I’ve been taking my new Rheumatoid Arthritis meds for almost three weeks now and have been relieved to have had so few side effects–mainly a little queasiness and fatigue immediately following my weekly Methotrexate dose.
Yesterday, however, my symptom-less season came to an end. Steve and I were having lunch with Mary Ann and Jason, our Associate Pastor and her husband. As we sat at the table chatting, I felt a little wave of dizziness hit me but it passed pretty quickly and I didn’t think much about it. When we stood up to leave, however, it hit me again and this time harder.
I said, “Oooh. I’m getting a little dizzy here,” and sat myself right down on a nearby bench.
Long story short, I wasn’t able to drive myself back to work so Steve left his car behind and drove me home. Jason followed behind so that he could take Steve back to the restaurant to retrieve his car. Both guys gallantly guided my wobbly self up the stairs of our house and onto the couch where I lay for quite a while before getting up the gumption to climb the stairs and collapse into our bed.
Not so much fun.
Under any other circumstance, I would have stayed in bed the rest of the day, especially since the dizziness was also accompanied by a headache and light sensitivity. However, Sarah had a big deal going on that night—her National Honor Society Induction Ceremony. For a young woman who was supposed to have massive learning challenges and an ongoing struggle with all academics, this was a huge, huge deal.
I vacillated all afternoon as to whether or not I was up to attending; finally, without about 20 minutes to go, I heaved myself out of bed, slapped on some make up, grabbed my camera and eased myself out the door with Steve’s arm to hold on to. I was so glad I was able to attend; it was a beautiful event and Steve and I were so very proud of Sarah for her accomplishments.
Here she is walking forward when her name was called. (She’s wearing her bridesmaid dress from Nathan and Meagan’s wedding.)
Each inductee signed their name on an official NHS document.
Then they were congratulated by the principal.
An outgoing member of the NHS (a graduating senior) gave her candle to Sarah to signify the “passing of the torch” to the new chapter of NHS members.
As Sarah got ready to leave the auditorium at the end of the ceremony all I could think about was her whole beautiful future ahead of her.
After the ceremony, refreshments were served in the cafeteria. I opted to sit in the lobby and wait rather than have to do a whole lot of (woozy) standing around. As Steve and Sarah took off down the hall Steve turned around and said, “Wait! We need to skip!”
(If you’ve been reading here for any length of time, you know that Steve and Sarah have a father/daughter tradition of skipping in random places.)
Sarah is saying, “Dad? Here?”
Why not?
Fortunately the hallway was largely deserted so The Embarrassment Factor was kept at a minimum.
With the skipping accomplished, they disappeared around the corner leaving me to contentedly scroll through the pictures I had taken and await their return.
When we got home, I was still in photographic mode and thought it would be nice to grab a few photos before we called it a day.
Here are the ladies in yellow.
Steve was in fine fatherly fettle.
He finally did straighten up though, and got himself arranged into Regular Paternal Posing Fashion.
This month marks Sarah’s 11-year anniversary since diagnosis. We are so proud of our National Honor Society student and so thankful to be living with a miracle.
Hope your body has gotten used to the new medicine by now. What a terrific honor and recognition for Sarah! She is truly a miracle who has taken that miracle and used it well. What plans does Sarah have for life after high school?
Liz,
I had a much better week this week than last so I think I’m adjusting pretty well. After high school, she plans to go to our local community for college for two years and then will figure out what to do from there.
But does she has learning difficulties? I mean from all I can read she is doing so well at school 🙂 I know years back she had various of tests to dermertie that, but when I read how well she is doing I can’t help to feel those tests were wrong? 😀
Does she even have any side effects from treatments she had so many years ago? She really seems so heathly 🙂 Is her ‘cancer’ buddy – I no longer remember her well , they saw each other at Disney World or something also doing well? And are you going to Narnia (England) for her 18th? I remember years back that was something she wanted for her 18th..
I have been sticking around too long – but I feel like sticking around a bit more 😀
Trine,
Sarah does have some official modifications in place at school, mainly ones that give her extra time to take tests since she has a slower processing speed. The other side effect from her treatment is her hearing loss.
It does seem sometimes that all those old “gloom and doom” test results were wrong because she IS doing so well, even when it wasn’t predicted that she would.
Morgan Barnes, her old cancer buddy is still doing great!
Glad you’re going to keep sticking around! 🙂
Sarah, Congratulations. I am beyond proud of all you have achieved. What are you going to take at the community college? You will always be be little girl sitting in the floor in Smithfield at your birthday with all the many cards around you. Becky in NC
Becky,
I remember so well that picture of her sitting on the floor surrounded by cards. That was the year she relapsed and we honestly didn’t know at that point how many birthdays she would have left. Hard to believe we’re coming up on her 18th!
I had to jump in here on the shed a tear. I have been with the Smith’s ever since Sarah’s Caring Bridge started and you can bet Becky S. shed some tears of joy at the induction. God truly is good all the time. Becky S- glad you are feeling better. Becky P in Wendell, NC
Becky,
Yes, tears of joy were definitely shed! I’m feeling quite a bit better this week—thanks for asking!
Eleven years?!?!?! Unheard of in the NB world. I am so happy that Sarah is thriving and doing well. You are very blessed.. Congratulations to Sarah on this wonderful accomplishment!
Lisa,
Yes, eleven years is the next thing to an eternity with NB kids. Thank you for your sweet words.
This is a young woman who wasn’t supposed to make it, and now look at her! I hope Sarah is VERY proud of herself- cancer or not. She has a very bright future indeed.
Brooke,
We are so proud of her, especially since she’s had to work extra hard to make the grades she has. Can’t wait to see where life takes her!
Congratulations Suri!
