July 7, 2013 - "They Get It"

Nothing makes a daddy more proud than when he knows his kids “get it.” 

This is the last “overdue” update until Garrett has his biopsy on July 16.  I just wanted to let everyone know how the past few months have gone for our not-so-little-anymore warrior.  It’s been a summer so far of challenges on this journey, but the rewards have been great as well.

After Dinger finished his final treatments at home and in the hospital back at the beginning of June, we settled in to try and spend some time enjoying the summer.  His strength, weight and color all quickly recovered and his body had a chance to purge itself from the poisons that are unfortunately a necessity in the battle against T-cell lymphocytes.  The only thing that didn’t come back as quickly as we’d hoped was his conditioning and stamina.  Garrett tired more frequently, which we believe is a combination of the rejection, the medicines and just being a teenager.

The High Plains Little League, which has always stood behind Garrett in his battles, offered him a dispensation to allow him to try out for All-Stars, even though he missed the required number of regular season games.  This made Garrett pretty excited and he wanted to try.  But after only a couple of days of practice, he realized that he’s just not back 100% yet.  This was pretty disappointing, but I’m proud that he is taking it in stride as best he can.  He’s still supporting the All-Stars by going to the games and some practices to watch.

We haven’t been able to spend much time yet doing “summer” things yet because of our late start with Garrett's rejection and the priority of trying find a place to live.  We're finding it's a little tougher than we thought to start over.  The Church though, has been fantastic in allowing us to continue our rental agreement here, but we really want our own home again someday.  I've also been working a lot with the fires that have ravaged our area and an exceptionally high violent crime rate this year. Jessi was hoping for at least some more rodeoing, but her horse "Superman" got sick and so that quashed her plans for a few months, unfortunately.

 

Back to the opening sentence.  Last week we were in Denver for Garrett’s last check up and blood work prior to the biopsy, which we pray will come back perfect.  We spotted a woman down on the street and stopped to help.  Because it’s Denver and you never know what may have happened, I had the family stay with the car until I was sure it was not the result of a criminal event.  Then everyone jumped into action.  While I assessed the woman and helped stabilize her, Kathy relayed info to 9-1-1.  Meanwhile, my kids were fantastic.  Jessi provided shade from the blazing sun and Garrett ran back to the car.  He came back with his “mushabelly” horse.  It’s a squishy stuffed horse doll that was given to him after his last transplant by some very good friends.  He used it to hold against his chest when he had to cough.  It also plays a very soothing phfphfphfphf…like a horse making a contented breath.  Since then, he's carried it everywhere when we travel.  Garrett gave it to put under the woman’s head to protect her from the street, then he pushed the sound button to calm her.

When the ambulance came and took her to the hospital, Garrett sent the doll with her.  He told me that it helped him over the past few years, so maybe now it’ll help her.  That’s what I mean when I say that my kids “get it.”  It’s like the time when Jessi was wheeling Garrett around the hospital during his last rejection.  He was plugged  into IV’s and had a mask on to protect him from airborne germs.  The kids spotted a little boy wrapped up in bandages from head to toe!  They stopped and pleaded with me to “let us do something for him.” 

I am truly blessed to have such incredible kids who always want to pay it forward.  We may not own any property anymore, but we possess something so much more precious…love of each other and fellow man.

More after the biopsy.  Blessings to all.

(p.s. - please keep our friends the Jensen's in your prayers.  They lost everything but memories in the fire and are starting all over....like so many others)

JD