That’s a wrap
Summer 2023 is in the books. The first day of school was this past week and we are currently trying to figure out which way is up in the fall schedule vortex. I love how it all hits in the very first week in a rip-the-bandaid kind of way - school, team gymnastics, dance, baseball, karate. I’m not one for slow starts anyway.
This last month of summer was a blur…in the best way. As I mentioned last time, we started the month with a trip to Manteo and ended the month with a trip to Ocean Isle. In between, I am happy to report, we visited zero medical professionals. Lauren did exchange texts with Dr. Bolen, but only because Children’s National reached out and wanted to set up labs for his two-year anniversary on the RESOLVE trial.
Here are a few from the Manteo trip 👇
Left to right, top to bottom: lot of time on the beach at Nags Head; we took an early morning dolphin cruise for our excursion for the week - we saw a ton and very close; we did plenty of fishing in the sound - that’s Jennings with his sucker fish; smally bear with the beach vibes; wave bros; the kids on the steps - we have this picture from each one of our visits.
I’m realizing as I write this that we love to cram things together. We got back from Manteo and the big kids left for Camp Care two days later. That meant five nights with just the twinks and a whole lotta fun for Caroline & Jennings. Camp Care (Cancer Ain’t Really the End) is a local nonprofit that puts on a sleepaway camp for kids with cancer and their siblings. Last year was Caroline & Jennings’s first year going and they couldn’t wait to get back this year. It was western-themed this year. I don’t think J took is cowboy hat off all week.
Or his holster. Or got off his dino-pony. Or showered.
They had a week to rest up and recover from camp life, then we were off to OIB. It was the perfect way to end the summer. Just our family at our favorite beach with nothing to do but ride waves, swim in the ocean, stalk turtle nests, sit on the beach, bury each other in sand, hit the pier arcade, and see who could set the record for most Sunset Slushes consumed in one week.
We made it back and did the one-day turnaround before the first day of school. Whew!
I keep tabs on what day we’re at post-transplant in my journal. On Monday, the first day of school, Jennings hit Day +900. Praise the Lord for that milestone - that’s getting up there! Amazing to think it’s almost been two years since he got his RESOLVE cells in the clinical trial.
The fact that they wanted to do two-year labs caught us both off guard. Neither one of us remember that being part of the protocol. We were pretty sure everything stopped at one year. Truth be told, I’m not sure how many have made it two years post-infusion.
Another realization about just how long it’s been came the other day when I was thinking about how old Jennings was when he relapsed. He was younger than Henry is now - crazy.
These milestones and noting just how much time has passed has brought into focus all of our tremendous blessings. We’ve had friends walking through some intense suffering and grief and are reminded that tomorrow is not a promise. We have been acutely aware of that coming up on six years now, but it is true for everyone. There is freedom in that awareness though, I think. Freedom to look out on the beach at your whole family, together, playing, and take it all in as joy and blessing. It is a gift of God for today. And when tomorrow comes, no matter what it holds, you will have it to look back on and be reminded of God’s faithfulness and steadfast love.
“It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever;
and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures forever;
he who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.” Psalm 136:23-26
#allinforjennings