Good morning. We had a busy week and both Debbie and I didn't find the time to write it all down. Wednesday was a big day for Sam as it was his second LP (lumbar puncture) for this round of treatment. Thursday, Friday, Saturday was an ARA-C treatment at BCCH which is about a 15 min visit with an IV push through his central line. The drive from White Rock to BCCH takes about 40 min if it isn't rush hour and about 60 if it is rush hour.
The Uy family came to Vancouver and visited us yesterday. It was so great to see Sam laugh and play with Landon and Rylan. We took everybody to the go-kart track on the way back from the hospital and even the mom's were out there terrorizing the track. Later, Debbie and Sam showed us all Steveston and we went for a great tour of the museum where they are restoring two old boats (one of them was the Rum Runner boat which Ian told me all about in PG). The Uys brought Karly along from Langley as well and it was so great to see her. Joel disappeared in the evening and came back an hour later, "Fixed your brake lights which weren't working on your van, oxidized switch under your steering column above your brake pedal. I also fixed your dome light and your rear cargo light - all works now." Joel is amazing! Our van is showing its age (15 years) in more ways than one!
Katelyn comes down from PG today with Ladonna and Mel and all 5 of us will be together again after a month apart. Tomorrow we move closer to the hospital to our friend's house in Vancouver.
Sam has been great. He remains strong and courageous throughout these difficult days and although we all know what summer should be like for an 11 year old boy, we just enjoy the moments we have together, the way we are. Many times I played this song in our van on the way down from PG last week and it explains how I feel so well:
Miracle of the Moment
By Steven Curtis Chapman
It's time for letting go
All of our “if only's”
'Cause we don't have a time machine
And even if we did
Would we really want to use it?
Would we really want to go change everything
'Cause we are who and where and what we are for now
And this is the only moment we can do anything about
So breathe it in and breathe it out
Listen to your heartbeat
There's a wonder in the here and now
It's right there in front of you
And I don't want you to miss the miracle of the moment
There's only One who knows
What's really out there waiting
In all the moments yet to be
And all we need to know
Is He's out there waiting
To Him the future's history
And He has given us a treasure called right now
And this is the only moment we can do anything about
And if it brings you tears
Then taste them as they fall
Let them soften your heart
And if it brings you laughter
Then throw your head back
And let it go
Let it go, yeah
You gotta let it go
So breathe it in and breathe it out
And listen to your heartbeat
There's a wonder in the here and now
It's right there in front of you
And I don't want you to miss the miracle
Of the moment
It is so amazing how many of you have joined us in our moments in big and small ways. We look around this borrowed apartment and we can't help but think about all the people who have helped us. Tears of gratitude flow far more often than tears of sadness around here. All around us we see the evidence of people who love us from afar. We see books, plane tickets, games, quilts, blankets, hats, clothes, cards, pictures, cookies, giant pizza cookies, and so much more and this all reminds us of you - and your faithful help and prayers for Sam and our family.
It has been great to be here again to help with all that needs to be done here managing the day to day. I'm reminded again how much Debbie has had to do here by herself. She has been such an amazing mom, nurse, companion, driver, cook, helper, etc. She is a remarkable woman. It has also helped so much to have my mom and dad close to help her with the many tasks and responsibilities. They have been so amazing.
On Friday we were waiting in the Oncology Clinic for the doctors to tell us whether or not Sam would get a transfusion to boost his hemoglobin. He was lying down on my lap, tired as can be, and a little 8 year old boy with lots of hair and tons of energy was playing around us with the toys in the waiting room. His mom patiently waited, reading magazines, and looking up every once in a while. She seemed to know the nurses and receptionists very well - all by name. Finally nurse Monica came out, did a little dance and said, "You're all done. Congratulations!" The mom looked up, "Well, that's it? No more treatment? No more LPs, Bone Marrow Biopsies, long hospital stays, parking tickets, hungry nights, throwing up? It just stops?"
"Yup, you're all done. He'll have to come back for tests periodically and he has to get his central line removed but that's it!" Monica replied.
As the nurse walked away we struck up a conversation with this mom. This was her last visit in her 3 and a half year journey (every time you get sick and treatment gets postponed, so does your 1095 days of treatment). She looked at Sam, white as can be, tired as can be, sick as can be, and she said, "it gets easier - the first 7 months are the hardest... it feels kind of wierd to be finished actually..." and then she left.
Both Debbie and I looked at each other (Sam slept) and thought about how God gives us these little glimmers of hope each day. This little boy, all better, ready to go and live a normal life without cancer. We won't forget that moment.
Have a great week.
Gerry
5 comments:
Hi Sam!
Just wanted to say a quick hello to you. It must be great having most of your family back together again, eh?!
I wanted to let you know that when I think of you, I think of some one who is stronger and more couragious then most people I know. I want you to know that when i think of you, I think of you as a hero. You amaze me for the streanth you have,the faith you have in our heavenly Father. I want to be like you in all those ways. Your teaching me things. I know it must suck pretty bad to have cancer, I can only imagine, since I don't have it my self, but I often think that if some one were to have it, God must of known that you would fly though it, that you would sail though it with a smile on your face, and God by your side. I know it isn't God how gives us the cancer, it's sin...but God new that You would be ok. He new that you had him on your side from the beginning...that you wouldne't loss trust in Him. Your amazing sammy boy. Keep up you unbeliveable streanth and courage...one day, we all will be celabrating the finish of your treatment...and God will be saying..Well Done, Sam...Well done.
hi sam this is alannah
sorry i havent writen to you i have bean driving al around we are at tinamara a hotel we are in a caben it is nice i really miss you
bye
from Alannah
HEy sam! hows life?
you looked like you had a lot of fun with the wi's we went in one of tjose things once! I remembb=er they were alot of fun too!
well .......HAVE AN AWESOME SUMMER
liz
Hi sam I guess i haven't talked to you for a while .Well you look like you are getting better. I hope you are coming back to Cedars soon!!!!!:)
Jessica Smith:)
Hi Sam and family, please give us a call. We are coming thru Vancouver on Friday and would love to see you for a quick visit. Talk to you soon. The Hedges Family 250-960-8344
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