Hair, there, everywhere

I didn't much notice when I lost my hair because of chemo. My cancer was caught when I was just 18 months old. I had hair. Mom was putting it in little bows and silly pig tails. Then cancer came and chemo came and a month into treatment tiny little pieces of hair were found on my crib sheets, then my shoulders. Eventually it got patchy because my mom washed my hair every day. The stuff on the top of my head stayed in for a long time and I was sporting a mohawk for a while, until one of grandma's friends thought a) I was a boy and b) my parents allowed me to have a Mohawk... Dad used to wear a high and tight... Mohawk isn't even a word we use in our house. Ha! Yes, That was the end of that! Out came the electric razor and it was gone. Then there was just this cute fuzz. Then the chemo got stronger and I lost all of my hair. Skin only up there. But, I didn't mind. It was winter and everyone was wearing hats. Plus, I stayed inside most of the time so I could go bareheaded most days, which was good because, to tell you the truth, I'm not too big on hats. I'll wear them, but I'll take them off like I take off my socks... Almost immediately...

But, if I were a school-ager, or a grown-up, I bet I'd miss my hair. I bet every time I looked in the mirror I'd see the cancer staring right back at me. It can't be easy for grown ups and kids who just wanna be like other kids.

Mom says if you stare at the mirror too long, you lose focus of what's really important. Dad says the same stuff. Life is not all about you. We're here to help others through this thing called life. To take the challenges we're given and learn from them so that eventually we can help others. And, in reaching out to help others, we realize we are not alone, like we are when we look in that mirror.

Sorry, I'm just waxing philosophically this morning... Hard to believe because I'm only two and a half, right!?! But there's a lot going on in my little noggin. A lot I can't say just yet, because my speech is delayed. But I'm in here and I'm helping my mom get through her challenges by cracking my silly smile, singing my songs, playing my horn and posing with her for her blood drive photo...

Yep! That's finally just around the corner. Mom is turning the big 40 in a few weeks and she's hosting a blood drive to try to collect 40 bags of blood for the Blood Center of Wisconsin. We've had a great response and I hope all of you can come too. I have a feeling it's my shiny bald head that's helping bring in the donors.

Again, that's what it's all about, helping others. I like what Martin Luther King, Jr. said. "Life's most persistent and urgent question is 'what are you doing for others?'" Focusing on others helps to take the focus off of me and the challenges I'm facing. I hope you can come out to the blood drive. June 4. I wish I could say I'll see you there, but my chemo changes on May 29, and I'll probably still be under house arrest for a just few more weeks.

Have a great day! And wink at yourself in the mirror this morning for me!!






























































































Check it out: HAIR!!!!

Headed back in

We are headed back in to the hospital tomorrow for the end of this phase of cancer treatment. One more monster dose of chemo before Katherine gets a little break. She's been doing great so far though. No mouth sores. Some sleepless nights, but her hair is coming back in and we are hoping that with that we are heralding an even more normal lifestyle! So, if you see us out and about, give us a wave and a big smile. No big snuggles or kisses or cheek pinches yet until we are all the way out of the woods though... And we'll keep doing our part of bathing in hand sanitizer and taking off our shoes at the door!

Here's what Katherine had been up to this past month.



At her Flashes of Hope photo shoot.






With her new apron from Gran and Grandpa.




With Uncle Albert




On her trampoline that her physical therapist wants us to use.




Someone got into trouble for making a mess.




Cowgirl time!





Playing with Baby.












Sticker time! Want to play?





These are shoes hand painted by Peach's Neet Feet. They give shoes to kids with special needs and diseases. They were made especially for our little warrior.


























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