June 1, 2018
Another day at the Cancer Clinic.
Nurse Paige surprised Susie with Psych Pineapples!
Look by for a vein.
Susie opted for an IV instead of port access.
Her two nurses both wore Llama shirts (Susie’s favorite) and were named Katy!
Jinx!🤣
A good day at the clinic.
Little Ryver (the gal in allergic anaphylaxisis) is next door again. Today she is happy and playful. Blue glittered nails and matching blue sparkly slime.
The sun is shining and my hearts is full.
Met mom at the Ronald McDonald House whose son had brain surgery (Chiari) and developed bacterial meningitis post-op.
“Today is a good day!
He is having a good day (and so, so am I).
His best day so far.”
(Mom and son were Lifeflighted here to PCH 6 weeks ago from Idaho Falls.)
Connections made. Life’s journey shared.
“I’ll be thinking of your daughter.”
“I’ll be praying for your son.”
So many people walking challenging roads.
Grateful today I can share a smile and encouraging word.
Carry on Warrior Moms (and Dads) and children! ♥️
The path is rocky but thankfully our burdens can be shared.
On Sunday, Joe and I were asked to substitute teach the Sunbeams Class of 3-4 year olds.
“I am Thankful for My Eyes.”
Interesting topic.
It is only now, that I am reflecting on this profound lesson, timing, truth, and teaching through the Holy Spirit.
Life has been SO fast this past week with the ending of school for the children, a family business trip last weekend, preparing for and hosting a Family Memorial Day Party, and…and… that I have not had a chance to “be in the moment.”
In the lesson at Church, the scripture stories shared were from 1 John 9:1-7, see
https://www.lds.org/bible-v…/…/jesus-heals-a-man-born-blind…
Also, from The Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 11:1-17 where the Resurrected Savior, Jesus Christ, let the multitude gather around the temple come and SEE the wounds in his hands and feet, that they might know Him.
Such a beautiful, sweet age to teach and learn together.
Tuesday, I was following up on a dental tumor Jonathan has, with his Pediatric Dentist (getting him scans) to evaluate what to do.
Wednesday, Susie sat with my mother on a swing outside her cabin home in Springville.
After hearing about Jonathan’s tooth tumor, and remembering Susie’s brain tumor behind her right eye, my mother exclaimed:
“I hate this! (Cancerous tumors). Why do these things have to happen?!” She asked aloud.
I agreed. In faith I too echo Jesus’ “that the power of God might be made manifest. “
As much as I hate cancer, and more particularly watching these angelic little ones fight it (or the effects of Chemo poison and other medicines), our journey has had sacred moments—including time to talk one-on-one, as we travel up for treatments every week or two weeks.
Never before have I felt such darkness descend when reactions occur, prognosis’ seem bleak, and medical anomalies happen—forcing me to rely on medical personnel for my daughter’s well being and life, and on the goodness of friends and family to care for my family.
Oh the greatness of the Spirit and of so many individuals who have reached out to us and: said, done, made, baked, brought, and delivered hugs, messages of hope, faith, inspiration, meals, babysitting, patience, and kindness!
I’m so behind in writing ThAnK yOuS.
My tired, rambling heart is so full tonight.
God DOES indeed hear your prayers and care about you, even the little things in your life. ❤️
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/bible-videos/videos/jesus-heals-a-man-born-blind?lang=eng&fbclid=IwAR172drsOpVrt9q5E19UPxuCeW30EtoaLozTxhBEkP1Zs7UptHpFr5U8Uao
June 3, 2018
Friday evening Scriptures and Prayers.
Cute cuddle ducks—How I’ve missed you today.
Joe is praying. Children sleeping.
Sisters are a great thing!
Second sister has sacrificed SO much this past week to take my place in cleaning, mating socks, child care, driving, attending t-ball games, and putting youngest siblings in bed. ♥️
This little thing is too! 💕
She heard mom trying to help a very sick older sister, and cleared her bed, made her bed (using her own sheet and comforter—Sisters were on the floor, part of a Barbie backdrop prop from earlier today while girls were “cleaning their room”) and write and delivered encouraging little notes she left bedside.
Migraines.
Waste of a busy day.
“Special” Lupus body. Pain managed.
Unexpected phone call. Neighbor brings pot of GF DF Taco Soup and Chips. Blessings.
Proffered cups of herb tea.
Worries. Prayers. Comfort.
Dark Chocolate fortune. “Home is where Mom is.(!)” True. Pressing on.
More comforting.
Reading on “Google Scholar”. Avastin: 55 “common” side effects.
“Excessive flow of tears”(?!) Really?
Where was the web-editor? Is this a webpage version similar to Charles Dickens—getting paid per word?
Wouldn’t “crying” suffice?
Cancer cutie laughs, before succumbing to more “excessive flow of tears.”
June 15, 2018
Glimpses:
Susie chose an Elder Uchtdorf talk to listen to together on our ride up to PCH.
(I really needed to hear this today.)
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2010/10/of-things-that-matter-most?lang=eng&fbclid=IwAR3jUSntGJdcTtsXWat6EDhvNXt6OZY8Iig3OW4PeB2IveWleOZ9VGC4c_k
More Glimpses:
Emotional morning listening to Tedx Talk on Pediatric Cancers—new hope for the future is in genetic codes and identifying specific treatments for specific genetic makeups.
Nurse Cami requested for port access.
Britany assisted with “freezy spray.”
Susie acquired a Llama cap (!) from the waiting room, where two young men, both named Ty/Tyson, awaited their chemos today. [Both had a vampiric pallor, sparse hair, one wheelchair bound, these young men were in the midst of their own personal battles.]
Susie packed a picnic lunch and with the numerous bags, it was forgotten.
I’m thankful, once again, for the Ronald McDonald House.
There, I met Marina; a mother who was busy cleaning up lunch.
[This mother had stayed at PCH for two weeks, 3 years ago, when her daughter was three and had a skull injury when her grandfather fell on top of her.]
She was “giving back” by preparing and serving lunch to needy families at theRonald McDonald House, on the Third Floor of Primary Children’s Hospital.
(Fresh salads with black beans, spinach, Romain, strawberries, cut up orange slices, Edamame. Rolls, Etc.)
We talked about how her daughter was healing. Her daughter smiled up at us. She wore a pink, fluffy dress and a halo of gold and white butterflies in her hair and was very busy eating and later coloring a picture for Father’s Day.
After hearing me tell her daughter about my daughters, one who also had a TBI last year, and one with Brain Cancer, she walked around the counter, and spoke softly to me.
“How’s your daughter doing?”
“How are you doing?”
“Are you taking care of yourself?”
Her knowing eyes seemed to take in all of me.
I whisper back…I am learning and trying.
That can sometimes be the hardest part!
Self care.
It is easier to forget oneself wholly in serving ones spouse, family, Church, community, “project,” that it is easy to forget to nourish ourselves physically, spiritually, emotionally.
To do so feels almost a betrayal—
This is something I am learning.
Just like flying on an airplane, and listening to instructions on the use of emergency oxygen masks: first put the mask over your own face, then proceed to help others.
To serve others, one must take the time out to physically care for oneself.
Fun favorites:
Susie found a lime coconut lip gloss and Llama cap. (She loved the children’s storybook, Is Your Mama a Llama by Deborah Guarino, as a preschooler!)
Funny story we read together:
