"Your SON looks like a GIRL" (and other mean words of encouragement) | Ep.12

Life on a Stick podcast with Malin & Tom
We get comments like this ALL THE TIME! It's odd, but it's a part of choosing to publicise parts of your life on the internet. We also chat about some extremely mean comments that Malin got during her battle with cancer, including someone telling her to 'buy a coffin'.
This week, we also chat about some HUGE hospital mistakes made during Malin’s journey towards being free from colon cancer, our future VANLIFE plans including Portugal and beyond, and nerves and anxieties around Malin's upcoming cancer scans. We're also soon celebrating ONE WHOLE YEAR of living in our van!
#podcast #cancer #vanlife
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Find us here:
🏠 Website: www.malinandtom.com
✉️ Contact - [e-mail]
🎬 KZbin - / @malinandtom
📸 Instagram - / malinandtom

[@hemacdonald400]

I often respond to articles in the New York Times, opening myself up to criticism of my opinion. I have NEVER responded to any negativity or mean-spirited comments. Like you, a bulldog will usually come to my defence. You two are such an inspiration, never let anyone chip away at you, especially when you are dealing with so much.

[@Vauriorict]

The video is great, you need to keep promoting your channel. Is not hard.

[@sherryfarzami]

love you all very much thank you for being you. you are inspiration to many.

[@CattyT1]

You are amazing, kind, inspirational parents. I sympathise with the tiredness. I get the same but as a carer with cancer. Day 1 home post op I had to care for my disabled, blind, housebound elderly mother with week old stoma and a Barbie butt. My whole recovery was spent looking after her not myself. Same with my second surgery only that time I got left by my sibling the day I got home. Now I work 12+ hours as day for the nhs and come home to my second full time job as a carer. She goes to bed at 2am, and I’m up at 6.30. 😢Sadly none of the fun of kids. Luckily you bring me light and sunshine, thank you. Ps amazing hair! Wish mine was that lovely and blonde. Pps I use a plug in electric heat pad for my colic/blockages. Top heat. But hard if the kids need you running around after them.

[@mariebarrett8774]

Some people need to put their brains 🧠 in gear before they speak... Think 💭 before you write...Is it kind,Is it true,would you like it said to you/ yours? You look amazing Malin ...a loving Mum,Wife & in the process of recovering from Cancer & treatments... As always a continuous flow of healing reiki energy on flow to you Malin...x💜🕯✨💜🕯✨💜🕯✨ Oh by the way I thought you & Tom were in your mid to late twenty’s ...you both look fantastic.. Try get some rest beautiful Malin..Love from Marie in Ireland 🇮🇪💚☘️

[@iSheree]

I am bedridden and I know I am childless, but it's not easy being in bed all day. I will never be able to have children as I cannot even care for myself. I will never see the world outside these four walls and hospitals. I don't think it's fair to compare your situation to other people. It's not a competition... let's be supportive and understanding of one another. ❤

[@WVislandia]

Yes, you are so right. I am sorry that you are bedridden but your heart is open and caring and there sure are lots of people who need to be more like you in that. I learned from counselling students - do not compare yourself, because there is always someone who is better off than you and always someone who is worse off than you, so it is a waste of time trying to compare your life. May you have a lovely day and continue to find such positives as you have shown here.

[@mariebarrett8774]

Sending love Sheree...I hope today is a good day...x💜🕯✨

[@iSheree]

@@WVislandia Thank you for the kind words! The world would be a much better place when people stop comparing themselves to others. We are all in this together. ❤ Everyone has their own struggles. I hope you have a lovely day also!

[@iSheree]

@@mariebarrett8774 thank you for the love! 🥰

[@LifeOnaStickPodcast]

We really feel for you, it’s a cruel world. It’s hard to see the positives sometimes, but there’s always shining light to be found somewhere. Agreed, supportiveness and understanding makes the world a better place 🩵

[@mariebarrett8774]

Try & reframe all the negative things that happened in Oct/ Nov....to this is when they saved my life by diagnosing my Cancer...this is when my life was saved when they found out my Allergy,even though they missed things the right person came along & spotted things were wrong... Love you & your beautiful& wishing love & happiness xxxxxxx& beautiful health & healing...💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

[@mariebarrett8774]

You inspire me in that I ordered a bunny on Fri & got a notification today to say it’s on the way ...whoop whoop 🎉go Malin...

[@LifeOnaStickPodcast]

Yaaay you were indeed one of the orders that we shipped today! Exciting, thanks so much Marie 🩵

[@joancahill4446]

Hi Malin Tom and family . Love your channel and especially podcast , Malin , i totally understand , people have said oh why have you got nausea , or tired . I have on auto immune disorder , and blood cancer , cancer effects my kidneys , where i can vomit multiple times . I have no appetite and i have to feel force myself to eat , i am Lucky my girls have grown , young children when your in pain and absolutely worn out , i use ti say , as a nurse oh i am tired ( as a mum i am tired , but i did not know what tiredness was until , i was diagnosed with a blood cancer , the pain , the nausea , canceling plans . As you never know how you will feel . The unpredictably of cancer , good days bad days , i think some people should have some empathy and compassion , family friends instead of criticism , maybe offer to baby sit , or cooked some meals , to help , as a cancer patient we are going through so much . We worry we feel guilty when we see our family friends upset . Although our diagnosis is not our fault . But i have apologise over and over till my girls when i see how my diagnosis has affected them , as it affects everyone around us , i love your channel . I think you are such beautiful parents and your gorgeous children are so beautiful ( caring and funny , do not address nasty comments , because we are feeding these low self esteem sick individuals , malin just concentrate on staying well and enjoying your beautiful family , i know it is hard to send some toy koala and kangaroo for the kids . Do you have a po box or your family. Remember you are never alone . Enjoy every minute of this beautiful life . Love from Daylesford Victoria Australia ❤

[@smt8486]

He's gorgeous and I love his long hair. Adam had long hair for a long time. Take absolutely no notice, it's your choice as parents nobody else's.

