Hannah’s Journey

I can’t believe it has been over 2 weeks since we last posted. There is always so much that goes on at the end of the school year. I just put Austin on the bus for his last half day. I finished yesterday, as did Colin and Hannah. Hannah had to take a state regents biology test, and luckily felt well enough to go through with it. She had not been back to school since mid-April, so I think she enjoyed seeing some of her friends and teachers.

Hannah had week 2 of her chemo cycle last Tuesday (June 12). This day is always harder than the first, but she did well. It ends up being a very long day and it is always good to get back home. We were concerned that this cycle of chemo might be especially difficult for her since it was the first one after her surgery, but she bounced back very quickly. She only required one transfusion of platelets. If her platelets get back to a good level by the beginning of next week, her next round of chemo should start on Tuesday.

We participated in the Relay for Life to raise money for the American Cancer Society. We had a double team of 30 teenagers along with various siblings and many parents. We had someone on the track for the entire 12 hours. It was a fun, exhusting (from the parents’ point of view) event, but very rewarding. Hannah led off the survivors lap looking very sylish in her Burger King crown with a toilet plunger festooned with ribbons for her sceptor. The toilet plunger was a legacy from our friend Chris Burke, another cancer survivor. This event has grown over the 4 years it has been held in Goshen, raising over $100,000.00 this year for cancer research. Maybe this is the year a breakthrough can be made. It is our continual hope. We were very proud to be part of this event.

We also went to our first Yankees game ever. We were given tickets to the game by the pediatric department at Sloan, and had a great time. Austin was there with his mitt to protect the rest of us from any stray foul balls that came our way. My camera was taken from me by the girls and I have some very strange pictures on it. It was a wonderful night.

Hannah and Austin are counting down the days until they leave for camp. Hannah should get her next cycle of chemo in before she leaves, and the camp will transport her back and fourth to the hospital if any transfusions or situations come up. Nathan has been at camp since June 1, and Hannah and Austin are looking forward to leaving July 5. Need I say that Colin is so looking forward once again to being an only child for a few weeks.

Dixie, our new puppy is growing quickly. She is going to be a good sized young pup. She still hasn’t quite gotten the idea of what the outside is for, but she is improving. Our beagle, Copper, loves her. We were a little concerned how that would go, but are pleasantly surprised. It is amazing how fast the novelty of a new family member wears off. There are no longer any fights about who gets to walk her. It seems to have become mostly my job.

Enjoy the start of summer vacation. I always love the feeling of not having to get up and get moving, of no more homework arguments, no more lunches to make, no more “I forgot to tell yous,” a minute before the bus comes. If only Dixie could learn to sleep past 6:00 a.m.