Well chemo round 8 has come and gone and Mia keeps plugging away. Julie and I have noticed a little change in her demeanor, like she knows this coming to an end. She's been happier lately. Poor little girl just wants her pretty blonde hair back. By the middle of September round 9 will be done and the road to her physical recovery begins.

Julie and I have kind of accepted that she probably won't get to be an athletic child. Her coordination is not there and she's weak. I plan to do a lot of work with her at the gym this coming winter, trying to strengthen her back and neck muscles. Problem is that mommy babies her too much and I'm not allowed to be a hard ass, not yet anyway. We're going to start taking her to piano lessons, so that will give her something to really enjoy.

Last year at this time, this family was torn in half; literally, as Julie and and I had Mia in Rochester for most of the summer and then all the radiation treatments. We're close to getting back to firing on all cylindars again - only now we have more clarity on what real goals should be placed on life.

I've struggled this last year about what's fair in life. Why do some folks have that easy path, while others have all these horrible detours. I think I've come to the conclusion that those with the detours are actually the lucky ones because those are detours to enlightenment instead of staying on the path of cluelessness.

Thank you all for your help. I really do have some good friends in here.

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Name one, I mean really, name just one...😄


Seriously, very good to hear that Mia is towards the end of this ordeal, even though this is also just the beginning as well.

For my two cents, even though you still have a long road to go, I salute both you, your wife and your daughters for how you have dealt with this.

As for how to best guide Mia in the near future, just another two cents....
Push her, but not too hard. Console her, but not too much.
You will have to find that fine balance in what is best for Mia, and that is easier said than done my friend (ya, I know..[palm] ).
There will be frustrations, but I have faith that you will prevail.

That's a brave, beautiful girl, there. She's lucky to have parents like the two of you...

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I think you are just the kind of father she needs in this situation. Too many children's lives are ruined by setbacks like this because their parents panic and baby them too much, so they never get a chance to become stronger. I really like the idea of you getting her in the gym to give her body the tools for the fight.

My mother had a scan yesterday to see how her body is reacting to her cancer treatment, but I haven't heard how it went.

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Here's Mia playing with the dog:

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Still giggling.. most excellent indeed.

The simple joys in life.

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Grown men DO NOT giggle..and a man of your size giggling, well, that is just plain disturbing.:-k


Excellent vid Troy..Mia and the dog...made my day!

However, as I was watching your daughter and the dog, I was thinking.....

...I'll bet that Mrs. DakotaT has DT trained just like that dog!
"Chase the bubbles DT, chase the little bubbles"[roflmao]

I guess I deserved that one.. since I failed to qualify whom was giggling.. lol.

Second pass.

She is still giggling.. 🖐

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