[@karlaharvey2623]

Hi Malin and Tom. I truly hope you didn’t take Offense to me asking if the school is going to require you to cut Charlie’s hair before starting school, as here in the US, south, schools will not let little boys start school if their hair is long ( which I think is wrong) anyhoo, i love Charlie’s long hair, and love it when you put it up in a male Bun. He looks and acts like a little boy, I never thought he was a girl. He is diffidently all boy. 😊. Iam praying and have faith that your scans are going to come back normal( neg of any Ca. Cells. I must say, I am still shocked ( as a retired nurse/ cardiovascular Sonographer) that they tell you you’re going to have to Live with It. So uncaring and for sure not compassionate. Regardless of what they think, they should be doing General Ultrasound and any other test/ procedures to make sure that there’s nothing more going on. They do have procedures where they can go in and attempt to dissolve scar tissue. I pray that these horrific bouts subside Malin. You always look so pretty, even if you’re exhausted. You both hide it so well. As like you said, that’s what we do for our children. Anyhoo, great Podcast. So glad y’all are doing this. It gives us a chance to get to know each of you in a deeper level. Can’t wait to see you in your video Fri. Be safe, and as always have lots of fun.

[@jaktag]

My son,had the most gorgeous blonde curly hair and got mistaken for a girl a lot when he was a baby and toddler,i just used to smile and tell them he was boy.... my daughter hardly had any hair and she got mistaken for a boy such a lot 🤣that was many years ago,they are 46 and 32 now 😝🤣your little ones are beautiful and you are doing such a great job with them.

[@marioncannon9924]

Please vusit Northern Portugal. I used to live there. It is stunning & unspoilt. Swim in the Atlantic & beautiful pools with waterfalls. We lived in a village called Lugar do Pisco near Viana do Castelo.

[@LifeOnaStickPodcast]

We’d love to see Northern Portugal! We’ve heard it’s quite rainy there in the winter so we’re really hoping we get there before the rainy season so that we can explore it a bit, looks stunning! 🩵

[@joangaither3871]

When you start to feel it stay down , don't eat or drink. it doesn't always take it away, but sometimes it will. I've had it go away a few times like that however, sometimes it doesn't matter what you do it just doesn't let up. I'm so sorry. I'm grateful you have some pain meds though because this is no joke and you have to have pain meds to get through that.

[@LifeOnaStickPodcast]

Ah thank you for the advice! I feel like I’ve tried different things too and it don’t really change it. I can push up eating/drinking but when I finally do eat, it still comes on. But thank you anyway!

[@lmkays]

Charlie is adorable! But truthfully, I thought he was a girl through several of your videos. It’s nice that you let him decide about his hair. He’s a sweet sweet child as is your daughter.

[@joancahill4446]

Also malin and tom i just wanted to say last july 2023 i became very unwell . Doctor oh a virus . Well i got sicker and ended up in hospital in November , my grandson was 2 on the 3 rd November , my birthday was the 5 th , i was in hospital for a week . That is when after 5 months i was diagnosed with blood cancer , also Malin i have been looking for your shop and do you do international post ( as i am in Australia ( but I totally understand if that is not possible . Also Malin your beautiful you definitely do not look 48 , maybe that person was looking in the mirror , you look beautiful , on the outside and the inside , ❤️❤️

[@lorimajewski4592]

Hi guys , I have to say I get so mad at rude comments . We have a saying here in America, if you can't say anything nice don't say anything at all. Take care Lori I really enjoy watching you every week.

[@marywalsh8344]

My son is 49 and has Dreadlocks and I hate them 😂

[@lmkays]

Kids are very compassionate. Telling them that you need to take a rest for a while is ok. Pretending is worse than honesty.

[@LifeOnaStickPodcast]

Yes they do understand if I need a rest, but the amount of anxiety and worry it causes them when I’m poorly it’s silly to stress them out more than we need to. It all depends on the situation if it’s better to keep it quiet or to tell them 😊

[@marioncannon9924]

Malin, you look gorgeous. Both my boys had long hair in the 70s when they were little, their choice

[@WVislandia]

With regard your title "your SON looks like a GIRL", may I simply say - some people don't get out in the real world too much. In other words, not my observation. I think you both do a great job of trying to stay positive and also to be there for your children. I am sorry about the stomach pains. I keep hoping that somehow time and doctors will find a way to help better with this.

[@janetshaffer687]

Do you think a home would be better so you could have some space ? ❤😊

[@LifeOnaStickPodcast]

No I think it would be much worse actually. I think I’d be a lot more sick for many different reasons if we lived in a house 😊

[@sharonbarker7448]

We only have to look around that there are androgynous hairstyles. Some women have shaved heads, some men have their hair in buns, plaaits, ponty tails, etc. Obviously, children will follow and why not?

[@SabieMangera]

Hi guys Hope you all are well Malin your stomach cramp sounds so much like mine. I've being diagnosed with IBS (irratable bowel syndrome). Take a capsule (probiotic & probiotic) every second day. My last "attack" was on the 1st July 2023. Im from South Africa. Unfortunately my medication is not available in SA. I get it from India. Ask your Dr if it would be advisable to try this medication to ease your cramps

[@coressaclark6354]

I pray you have an uneventful October

[@marywalsh8344]

I really believe people WOULD NOT say those things to your Face 😮. That annoys me. Anyway I am old