When a parent has cancer

Gary Dordick, Esq. Dad & Attorney, shares advice for parents on the best way to tell your kids that you or your spouse has been diagnosed with cancer
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When a parent has cancer

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Unfortunately I know too much about cancer. When I was in high school, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and unfortunately she passed away from it. 2007 I was diagnosed with cancer and had to sit down and talk to my kids about it. When my mother had cancer, this was back in the 80's they didn't tell kids anything. The only thing I knew and my brother knew about my mother’s cancer is when we overheard adults talking about. Didn't want to sit down and tell kids things that are unpleasant. I always felt a loss because of that. So when I was diagnosed I sat with my kids down at the table, five of them. That's one hard conversation to have. I told them everything about it. I answered all their questions. I invited them to go to the Chemotherapy sessions with me if they wanted to. I took the mystery out of it. The only thing that I held back on a little bit was some of the statistics and some of the prognosis data because I felt like my will to survive was going to trump any of the statistics. I want them to be as optimistic about it as I was. And it brought us all and if possibly the more close together we already were.

Gary Dordick, Esq. Dad & Attorney, shares advice for parents on the best way to tell your kids that you or your spouse has been diagnosed with cancer

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Gary A. Dordick, Esq.

Dad & Attorney

The Law Offices of Gary A. Dordick is a small law firm specializing in civil litigation. Over the years, Mr. Dordick has focused on building his practice in order to maintain a high quality legal service.

The Law Offices of Gary A. Dordick only handles a very select number of cases at any one time. From the establishment of the law firm in 1987, Mr. Dordick has emphasized quality work and careful case selection. Every case accepted by the Law Offices of Gary A. Dordick is handled by Mr. Dordick personally.

 In 2009, Mr. Dordick was given the Consumer Attorneys of California's Trial Lawyer of the Year award. At 45 years old, Mr. Dordick was recognized as the Consumer Attorneys of Los Angeles Trial Lawyer of the Year and the recipient of the O'Brien's Jury Verdict Evaluator Trial Lawyer of the Year.He was a nominee for the Consumer Attorney's Trial Lawyer of the Year an unprecedented nine times. Other achievements include: Daily Law Journal's Top 40 Lawyers in the State under 40; Los Angeles Magazine's, Super Lawyer 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011; Bernard Jefferson's Award of Excellence; Trial Master by the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates Inns of Court; Who's Who Award of Best Lawyer in America; and, Million Dollar Advocate Award. Mr. Dordick received commendations from then Governor, Gray Davis, State Lieutenant Governor, Cruz Bustamante as well as commendation from numerous other State and U.S. Senators.

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Transcription: 
Unfortunately I know too much about cancer. When I was in high school, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and unfortunately she passed away from it. 2007 I was diagnosed with cancer and had to sit down and talk to my kids about it. When my mother had cancer, this was back in the 80's they didn't tell kids anything. The only thing I knew and my brother knew about my mother’s cancer is when we overheard adults talking about. Didn't want to sit down and tell kids things that are unpleasant. I always felt a loss because of that. So when I was diagnosed I sat with my kids down at the table, five of them. That's one hard conversation to have. I told them everything about it. I answered all their questions. I invited them to go to the Chemotherapy sessions with me if they wanted to. I took the mystery out of it. The only thing that I held back on a little bit was some of the statistics and some of the prognosis data because I felt like my will to survive was going to trump any of the statistics. I want them to be as optimistic about it as I was. And it brought us all and if possibly the more close together we already were.