If you don't hear from a family member, call. Often silence means that he doesn't know what to do or say. Grandparents Grandparents grieve deeply when a grandchild is diagnosed with cancer. Cancer wreaks havoc with grandparents' expectations, reversing the natural order of life and death. I'm the one who is old.
Parents express anguish at having to tell the grandparents the grim news.
Cancer in a grandchild is a major shock to bear. She put her busy life on hold to come help. She took care of the baby and kept the household running when I was living at the hospital with my very ill daughter. She was strong, and it gave me strength. Some parents express tremendous gratitude for the role played by the grandparents in providing much-needed stability to the family rocked by cancer.