Well, Mia and I are back in the hospital today through Wednesday for her seventh round of chemo. This is getting about as old and stale as a VR cliche' or joke. One thing new to report is that she is making progress physically. Julie and I have noticed quite a difference in her physical strength and flexibility. My wife has this annoying tendency to baby Mia to the point that Grace and Hannah comment on it, but I suppose she has that right.
Julie and Mia have a trip to Mayo at the end of the month for an MRI and checkup with her whole team of surgeons, oncologists, and neurologists. Mia seems to get a littl pissy everytime we check in for these chemo rounds - but she's a pretty good girl and handles this stuff pretty well.
Anybody have any ideas about what I can buy this child as a reward for making it through this incredible ordeal? I'd love to just turn the clock back and give her back this last year, but that's not happening. This last year has been so surreal that it's hard to imagine it is winding down and we are going to make it through - and she can still have a normal life. She might not be a good canditate for athletics, but everything else should be attainable for her.
We've done a lot of soul searching this past year and have really been tested with our spirituality and with our character. There's no doubt in my mind that the 5 of us are better people today then we were a year ago. Last August when someone would tell me that God only gives you what you can handle, I would have felt like punching them. Today, I take that as a compliment, but I will admit that watching your child suffer is no way to test your character. It is brutal, and I have spent more time crying with deep reflection than ever in my life.
I really do want to thank all of you that encouraged me to keep my head and stay strong. This was a tough one to get through and really has been my biggest challenge in life to date.