Sonali Bendre says her 12-yr-old son is now her parent, source of strength

The actress wrote of the parental dilemma she and husband Goldie Behl faced while breaking the news to Ranveer.

By ET Online | Updated: Jul 19, 2018, 01.07 PM IST

Sonali Bendre posts a heartwarming picture with her son. (Image: Instagram/Sonali Bendre)

Ten days after an emotional post in which she was seen chopping off her tresses, Sonali Bendre has posted a heart-warming message about her son, and the strength she derives from her 12-year-old child, and the family.

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In an Instagram post, where she is seen hugging her son Ranveer protectively, she says that "my amazing @rockbehl took ownership of my heart from the moment he was born 12 years, 11 months and 8 days ago.

From the moment he was born 12 years, 11 months and 8 days ago, my amazing @rockbehl took ownership of my heart. From then on, his happiness and wellbeing have been the centre of anything @goldiebehl and I ever did. And so, when the Big C reared its ugly head, our biggest dilemma was what and how we were going to tell him. As much as we wanted to protect him, we knew it was important to tell him the full facts. We’ve always been open and honest with him and this time it wasn’t going to be different. He took the news so maturely… and instantly became a source of strength and positivity for me. In some situations now, he even reverses roles and takes on being the parent, reminding me of things I need to do! I believe that it’s imperative to keep kids involved in a situation like this. They are a lot more resilient than we give them credit for. It’s important to spend time with them and include them, rather than make them wait on the side-lines, not being told yet instinctively knowing everything. In our effort to protect them from the pain and realities of life, we might end up doing the opposite. I’m spending time with Ranveer right now, while he’s on summer vacation. His madness and shenanigans help me #SwitchOnTheSunshine. And today, we derive strength from each other #OneDayAtATime

A post shared by Sonali Bendre (@iamsonalibendre) on Jul 18, 2018 at 11:29pm PDT

As parents, breaking the news of an adult's illness to a child is not an easy task. The 'Sarfarosh' actress detailed the parental dilemma that she and husband Goldie Behl too went through about breaking the news of her metastatic cancer to their 12-year-old son, whose "happiness and well-being have been the centre of anything @goldiebehl and I ever did. "

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Also read: Metastatic cancer - everything you need to know about the disease Sonali Bendre is fighting

"And so, when the Big C reared its ugly head, our biggest dilemma was what and how we were going to tell him.", she wrote in her update.

In the words of my favourite author Isabel Allende, “We don't even know how strong we are until we are forced to bring that hidden strength forward. In times of tragedy, of war, of necessity, people do amazing things. The human capacity for survival and renewal is awesome.” The outpouring of love I’ve received in the last few days has been so overwhelming… and I’m especially grateful to those of you who shared stories of your experiences in dealing with cancer, whether it was your own or of loved ones. Your stories have given me an extra dosage of strength and courage, and more importantly, the knowledge that I’m not alone. Each day comes with its own challenges and victories and so for now, I’m taking this #OneDayAtATime. The only thing I’m trying to be consistent about is maintaining a positive outlook... literally #SwitchOnTheSunshine - it’s my way of dealing with this. Sharing my journey is also part of this process... I can only hope it reminds you that all is not lost and that someone, somewhere understands what you’re going through. 🤞🌞 Thank you @tomoarakawa for making this a chic transition from long to short!

A post shared by Sonali Bendre (@iamsonalibendre) on Jul 10, 2018 at 12:20am PDT

And although the couple wanted to protect the child emotionally, Bendre acknowledged that "it was important to tell him the full facts."

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Also read: Know about metastatic cancer that Sonali Bendre has been diagnosed with

" We’ve always been open and honest with him and this time it wasn’t going to be different. He took the news so maturely… and instantly became a source of strength and positivity for me. In some situations now, he even reverses roles and takes on being the parent, reminding me of things I need to do! "

Sometimes, when you least expect it, life throws you a curveball. I have recently been diagnosed with a high grade cancer that has metastised, which we frankly did not see coming. A niggling pain led to some tests, which led to this unexpected diagnosis. My family and close friends have rallied around me, providing the best support system that anyone can ask for. I am very blessed and thankful for each of them. There is no better way to tackle this, than to take swift and immediate action. And so, as advised by my doctors, I am currently undergoing a course of treatment in New York. We remain optimistic and I am determined to fight every step of the way. What has helped has been the immense outpouring of love and support I’ve received over the past few days, for which I am very grateful. I’m taking this battle head on, knowing I have the strength of my family and friends behind me.

A post shared by Sonali Bendre (@iamsonalibendre) on Jul 3, 2018 at 11:46pm PDT

The 44-yr-old says that the family has “switched on the sunshine” in such trying times.

Celebs Who've Fought Serious Illnesses And Inspired Us To Stay Strong

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If you felt like tearing up after having seen Sonali Bendre's Instagram post on Tuesday where she quotes Chilean author Isabel Allende on staying strong, and chops off her tresses, you are not alone. Many, including her compatriots from the industry and well-wishers, have been feeling emotional and wished her a speedy recovery. But the 44-year-old actress is not the only one who has managed to stay strong in the face of adversity. Over the past decade, a few others have shown amazing courage and grace while battling medical conditions in real life, and proving to be a source of source of inspiration for their fans.

From Salman Khan to Yuvraj Singh, and Irrfan Khan, we stay inspired by some extraordinary stories of hope and strength.