Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Star for a day... Day 189 20MAY09

Joshua was a little tired this morning but he got up early to got do the Morning Show at his school. The morning show is on all the televisions in the classrooms and this month they are raising money for Pennies for Patients a project of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The school had asked if Joshua would come and talk about having childhood leukemia. They even did a special presentation for our little angel Rylee. Joshua and Rylee received special presents from the school. He had a great time and got to visit with all of his classmates afterwards. He sat at the front of the class and answered questions about having cancer. It was a lot of fun and Josh was glad for the chance to see all of his friends that he has been missing.


Joshua came home and finished up the really cool LEGO he got yesterday. It amazes me how fast he and Jarrod can build these things. They really do enjoy it.


After a little rest and a quick bite of lunch it was off to the clinic for chemo. On the way there Joshua, Renee, and Jarrod stopped by the Children's Cancer Center to drop off a lovely bag of gifts from the Ladies Auxiliary VFW Post 6287 in Ruskin. Josh gave it to Ms. Nicki who gratefully accepted it. I know they will put it to good use.


Chemo went smoothly however Joshua's ANC has dropped to 235. That is a big slide from over 3500 last week. Just when we thought he was going to stay up on the hill for awhile. His batteries have been dying ever since. He was rather fussy all evening and he really doesn't feel good. We are on high germ alert for now and will be keeping Joshua sequestered for a while. We are hoping against hope that he can weather the drop and not run a fever. We have been home for quite a while this time and we would like to keep it that way. The Doxorubicin has once again wonked out his sense of smell. He had a hard time finding something to eat where the smell didn't bother him. He spent most of the evening cuddled up with Renee, a sure sign that he is feeling his worst. I hope he can get a good nights rest and be stronger in the morning.





A year ago today I found something precious that I had lost 43 years ago. It was something so special that I could never put it out of my mind. When I found it I had all but given up hope of ever recovering it. I had looked in all the logical places. I had scoured the unlikely ones, and also the completely illogical. But it was of no avail. Finally through several twists of fate that I had nothing to do with my lost item was returned to me against all odds. Since that day not a moment has passed that I am not truly thankful for this treasure.

What was this precious object you might ask. What could possibly be so important that you would search for it even after four decades had passed?

It was my birth mother. The woman who gave me that most cherished off all gifts, life.

We were separated right after I was brought into this cold world. Separated by circumstance and an ignorant society.

But we are re-united!

In the years between our two meetings many things has transpired. I was fortunate enough to have the love and care of two people who are still with me today, my parents. I was formed and nurtured both by their love as well as the indelible imprint left in me from my mother.

I have two mothers, and for that I am doubly blessed. For I have known the unwavering love of both.

I remember this day a year ago as I paced nervously on the deck waiting for the phone to ring. Waiting to hear her voice for the second time. Not able to remember the first. Millions of questions whizzing through my mind.

It rang,
we talked,
it was perfect.

Since that day we have only grown closer, now we can talk all the time. We have many steps left to fill in the blanks of the last four decades, but we are walking forward together, never to be separated again.

I love you mom.


6 comments:

Jamie(Sister) said...

Thats is soo cool Joshua!! I bet you enjoyed seeing your friends that you havent been able to see in a long time and i know it was interesting to answer thier questions about you and all what you are going through. =) You are such an amazing person Joshua. You are so strong and you are taking what is happening to your little body and turning into something that helps kids your age understand and you inspire so many peolpe love bug!! Thats why you are a true Warrior! I love you =)
I love the lego set i cant wait for you to show it to me when we come over Sunday. Another speed bump in the long road Joshy.=( I hope you feel better soon Joshy.
Lee i hope we get to meet Grandma Linda again soon the first time wasnt the best time. =(

XOXO LOVE JAMIE BELLA AND CHRISTIAN

Nonna said...

Hey Snuggle Monkey,

You look right at home at the head of the class! What a really cool thing for you to do. Hope you had fun. Perhaps your Dad's teaching genes ar lurking inside you. After all, you are teaching all of us quite a number of profound lessons these days!

I hope the chemo doesn't wipe you out completely and you can continue having better days - and all of them at home.

Hang tough mighty warrior. You have the power to conquer.

Tons of Love, Hugs and Kisses,

Nonna

Nonna said...

My Sweet Lee,

Before I laid tearful eyes on you for the first time, I loved you. And then they took you away. And I waited and wondered.

And then Eric arrived. He got the love of two. As I watched him grow, I thought of you. Were you happy, were you loved, were you walking, talking? How was first grade, did you have a gilfriend, did you like school, where are you?

And I waited and wondered. When I shared your story with Eric we both wondered and waited. Where is my brother, what does he look like, is he happy?

And now we know. We know what you look like, we know where you are and we are learning who you are. I now know how it feels to touch your arm, give you a hug, kiss your cheek. And I delight in the sound of your voice.

So many stories to tell, so many memories to create, so much to look forward to. And we will do it together.

I love you sweetheart - more than I can ever express in words.

Mom

Mrs. Lewis said...

Big man on campus, you go boy! Since we have dinner every Wed. at my mom's house, Talon was very excited to tell my boys about YOU being on the morning show. Talon got his booster shot and his little sis got 4 shots yesterday at their well visits. When I told him about your bravery beads, he was amazed, having just received only 1 shot that day. He is very impressed with your bravey, just like the rest of us!!! Stay strong and I'll see ya in a few!
:)
Ms. Lydia

Laura and Frank said...

Josh it must have been a great time seeing all your friends and being interviewed! You have shown all of us an amazing amount of courage and faith. Knowing the warrior you are and will continue to be I know you will also teach a lot of people how they can help in the fight against this nasty cancer.

Lee, it's so heart warming to hear your story of being reunited with your birth mother. Your family is truly blessed.

Love, Laura & Frank

Scarlett said...

Hi Joshua,

I meant to send you a message last week, but am just now getting around to it. Hayden was so so excited to see you at school last week!!! It was all he could talk about when I picked him up that day. I think all the kids loved having you visit, and will be looking forward to your return to school full time. Hang in there. You're doing great, and that day will come before you know it! You are still in our prayers every day.

Take care,
Scarlett Truong (Hayden's mom)