Yesterday, Sarah called the doctor who did her colonoscopy report and got the good news: the biopsy came back normal!
Even though we had every hope that it would come back that way, we have been on the cancer road long enough to know that nasty surprises can crop up when least expected. We are very, very thankful. And better yet, Sarah won’t need another colonoscopy for three more years. (I’m sure she will be one of a very few 23-year olds who has three colonoscopies in her medical history.)
And just a brief word about my own health: Six week ago I got an injection into the joint of my most painful finger and that injection has worked miracles, taking my pain almost completely away. I used to break down in tears sometimes when working on the computer because the finger hurt so much. To say I am thrilled and thankful would be an understatement. Of course, the joints in several fingers are still swollen and mobility is an issue but having such a reduction in pain has made me quite the happy camper.
On the not-so-good news front, the blood work at my last infusion showed my platelet count had dropped from 133,000 to 82,000. (Normal is 150,000 to 450,000.) So . . . we’re keeping a watch on that.
But other than that, we’re all good—so very thankful for the health that we are blessed with!
I’ve been feeling a little nostalgic recently as students head back to school and the seasons start their inevitable turnings toward new chapters.
We’re about to have a teenage-less house for the first time in thirteen years and that’s making me feel inexorably and inescapably middle-aged. Also, Sarah starts her sophomore year of college on Monday which I still can’t quite wrap my mind around.
As I was thinking about her heading back into college life, my mind trolled back through the years to this post I wrote when Nathan was headed off to his first day of college nine hours away from our house.
I first posted this in 2007 when Nathan was only seventeen years old.
The night before we were to drive Nathan to college, he and I went out to run some last-minute errands. Although we didn’t talk about our upcoming goodbye, the air was still thick with the emotion of it.
After we’d finished everything up and had pulled back into the garage, I slammed the driver’s door and started making my way toward the door into the kitchen. As I came around the front of the van, I looked up and noticed that Nathan had gotten out and was just standing there between me and the door with his arms stretched out toward me and a dear, dear expression on his face.
Like metal to a magnet, I walked straight toward him; he wrapped those big old lanky arms around me and just let me cry, let me say my mama goodbye. We must have stood there together for at least a minute, completely silent, except for my weeping.
A couple of days later, when I hugged him good-bye in his dorm room, I realized our real good-bye had already taken place–in a garage dusted with memories, in a garage where my 17-year old man child had held out his arms and given me the chance to shed all the tears he knew were in my heart.
And as we embraced in that garage, I knew he was saying goodbyes of his own, not just to me but also to his childhood years. We both knew that the next time he came home, he would be eighteen years old, an adult, a college student—no longer a boy. A chapter was ending, a priceless snippet of time that would never be repeated, never be revisited. .
Such precious memories. Such a precious time. Such a precious son.
This was taken on the way to Florida for Nathan’s freshman year of college.
And one more thing before I close. Yesterday Nathan posted this photo on Facebook with the caption, “This is wealth and happiness.”
And the seasons move on . . .
Have prayed for you Becky and will continue to do so. What beautiful grandchildren you have. It’s hard when they live so far away, but with the technology we have, they can be seen in just a short period of time – if not in person, than via Skype. Hard to believe Sarah is almost 23. I should probably wish her a Happy Birthday now because I will probably forget. 23 on the 23rd? May the Lord continue to bless the whole family. You are all special!
Sharyn,
Thanks so much for the prayers!
As for Sarah, she is actually just turning 20. I mentioned the age 23 in the post because when she has her next colonoscopy (in 3 years) she will have had 3 colonoscopies by that age. (A little bit too much math in that paragraph for my taste.) 🙂
Glad to hear Sarah is “clean” & can wait THREE YEARS b/f doing this obnoxious test again! However, I’m finding your low platelet count concerning!!!!! Should you consider wearing a medical alert tag OR if you have an iPhone 5 or 6 take advantage of the Health App (already on the phone) to not only include your ICE contacts especially if your phone is in lock mode when you’re not using it & because it would give first responders important info in the event that something were to happen. YIKES CAN YOU SAY RUN ON SENTENCE??? I’m hopeful you’d never need it, but being proactive, as I know you know, is so important. PLEASE, Becky, take care of yourself!
**UGH, ignore the errors please! I’ve had less than 6 hours of sleep in 96 hours & it’s kicking my butt! I’ve tried any/all of the cognitive & behavioral tips I can think of & NOTHING (but tears)!