Hope–thanks! You and Sarah will have to get together soon!
It’s perfect! The joy in small things that you capture, time and time again!
Anonymous,
There IS so much joy in small things, isn’t there?
So proud and happy for Sarah! She is a miracle indeed! Praying for you, dear friend! Love those Smiths!!!
Sheri, thanks for celebrating, thanks for praying! Looking forward to seeing you all in a few short weeks!
Congratulations, Sarah! You are amazing 🙂 And certainly one of the reasons why I go to work everyday.
Hope you feel better, Becky, Sending good vibes your way!
Renee,
Our family is grateful that you (and people like you) do jobs that save childrens’ lives. Thank you!
CONGRATULATIONS, SARAH!! I know you’ve worked hard to receive such an honor.
I thought it was pretty cool that your yellow bridesmaid’s dress seemed to be your school’s color, too.
Becky, sure am sorry that you have to deal with the dizzies… hope today is a better feeling day.
Mrs. Pam,
Yes, it WAS sort of cool that the famous bridesmaid dress fit in so well, color wise. And it seems to me that having “the dizzies” is more fun than being dizzy. I like the way you put it!
So beautiful! Every reason to be so proud!!!!
Michelle,
Proud, we are! And also a bit in shock that we are coming up on her senior year already!
Becky, she is just lovely. I think the picture of her and Steve with Steve’s chin on her head is one of my favorite shots of her ever. So delightful and gleeful, she has little dimples above her cheeks, love it.
Lesley,
We all loved that picture, too. Captures the two of them and their sweet relationship so perfectly.
Becky …was having a really bad day…this was my wake up call…Sunshine is around the corner for everyone.
Thanks for sharing your blog…and I am passing the Tissue box to anyone else that might be crying happy tears! God is Good
CeCe,
So sorry to hear about your bad day; so happy that you found a little bit of sunshine here.
Hugs!
Congratulations Sarah. You make us very proud of all you have overcome and accomplished, also for your strong convictions. (A special yehaw in teaching your Dad to skip for all kinds of occasions- anywhere, anytime.) How many were inducted?
Vernie,
There were 24 inducted; I think Sarah said it was the biggest NHS class ever. And yes, she and Steve and professional skippers!
Congratulations, Sarah! 🙂 What a great accomplishment! 🙂 I was inducted into NHS when I was a senior in high school! 🙂
Kristi,
NHS is a great organization; I’m sure you’ve got lots of good memories from your days as an NHS-er!
WHAT A MIRACLE! Hope you are feeling better!
Angela,
I am feeling MUCH better–thank you! And yes, Sarah continues every day to be a miracle.
This post makes me so happy (the part about living with a miracle, reading about how well Sarah is doing). She is an inspiration.
I am sorry to hear about the side effects, though. I hope you are feeling better today.
Jenna
Jenna,
Looking back at the photos I thought how appropriate it was that Sarah happened to wear yellow–her story brings sunshine to our hearts.
I love the photo where Sarah looks contemplative, and the guy next to her is sort of “blurred”. I’m no photographer –I’m sure that there is a better adjective than “blurred” to describe what I’m talking about. :). Sarah looks beautiful. Congratulations to you, Sarah, on all your hard work and your NHS induction. Becky, I’m so glad you were able to make it to the ceremony. I know very very well the woozy feeling you are describing. It’s awful …I’d rather have a migraine than to have the woozy feeling! There have been quite a few times I have rallied , feeling that way, to get to one of Kirby’s performances. I’m so happy for Sarah and her accomplishments. And I love that Sarah and her Dad skipped together 🙂 🙂
Kim,
“Blurred” sounds good to me! 🙂 I agree–there’s nothing quite like having a kid with a special event that will drag even the sickest moms out of bed!
Beautiful Sarah! I am so very proud of you. You are a bright, intelligent, inspiring woman!
Did you manage not to shed a tear, Becky? I hope you feel much better soon.
Are Sarah planning to go to college when she finishes high school?
Hi Trine! Thank you for your kind words.
I am planning on attending a community college here in Manteo for two years to earn my Associate degree. After that, I may or may not attend a four-year college, depending on where I’ll be headed as far as my career.
Trine,
I DID shed some tears–happy, happy tears.
Proud and sad and glad. So very proud of Sarah and her hard work and accomplishments. So sad that you have to experience these nasty side-effects. So glad for a father and daughter skipping down a school hall. Love you Smiths!
love deb
Deb,
And we love you Mantiks! Thanks for being proud, sad, and glad on our behalf.
Congratulations Sarah! So glad you were able to muster up the strenth to be able to go and photgraph Sarah’s great accomplishment! Love the father/daughter skipping too 🙂
Wendy,
Cameras and skipping seem to be part of our family’s DNA. 🙂
How amazing, Sarah will go far! I feel so lucky to have the honor of meeting her in person, along with her family many times! It’s amazing since we live on opposite coasts, and who would ever think I would have a friend retire in NC?
Cindy,
I know, isn’t it great that Chlorita ended up here? A perfect reason for you to be an honorary North Carolinian.
Wow. 11 years since diagnosis. Sarah – you are amazing, beautiful, talented, smart and caring. You will never regret skipping down the halls with your dad and holding his hand. Becky – you and Steve have raised an amazing person and she will do great things in life, some small and some big. The opportunities for her are endless.
Rachel, I agree completely with the fact that I’ll never regret skipping and holding my dad’s hand. The only problem with that particular situation was that skipping in a dress is not an easy endeavour. 🙂
Rachel,
Thanks so much for your sweet words–we can’t wait to see where Life will take Sarah!
So happy for Sarah and the miracle she is. Congratulations on an achievement many said was impossible, but God and Sarah knew otherwise, thank you very much!
Mary,
Well said.