strange. It was a busy day for both his dad and I, so we dropped him off at the hospital, armed with his health card — what could go wrong?

After what felt like eons in the emergency room, he finally got seen. Strep throat, they said. His white blood cell count was at 13, just a tad over the normal range of 11. No biggie, right? He got the antibiotics and off he went.

Sure, the thought of cancer danced on the edges of our minds that week. Could it really happen to Dylan, who was so active, young, and loved by many?

A few days passed with no improvement, just his neck doubling in size. Mother's instinct kicked in, screaming that we needed more answers.

Regrettably, the answers we got were not the ones we wanted. In a blink, Dylan's white blood cell count skyrocketed from 13 to 99.

He was rushed by ambulance to a hospital that was better suited for this. The word cancer echoing in the air the entire way. Upon arrival they needed more tests. They knew it was cancer, but the specifics were still a mystery.

The night was restless. The next day, I headed home to break the news to our youngest, Mason, about his big brother.

Tears welled up as I tried to keep it together while telling him. His response shocked me.

With a poker face, Mason declared, Dylan is paper.

Perplexed, I probed, thinking he didn't quite grasp the gravity of the situation. I asked him to repeat himself.

Mom, Dylan is paper. He always picks paper when we play rock, paper, scissors. He really needs a new strategy, but he's easy to beat.

Mason, sweetheart, what does that have to do with what I'm telling you?

Dylan is paper, and cancer is the rock. It's hard and hurts when thrown at you. But Dylan is paper, and paper always beats rock. Dylan will beat the cancer!

Did my 11-year-old just drop this wisdom bomb on me?

Does he understand more than I do?

How can someone so young be so remarkably insightful?

Chapter 3

Emergency Surgery

On Sunday April 2 we were getting ready to visit Dylan with Mason tagging along. He was so excited to see his big brother and bring him a big stuffed animal in hopes to cheer him up. A couple of hours before leaving I got a phone call to leave immediately. Dylan’s spleen ruptured and he was being rushed into an emergency splenectomy.

After a long few hours we finally got word he was awake and doing well, we were finally allowed to go and see him.

It is common for your spleen to swell with leukemia but not as common for it to rupture. After much conversation it was determined that it was a hockey hit he had a week prior at OFSA with his school hockey team.

He remembered the hit well. Dylan being 6"5’ and 240 lbs he takes most hits with love for the game. He is strong...DylanStrong. In most cases it would have healed itself over time and one would have never known. But with his spleen swollen