Love to the Smith Family,
Jodi
PS. Meghan, how are you feeling? When is you maternity leave over? The baby is beautiful. You & Nathan make gorgeous kiddos.
Jodi,
I do have an iPhone 5. I’ll have to look for that app. Thanks for your concern over the platelets.
I’m so sorry you haven’t been sleeping. SO very, very, VERY frustrating. I hope you can figure out what’s going on soon and get some rest.
And by the way, a very happy belated birthday to you. I was going to email you right on the day but it just sneaked right by me. Hope it was a good one! (Apart from the insomnia.)
so very thankful for Sarah’s good report and for your successful injection.
a little worried about your platelets being 1/2 of normal…… praying for you….
Mrs. Pam,
Thanks for the prayers. Hopefully my next blood count will show a rise; we’ll see!
Thanks for the nostalgic look-back post which brought on the tears again, just like it did the first time that you posted it!! I remember reading it and thinking about the fact that I would be going through the whole goodbye process in a few years whenever my son would be going off to college. Now here we are quite a few years later and my son has also graduated from college, started his first “Official” job, and moved even further away from me. People say that the “Empty Nest” is when they start college but for me, I always knew while he was in college, that home was always at OUR house. Now home for him is at his apartment. That is a fact that I am struggling with right now, which makes this mom have a very EMPTY feeling!
Happy for all the positive health news! And loved the “Wealth and Happiness” reminder!!
Donna,
Yes, that’s very true. The empty nest feeling doesn’t REALLY hit until they are completely settled in their own home and no longer come to the “home place” for summer break, Christmas, etc. That is definitely the end of an era–exciting, wonderful, and so very bittersweet!
I truly understand how you feel!
So thankful for Sarah’s good news. Glad your pain is better. Pictures are precious.
Ann,
Good news and lower pain–two pieces of happiness. Thanks for rejoicing with us!
Glad to hear the good news about Sarah and that your injection worked. Painful fingers are not fun!
Liz,
Yeah, you never really realize how much you use your fingers until they hurt all the while you’re using them! I’m glad this injection is helping me NOT think about them so much–happy, happy!
Thankful! Love to you all.
deb
Deb,
Thankful right along with you. And sending love right back to you!
What wonderful news about Sarah’s colonoscopy! Of course, she’s such a sensible young lady, I’m sure she studied hard for the test. (Sorry…my father’s old joke.)
I remember getting choked up when you originally posted about the Nathan’s garage hug, and I got choked up again this morning. Letting go of my sons is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but having adult sons is one of the best things of my life…now. (Although I’d go back to their childhood in a second if I could!) One of the nice things is that, even though they’re both in their 40s now (while I’m still 29), when they get together they’re both very kid-like again! I’m pretty sure you get the same with Sarah and Nathan.
The photo of Meagan, Noah and Madison, with Nathan’s comment, is so, so, so, so sweet. What a lucky man he is to “have it all” and to recognize that he does!
Jan,
I LOVE your father’s old joke! 🙂 You just gotta laugh about some things.
Yes, I do love to see my adult children revert to “childish ways” when they get together. Nathan will always be the teaser and Sarah, the tease-ee. (I’m pretty sure I just made that word up.)
And you’re right, having adult kids is one of the best things in life–besides, having them be little again. 🙂
So glad to hear Sarah’s good news!
I remember when Sarah’s cancer journey started and it is amazing to see what an awesome young woman she has grown to be. A teue blesssing! Children grow up so fast, it is so important to spend time and create memories with them! And, they do not need to be expensive moments. Time is the best thing you can spend on children!
Nathan has grown into such an awesome man. I loved his post. He certainly has a grip on what is truly important.
God bless you all!
Linda in Pittsburgh
Linda,
Yes, we’ve been on that cancer journey with Sarah a long time, haven’t we? So thankful to put that behind us and head into this new chapter. And yes, I loved Nathan’s post, too. He and Meagan have very little extra money but they sure to value the treasures they have in each other.
Wealth and happiness indeed!! What a beautiful family! 🙂
LeeAnne,
Nathan is as wealthy as Bill Gates in the things that count! I’m so glad he realizes that, and values it. He has such a sweet, sweet family.
amen
Becky,
Amen, indeed!