Special spaces

Over the past couple of days our rooms have been being renovated by an amazing company called Special Spaces and are very grateful for all the volunteering and donations. So thank you to home depot, best buy, okra and everyone else.
It's kind of sad being spite up with my brother, because for the last seven years he's always been sleeping in the bottom bunk of our bunk bed. But on its own it's also exciting to finnaly get my own space to do homework, hang with friends, ect. So very interesting I will show pics of our new rooms. (:

Making Memories

Once Mattie was well enough to start experiencing life and not the inside of a hospital room, we as a family were on the fast track to have experiences and do things that normal families dont get to do our would never consider doing with young children. For example, one of Matties favorite movies is Transformers 1 . Yes it is violent in parts, but after a long talk with Matt and having an understanding he was allowed to watch it. Yes this is a simple example so a more elaborate instance would be jumping into the ocean with a wet suit on and boogie board in hand and taking on 7 foot waves and having a ball. I was pleasantly suprised that his sister Kyra jumped into the fun as well and we had the most memorable time ever.

So last summer 2011 we were heading to our favorite beach on Monterey Bay called La Selva or Sand dollar beach.In passing Kat mentioned to one of her aquaintance Dottie that we were heading down and Dottie mentioned she had a condo beach house on La Selva. She knew of our medical sitiation and out of the kindness of her heart offered it to us anytime it wasnt booked up. Kat booked it for my Birthday this February 2012 and we will forever remember it as one of the best times ever.

Sometimes building sand castles and watching them melt back into the sea, swimming in the ocean, and hearing the waves and watching the sunset is what the soul needs...

Our Shooting Star

In reference to a post back in mid December titled "A star is born" we now have the link to the PBS News Hour piece that was done to bring attention to the fact that the advancements in drugs and therapies in the last 40 years have made all the difference. Mattie and I dont have a speaking role, but are featured about half way through the piece. If I had been diagnosed at Matthew's age, which would have been 1972, the probability of morbidity would have been very high and all that I have now would have never happened. I guess I am lucky...



http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/jan-june12/childrencancer_01-12.html

A Mother's Job

Cancer.  It is the worst 6 letter word anyone can hear in a diagnosis. It is life changing.  A journey.

3 years ago, when we got the call my focus was on saving Matthew’s life. We are so blessed that in 9 moths this will be all behind us and now we have been thinking about life after cancer.  Is there life after cancer? And, is it different? For Matthew’s sake, I hope so.

Oddly enough I have great respect for cancer. So much so that I took a job working for a company who manufactures much needed drugs to combat cancer.

So while Matthew’s journey down this road is nearing an end, mine will continue until there is a cure or I retire. A mother’s job is never done.