Too Little, Too Late

Last night, after I finished entering in all the cash online and had made my final calculations, I was so excited to announce that our event raised a grand total of $112,793. Feeling satisfied and proud, I was eager to share. When I read the news of Rebecca Meyer’s latest MRI. And it wasn’t good. […]

Beauty

A couple of times on Sunday, I referred to people’s inner beauty, as in, “These girls are showing us what it means to be beautiful on the inside,” implying, of course, that they were no longer beautiful on the outside. But I was all wrong. They are indeed beautiful on the outside. I just needed my […]

Force of Nature

Over the past week, I’ve been called an inspiration, a powerhouse and — my personal fave — a force of nature. While that all makes me feel really, really good, this is not a one-woman-show, people. There is an army of volunteers who stand behind me and beside me without whom our event could never […]

Beyond

I am beyond exhausted so this will be the short one. But I am also beyond thrilled and beyond touched and beyond awed by what I saw today. The incredible outpouring of support and love, friendship and bravery, kindness and generosity left me breathless. I am so honored to have been able to bring this […]

Moved

In four more days, I will be surrounded by bald heads. In fact, many of you reading this will be surrounded by bald heads. In addition to the 160 registered participants at my event this Sunday (you read that right: 160 participants!), another 114 students will shave at University School on Friday (and yes, as […]

An Ordinary Wish

My, what a difference four years can make. Last night was the fabulous Fairfax Cabaret, an every other year talent show that takes place on the high school stage. There’s a full stage crew, spotlights, headset microphones and all the accoutrements of a professional production. And it is so much fun, with everything from piano […]

On Legos and Ninjas

This one is for Justin. Justin Miller was one of the five 2012 St Baldrick’s Ambassador Kids, alongside our own Austin, and I felt a bit like I knew him. He’s a few months older than Braedan, could be his classmate if he lived nearby. He was diagnosed young, at age 3, with a neuroblastoma […]

Joy in Unlikely Places

Last Friday afternoon, following our long day of doctors’ appointments, I posted a no-explanations-needed Facebook status that simply said, “Three-and-a-half years.” I know it didn’t need any explanation because I immediately got numerous likes and congratulatory comments. This is all wonderful and we are pretty happy with the fact that Austin is indeed three-and-a-half years […]

Identity

Today is World Diabetes Day. I’m not quite sure what that means and I wouldn’t have known it even existed if it weren’t for my Facebook group of friends with type 1. I’ve only ever met one of these “friends,” the older sister of a forever friend and one of only two people with diabetes […]

Good Standing

Austin had an abdominal ultrasound at Rainbow yesterday, part of our we’ll-pay-anything-to-have-him-scanned-by-the-one-doctor-who-knows-what-his-crazy-kidney-looks-like and his first of five tests in the coming week. Next Friday, he’ll go to the Clinic for an ECHO, EKG, chest CT and labwork plus a physical with his new oncologist. Unfortunately, I scheduled those appointments long before I knew the boys […]