Happy 21st Birthday Sarah

Today we celebrate Sarah's much anticipated 21st birthday!!
She is happy, healthy, home and ready to party.  Big difference from last year when we spent her birthday in the hospital.  Her friends have arrived, and it is wonderful to have a house full of  smiling, happy young women; all getting ready for dinner at the club.

We have so much to be happy and thankful for.  Sarah finished her first semester back at school and is home for the summer.  She has applied for a camp job, and is anxiously waiting to hear if she has been hired.  She has settled into a routine, and is happy to be home, at least for now.  Sarah's last MRI on May 15, 2013 was clear; hip hip hooray!  Dr. M says all is good, she is doing well.  We are in the process of scheduling her port removal (next week) yeah, and her shots (all the childhood inoculations were wiped out during stem cell transplant and have to be given again), not so happy about this one.  MRI's will still be every 3 months, which I am happy about, even if Sarah is not.  I can't imagine how neurotic I will be when they are spaced further apart.

Greg is also done with school for the summer and has been working every weekend.  He is slowly adjusting to once again sharing the bathroom with his sister, and listening to her sing when she showers.

Zen is still recuperating from his leg injury, hand surgery and an unidentified  arm ache.  He has been a good patient, but is missing playing golf!  Hopefully all pains will be gone soon so he can spend his days on the golf course (please).

I have been sorting, organizing and packing away "college stuff" and winter clothing.  Space bags are my new favorite toy,  I love vacuuming the air out!  (Pathetic I know).

Almost time to get ready to go to dinner, unfortunately the weather is not cooperating, it is thundering and pouring rain outside, but the party must go on, so off we go to brave the elements!

Pictures coming soon.
:)

In the mean time...

We are approaching the end of Sarah's first "post treatment" year, she is due for an MRI in 2 weeks.  I have been doing a lot of reminiscing, so much has happened this year that I am thankful for.  Sarah is  at school finishing her first semester at Ramapo College; doing well and looking forward to enjoying summer and all of the activities she could not do last summer!  She participated in Relay for Life and raised a lot of money, this was a very positive and empowering experience for her.  Sarah has made some good friends at school, and is looking forward to living with them in the fall.  I am so proud of her, and thankful for her continued good health.  I am pretty certain that the MRI's will continue at 3 month intervals for at least the next year, Sarah is not thrilled by the prospect, but I welcome the reassurance that all is still going well.


In the mean time, tomorrow I will be putting my nurse's uniform back on to take care of Zen after he has hand surgery, again!  This is the third time  he has to have hand surgery, this time it is to remove a tumor in one of his fingers.  The surgeon is confident that it will be benign, I hope he is right!  Poor Zen has been looking forward to this golf season, since he did not get to play very often last year.  Almost forgot to mention that along with the hand issue, he also has a torn muscle in his leg and is on crutches!  Hopefully he will have a very speedy recovery, and be back on the golf course and in the kitchen cooking soon, for all of our sakes.

Wish us both, patient and nurse, good luck tomorrow, we will need it!
M :)

One Year Ago Today.....

My darling daughter, wow one year ago today we entered Robert Wood Johnson Hospital, scared but hopeful! I read through some of my blog posts from those first few days, they made me cry.  I am so very proud of you and all you have accomplished since then.

I posted this comment last year, "This horrible cancer is like a thief, robbing my daughter of her health, youth and innocence; she is the bravest person I know. Keep fighting Sarah, I know you can beat this; there is a beautiful future waiting for you. Sarah has always risen to a challenge, I am confident that she will find something positive in this horrible experience, and make the world a better place. Together, we will get through this, one day, one hour, one minute at a time."  

We did make it through that horrible time, and you are still the bravest, most determined person I know.  Keep up the good work sweetheart, you are already making the world a better place with your big heart and beautiful smile.  :)


Here are some inspiring words: