When your mother has breast cancer: Kalan Porter’s story

Being there
But fear soon gave way as the music sensation who had won this country’s heart became a de facto nurse throughout his mother’s treatment and subsequent recovery, especially during the days between chemotherapy sessions. Kalan had spent a summer during high school working in a medical lab, and his training suddenly came in very handy.

“I was on a program where I had to have 10 needles; one a day for 10 days,” Janet explains about her medical regimen, which ultimately involved some 60 injections as well as six chemotherapy sessions. “Kalan often gave me the needles because I couldn’t give them to myself,” she says. “It was only because of my family that I completed my chemo treatments. After each [one] I was certain that I could not physically or mentally do another one, but the family was always there, encouraging me to continue on.”

Kalan opens up about his feelings
Janet credits her illness with strengthening the bond she shares with Kalan. He spent nearly half a year at home, giving them time to reconnect. Routine activities like making breakfast together after everyone else had left for the day, or settling in with a cup of tea by an evening fire at the family’s lakeside cabin, often led to in-depth discussions.

“Kalan opened up about a lot of his own feelings,” says Janet. “We had conversations that went deeper than just the normal exchange of information and only giving what is required to satisfy Mom. We just spent hours talking about what’s important in life. There were some very emotional conversations and ones in which we were laughing so hard that one of us had to run to the bathroom.” The pair enjoyed spirited debates about politics and social issues, and shared some tête-à-têtes about Kalan’s future and where his career might lead him someday.

Kalan, too, was grateful for the time he was able to share with his mother and the rest of his family, away from the pressures of the music industry. “We slowed down, all together, and took some time as a family,” he says. “It really brought us together and strengthened our relationship again.”

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