13, Chronologically |
As I reported a year ago, Jerry's growth and weight gain trajectory was a concern to both us and his doctors. He's taking a lifetime supply of synthetic thyroid hormone because the Proton radiation roasted his hypothalamus. His body is predisposed to weight gain because of the factors I previously explained. The team encouraged us to watch the food intake, and make him get some exercise. HaHa.. that's a real rib tickler. You doctors are regular comedians. It's not that Jerry doesn’t like to run around and do physical stuff. It's the hilarious notion that Jerry would voluntarily and without coercion embark on a lifestyle-altering program of exercise.
Jerry doesn't appreciate sneaky pictures as he pounds out the miles |
Life has been pretty good for Jerry these past months. He’s oblivious to many things of importance, caught up in being an otherwise typical teenager. Rarely does a day go by that we don’t look at him and wonder if there is another shoe. If so, will it ever drop? We'll be older and more wrinkly, maybe visiting Jerry in his own home, in his own life, and the question will likely linger at the back of the mind. Is there another shoe? The longer he goes without something bad happening, the easier it is to see a day when we stop thinking about it. For now, we see trivialities in a different light than most. A stray fearful thought, a phone call, or a jogged memory triggers a pool in the lower eyelids. A headache, nosebleeds, a strange pain near his eye, a seemingly involuntary movement of his right leg. Things easy to miss if we were not looking so often and so intently.
1,200 pieces |
Vise-Grip |
Study that |
Pilot and bunny sleep |
Unscheduled Nap |
A year is a very long time in the pediatric cancer world. We’ve seen new diagnoses and relapses, though it’s more because of who we know rather than any epidemic. People in the circle learn of others in the circle, in an unending cycle.
Every so often, I can’t help but note that some people refer to themselves or others as veritable parents of the year because they pulled off some overly realistic or particularly clever Halloween costume, got their kids to read all summer, trained their children to hate sugar, or achieved some other pinnacle of parenting by the measure we ourselves used to consider. All fine things, but cancer changed my perspective on parental heroics. We've seen parents in a perpetual holding pattern, believing for the best, but with a raw edge always near the surface, hoping for no news. Parents unable to work and struggling because cancer threw a giant rock through the windshield of their already difficult circumstances. A mom trying to hold it together without a dad who cared enough to stick around while her girl declined and died. Parents who take turns driving hundreds of miles for multiple surgeries to repair the damage cancer wreaked on their daughter. A mother relocates for long stretches to a distant hospital with her boy, who has relapsed with a high mortality cancer, spending more time in hospital than out, enduring horrible procedures, while clinging to hope that he will beat difficult odds. A family with a terribly difficult cancer and other serious health conditions coupled with financial calamity all around them, struggling to stay afloat. You see cancer families fighting on where efforts to help with their needs go unnoticed. A dad whose daughter fought bravely, as he struggled with the reality of his powerlessness in the face of the beast. Parents who lost their child and who still serve and befriend other families on the cancer journey. Families with unshakable faith and endless love, during and after their loss.
Parents of the year.
Boys with their toys in the woods |
Jerry uses dad as a steadying arm for a little .22 target practice |
Not bad at 50 feet or so, all considered |
When you've been used to spending most of a day at the hospital on every single visit, 20 minutes entry to exit is worth celebrating. |
It's convenient that Jerry is normally in a Darth Vader mood |
Walking to fund Brain Cancer Research |
Weird Hair Day at Co-op |
At least two look excited about first Homeschool Co-op of the year |
Even when it takes teasing to find it, the real smile is the best |
Limited entertainment options when waiting for doctors |
As long as they have to watch him, there will be IVs. IVs are no fun for Jerry. Deep, uncooperative veins.. Never easy. |
Jerry enjoyed our hike into the nearly invisible Grand Tetons, even with the considerable wildfire smoke. Of course, he injured his foot by the end of the day. |
Jerry watched Old Faithful erupt from a chair in the distance. As he is apt to do, he injured himself and needed a wheelchair |
Not Jerry's real arm, but close. |
Jerry, and an uninjured child, use mom for a crutch on the way back to the Old Faithful Inn |
Jerry enjoys a milkshake while walking on the treadm... ....HEY, wait a minute! |
Dad's still unfinished project will make it easier for Jerry to get to and from the river |
Jerry flashes his best grin at the long-awaited arrival of a photo book from his 2014 Pilot For A Day experience, courtesy of the U.S. Air Force 4th Airlift Squadron |