Today someone was praying to bless sick people and I was like “I’m glad I’m not a sick person, bless them”

This was the text the child (who shall not be named) with cancer sent me when I asked for permission to begin to publish blog posts about his condition.  We’ve been on a roller coaster and right now we are coasting through the gentle curves.  The wind is in our hair and we are all smiling.  We are enjoying the ride.

Just a quick journal-type entry to record my role during the past 2+ years.  I began to fly from Texas to Utah to be present at the doctor visits as often as I could, usually every couple of months.  As the tumors grew I came more often.  His biopsy day is one that we laugh about.  He was scheduled to have his procedure early in the morning so we had planned our day together.  There was a breakfast place we were anxious to try and after that we were free to do as we pleased.  What did not please us was the news that accompanied his return… Apparently when you have a lung biopsy you have to stay for many, many (I can’t remember how many) hours under observation.  Good idea – they want to make sure the lung doesn’t collapse.  For us it meant we would spend the day as we have spent so very many days… him in the hospital bed and me in the chair.  Home in time for dinner. So we just had to laugh.  After all, that is the reason “laughing” is in my title.

As he began chemotherapy in January I was flying to Utah about once a month.   For several reasons we had decided that we would eventually move to Utah.  By March, Mark and I both felt that we wanted to move over a year sooner than we had planned.  We arrived in September 2019.  David, Mark and Kimberly have all taken turns sitting through infusions.  I think that he actually likes to be on his own and sleep through infusions, but he is very thoughtful and lets us come along because deep down we all know that this is best.

What about the incognito aspect of this bout of cancer?  At first I wanted him to tell everyone so that they could help – Would he need accommodations at work?  Ecclesiastical leaders would want to know.  But no!  Not this time.  It turns out I was wrong.  This has worked out very well.  He is the captain of his ship and the master of his fate.

During our four months in Utah I think I average at least twice monthly visits to the Huntsman Cancer Institute.  Along with this child’s cancer we have another that has had a few concerns.  A benign (yay!!) cyst was removed last month and we are monitoring something suspicious in her upper arm.   This suspicious lesion was eclipsed by concern over the cyst and now with that out of the way…  I think the plan is to check back on the arm next fall (or if it gets painful). Does it seem strange that I don’t remember all of the details with the orthopedic oncologist?

Well – I discovered the answer.  A few weeks ago I moved all of my blog posts onto a Facebook page for easy access.  As I scanned my writing I was somewhat overwhelmed by the events that I had recorded – no wonder the doctor visits get a little hazy.

I guess we will just continue to take them as they come.