Summertime

There is just a different feeling in the air when school is getting ready to be let out for the summer, the water table gets set up in the back yard, the bathing suits come out from out from their winter storage and lemonade becomes a standard shelf item in the fridge. Summertime.

Erica is in a few different activities now, tumble time, music, and she will start swim lessons next week. She loves picking out her clothes and trying on, at least, three pair of shoes before we leave the house on any given day. It is going to be a fun summer. Erica has several friends on the block and every afternoon they all converge to the front yards and play from house to house. It is a joy to see; only last summer we were confined to our home for the entire summer, wearing a mask, Erica could only go from the house to the car for doctor's appointments. So, to see her running and playing with the kids feels like heaven.

Bob and I went to Washington DC on vacation a few weeks ago. We had a great time seeing all the sites and monuments. We were the total tourists; cameras, backpacks, trolley tours, the whole deal. Personally, I think that is the best way to see DC, my parents lived there for about nine years and I still see and learn new things every time I am there. Having been a political science major in college, it is a bit embarrassing when the tour guide asks questions about our nations political history and I have but not a clue! It was fun, Bob and I enjoyed being away but five days was enough . . .it was great to come home and see our little girl.

Erica loves to dance and play "dress up", thanks to her friend Tyler, Erica has lots of dress up clothes and princess costumes, hence the photos!

We still pray, everyday, for our friend Sammie. Sammie is home, on hospice care, with her family. Her mom writes in the blog (see Sammie's photo to the right) about the privilege of being Sammie's mom and emotional strength it takes to be with Sammie in these final days of her life. Sammie got a little puppy from "Make A Wish" and he has been keeping them busy . . . and laughing. I can not read the words on her blog without feeling my heart in pain, but it keeps me ever mindful of the fragile nature of it all. Last week alone, five children in the Caring Bridge group, lost their lives to cancer.

Little Miss Eleanor Wilson completed her chemotherapy treatment after 2.4 years this last week. Her family has been celebrating for days. She has been a brave warrior through it all!

People need to understand that for us and for families who have weathered the storms and are, perhaps, "done" with treatment, are not really "done". The medications and the doctors appointments and blood draws continue, maybe not as much, but they go on. Erica is still on 12 doses of medication per day. Just this last week, Erica's kidneys were "talking" because of her GVHD medication, and so we need to cut back. Yes, we celebrate, and we will always celebrate the gift of Erica's new marrow and Eleanor's successful treatment AND, we will continue to pray that these little girls stay cancer free forever, with no long term ramifications.

It is for these reasons that we continue to speak out for awareness of these blood cancers and childhood cancer in general. Please keep all of these kids in your prayers.

Here's to a great summer!