Sept 4 - Thursday

Sam spent his first full day at school today since May 9th. The doctor thought he should just stay half days until his ANC (absolute neutraphil count) improves but he phoned at lunch and asked his mom if he could please stay all day and she complied. We are still worried about Sam picking something up and getting sick (and subsequently admitted to PGRH) but so far he has been so careful and has avoided fevers. It was so great to see him running on the field in PE with all his friends again. This morning he was very, very sore and tired but he was determined to go back to school anyway. He has courage, that is for sure.

I've had lots of memories this week of the week when Sam was diagnosed. I remember getting the phone call that Wednesday afternoon from Debbie at the hospital who told me in tears that they thought Sam has cancer. I remember asking Rosie and Michelle and Vicki, to come into my office and I told them each in tears and they were such amazing friends to comfort me as I thought about all the implications of what we could be facing.

I remember how I kept thinking "How is it possible for your son to have the flu when you leave for work and by lunch have leukemia?" I remember how I thought I just had to be so strong for my family. I remember how I told Kate and Karly that the next few years could be really hard because Sam may have leukemia. Isn't it funny how certain watershed moments in your life are crystal clear memories and other moments are distant shadows.

Four months. Sam thought the time went by so quickly... "It didn't really seem like that long did it Mom..." but for Debbie and I it was the longest 4 months of our lives. Someone asked me, "What have you learned from all this?" and I have to say that the most important thing I've learned is that God walks with us through times like these through the steady presence of his people who choose to walk the journey with us. And that has made all the difference.

It is good to be a family, in our own house, once again. Thank you all who have done so much for our family over the past months.

Ger