Friday, March 27, 2009

D-DAY!

Sorry for the lack of updates .... but no news is good news around here!  Since today is the anniversary of the diagnoses I thought I should say something!!! 
We have been busy since the last update with all normal things... even a few ( actually more than a few...) trips to our pediatrician.  All three have had the same "crud" that has been going around lately--   Grier was funny after the 2nd trip-- he asked me WHY.. are we going to THIS doctor now and not Dr. McMahon!-- I explained to him that Dr. M looks at unhealthy cells and Dr. S looks at his throat, eyes and ears and tries to figure out about his cough-- That was enough of an explanation for him!  I am just glad it was THAT doctor-- :)  
I am not going to write a long update about this anniversary--- because it is not something I really want to look back on--- I read last year's update and I am not going to down memory lane again-- Year 2 has been just as busy as Year 1 but in a different way-- Since July our trips to NYC became more spread out and allowed us to catch our breath!  Yes-- I think I survived on adrenaline for 18 months!  
During our "off" time from scans and treatment we concentrated efforts on finding a cure with the help of most of you-- donations were made to the band of parents, cookies for kids cancer, Children's Miracle Network and Curesearch.  Thanks to everyone that helped with each of those fundraisers.  Certainly the favorite at our house was the bake sale-- who knew one could raise $2000 selling cupcakes and cookies in your front yard.  And I have to mention Charlotte's first Milestone walk -- The Go Grier Go team was amazing and raised over $10,000-- and 95 cents of every dollar of that goes to Pediatric Cancer research.  The whole event totaled over $100,000-- Really good for a first walk in Charlotte.  Hopefully we can double that this year!
We also had some great trips... 4 different beaches and Disney for Thanksgiving-- 
But the most important thing we have done is practice being a "normal" family of 5-- Grier loves going to school and he has developed some great relationships away from home-- Hayes and Grace continue to do well in school--- yes.. I was waiting for the "fall-out" from our chaotic year but we have not seen much- ... we have some "tween" issues but isn't that "normal"? Other than going to NYC and "living" in the Ronald every three months-- we have been pretty normal!
I was going to put together a "video" of the past year BUT I can honestly say I need to do better with taking pictures--- I took all the pictures from each blog post and tried-- but it is not so great-- I need a tutorial!!

We are headed back to NYC on the 27th of April for a work-up-- To say I do not fell the stress already would be a lie-- but I am learning to deal with the fear.  I was talking to another cancer mom and we were trying to think of how you " celebrate" the anniversary of being told your child has cancer-- paper.. wood etc.  She asked the question on Facebook and got some interesting answers!  I hope that is something no one else will hear but the facts are someone is probably hearing right now-- more has to be done... I was one that thought it could not happen to my child and here I am fighting the fight--- And we are going to win this fight!-- Grier is very competitive so with his drive and personality we will keep searching for ways to keep him healthy and happy like he is he is right now-

The next big day to celebrate will be Grier's 5th birthday-- he is already starting to think of what kind of party he wants-- another milestone-- his first friend party!!  June can not get here fast enough!

So as year 2 comes to a close we will continue to press on looking for a cure and continue living---Thanks for coming along with us on this journey.  I know I have posted this poem before but I thought it was the perfect poem for this kind of day.

I HOPE...

I hope you never have to hear the words, 'Your child has cancer.'

I hope you never have to hear, 'The prognosis is not good.'

I hope you never have to prepare your child to undergo radiation or chemotherapy, have a port surgically inserted into their chest, be connected to IV poles.

I hope you never have your child look at you with fear in their eyes and say, 'Don't worry Mommy, everything will be okay.'

I hope you never have to hold your child as they vomit green bile.

I hope you never have to feed them ice chips for lunch.

I hope you never have to watch the 'cure' you pray for slowly take away their identity, as they

lose their hair,

become skeletal,

swell up from steroids,

develop severe acne,

become barely or unable to walk or move,

and look at you with hope in their eyes and say,

'It's going to be okay, Mommy.'

I hope that you never have to stay in the hospital for weeks, months, or years at a time, where there is no privacy, sleeping on a slab, with your face to the wall, where you cry in muffled silence.

I hope you never have to see a mother, alone, huddled, in a dark hospital corridor...crying quietly, after just being told, 'There is nothing more we can do.'

I hope you never have to watch a family wander aimlessly, minutes after their child's body has been removed.

I hope you never have to use every bit of energy you have left, with all of this going on around you to remain positive, and the feelings of guilt, sorrow, hope and fear, overwhelm you.

I hope you never have to see a child's head bolted to the table as they receive radiation.

I hope you never have to take your child home (grateful but so afraid) in a wheelchair because the chemo and radiation has damaged their muscles, 35 pounds lighter, pale, bald, and scarred.

And they look at you with faith in their eyes and say, 'It's going to be okay Mommy.'

I hope you never have to face the few friends that have stuck beside you and hear them say, 'Thank God that is over with,'...because you know it never will be.

Your life becomes a whirl of doctors, blood tests and MRI's and you try to get your life back to 'normal'.

While living in mind-numbing fear that any one of those tests could result in hearing the dreaded words...

'The cancer has returned' or 'The tumor is growing.'

And your friends become even fewer.

I hope you never have to experience any of these things...Because...only then...

Will you understand...

(author unknown)

GO STEEL FAB!

GO STEEL FAB!

Go Grier Go Magnets are Here!

Go Grier Go Magnets are Here!

Grier's address in NYC

Grier Christenbury
Ronald McDonald House of New York

405 East 73rd Street

New York, NY 10021

Before 3F8

Before 3F8

After 3F8

After 3F8
30 minutes later

Free Money for Go Grier Go!.. just by shopping online!!

iGive.com

Grier leaving NY-pres and going back to MSKCC

Grier leaving NY-pres and going back to MSKCC
www.cornellpediatrics.org-- Great hospital!

Grier going for a ride in the ambulance across the street

Grier going for a ride in the ambulance across the street
just transporting-- not an emergency!

Grier patiently waiting surgery to remove tumor

Grier patiently waiting surgery to remove tumor
Monday 10/29/07

Go Grier Go Picnic in the Park

Go Grier Go Picnic in the Park
Thanks to everyone that helped!!!

On the way to NYC!

On the way to NYC!

Grier at the "new" clinic at CMC

Grier at the "new" clinic at CMC
Playing with the doctors and nurses 10/19/07

Some of our team at the Hopebuilders 5k

Some of our team at the Hopebuilders 5k

HOPE IS GOOD!!

HOPE IS GOOD!!

Supersib- GRACE

Supersib- GRACE

SuperSib-- HAYES

Grier and his Wonder Pets fly boat cake!

Grier and his Wonder Pets fly boat cake!
I am 3!

Grier & Grace at Covenant

Grier & Grace at Covenant

Grier & Pat

Grier & Pat

Go Grier Go!

Go Grier Go!




Jack and Charlie wearing Go Grier Go T's

Jack and Charlie wearing Go Grier Go T's