UPS with the Arrival

"I've been practicing my signature," Hannah had been given the task of improving her signature a bit in order to prep for the up coming book signings. Up to this point, print was the top method of signing something. "Do I have to sit behind a table the entire time?" Spoken like a true teenager.

"Yes, you do," I didn't want to sugarcoat anything for her. "This book may have been written by me, but it's about your journey through treatment. People are going to want to see and speak to you more than they will me."

Pre-release books were not suppose to be arriving on our doorstep until the 7th of August. "Dave! You need to get down here!" Kim had been working outside in the yard. My first thought was that I had sprayed a precious plant with crabgrass killer - oops. As I got up to look out the up stairs window to identify my level of incompetence, I noticed a UPS truck backing into the driveway.

I made my way downstairs and heard further, "It's the BOOKS! They're HERE!" All I could think of was,... this can't be, they weren't suppose to be here for a another week,...and a day.

After off loading a number of boxes, "What's the title?" the driver inquired.

"Time Out," I told him.
"Time Out? That's it?"
"No. My mind just went blank with all these boxes sitting before me,.. hold on, I'll get the rest in a second," I glanced at Kim and gave her the 'help me' look - being high school sweethearts, she knew the look well as I used it in many classes we had together.

"A Family's Journey,.." she began the bailout.
"Oh yeah, I got it : A Family's Journey of Faith and Hope through Childhood Cancer," I turned and told the driver.

With that he had all the information he needed to look for the book release in October. But who wants to wait for October? "Have you heard of Mammina's or The Livery?" as if I need to ask a driver for UPS if he knew of business locations in our area.

"Yeah, I know where they are at," he replied.
"Well, check out the Herald Palladium. There's a story being done soon and we're having pre-release signings then," I think I gave him information overload because he was looking for the quick and easy.

"Will they be at the bookstores in town?" he posed his last question before driving on.
"Yes they will," I bid my fair well to him and off the big brown truck went.

As we stood there looking at the number of boxes that engulfed the only exit in the garage that I have for my Harley, "Well,.. let's start hauling them inside."

Bring the Support

"I had no idea how many there were," Kim had just hung up the phone from speaking with a parent who had lost her son to cancer. "It was ten months from diagnosis to the time he passed," Kim wore a look that said 'enough is enough' without saying any more to me.

"There's a lot?" I heard myself ask the question, but I guess I knew all along that there were more children in our area alone who have been diagnosed with cancer. It's a bit strange to find out there are more out there, because when you're going through it, you never hear about the others. Partly because you're so engrossed in your own crisis state, and partly because your just engrossed with the thought of 'this can't be happening'. It's that surreal state that holds you paralyzed and numb to what's around you.

"There's enough to have a support group. In fact there's more being diagnosed according to our pediatrician," her eyes glistened with that look that said 'something would happen here'. Having experienced the support of other cancer families at the Ronald McDonald House through the Brighter Tomorrows group, we were fortunate to have a connection to talk things through, vent, and cry when we needed. To hear someone express that they knew what you were going through without having to explain it,... worth a thousand words.

Hannah walked in on the conversation and Kim immediately broke with what she was telling me to inform Hannah, "We're forming a support group." It was one of those moments where you just except it. Kind of like having someone tell you that they're going to put peanut butter on your jelly sandwich - that sounds about right.

"So, where do we go from here?" I was expecting a business plan to materialize, but I got what I guess I should have planned for:

"We contact people, we open our home, and we talk,... a lot," having been through the Brighter Tomorrow's meetings, Kim had an idea of where to go (I did too for that matter). The thing the BT group has on us was two major group's support: The Mayo Clinic doctors and the Ronald McDonald House. Somehow, I think we're going to be alright because we're doing the right thing and the needed thing.

"Sounds like a good plan," I said.

If anyone knows of a family who has gone through or is going through childhood cancer,... send them our way - we're ready to heal, ready to deal, and ready to let them know, "We know what you're going through and we will be willing to help in any way."

Creating a New

Ever try to do without before?

Let me rephrase,... ever try to do without a body part before? I know a good friend of mine who often claims he's only 10% utilized, but that's for another day (perhaps another blogsite). Hannah's new and improved hand doesn't seem so 'new' or 'improved' lately.

With her latest surgery this summer to release muscle and tendons from the bone (rendering them useless), in order to straighten her wrist, she has been left with only one hand and one arm in which to function. Maybe it was just a matter of time, but Hannah finally broke down over a ketchup packet. It was a minor dilemma, but a dilemma none the less.

"I don't like to feel helpless," Hannah tried to choke back her tears.
"You're not help-less. You have plenty of help around you and you need to let us be there for you. Even for what seems to be the small stuff," Kim has a way of explaining things better than I could.
Working with one arm for a year will be a whole different journey, but Hannah knows that it's a temporary one (which is the real miracle here).

In the meantime, we have a book release to prepare for!

The actually release date will not be until October 20, 2009. The pre-release sales begin on August 15. We are currently looking at various venues in which to hold book signings and gatherings. I will post more information as the date draws near. Those living out of the area and wanting to get there hands on the book can always drop me an email and we can see about shipping one,... or a dozen out to you!

Foto Friday

Joe works at removing the cast and NOT pulling the pin out.


The pin before removal - it's actually sticking in a bone.

Dr. Shin dropped by the cast room to give some tender care to Hannah before the pin was YANKED OUT!

After Dr. Shin was done having fun with Hannah, Jim came in and did the removal. Everything went smoothly (with minor pain on my end).

Kim, our hand therapist, works with Hannah on scar massage.

It's Just "16"

"Things look great," those three words from Dr. Laack were all we needed.

Today was a two-fer day. We're crashing at the Hucke's on this trip (getting in yesterday, with doctor appointments first thing in the morning). Come to find out, Danielle was scheduled for her scans as well. It was nice to have both girls and parents together the night before scans because everyone is just on the same page with thoughts, "I said a prayer for both Danielle and Hannah," Steve mentions as we got ready to hit the air mattress last night. "Me too," I replied.

As we wrapped up Hannah's MRI visit, we had about an hour to wait before meeting with Dr. Laack. "Dawn and Danielle should be meeting with Dr. Arndt right now on 16 (that's what we refer to the pediatric oncology department because it's on the 16th floor of the Mayo Clinic). Let's head that way and meet up with them," Kim was already on the move towards the bank of elevators.

As we got to 16 I decided to hang back and wait it out in quiet. The last time I entered the pediatric area, it was kid central. I just wasn't up to the commotion. No, I would have rathered just sat quietly and read from my book, Hell's Angel, which gave me a glimpse of the hardcore biker life. I also figured that a pediatric waiting room wouldn't be the proper place for such a book cover.

The phone began to ring in my pocket about 5 minutes after Kim and Hannah made their way to the waiting area, "cl_____ _ a____!"

"What? I can't hear you. Hello?????" I raised my voice like most do in an attempt to make my phone work better.

"___ea__ s____!" came the broken voice again.

"Okay,...I still didn't get that but if you can hear me, I'm moving closer to the window," I was now talking louder AND slower.

Finally I heard the message, "Clea_ sca_s!"
I stepped on top of the vent that lay at the foot of the window, "Dawn?"

"Clear scans!" she repeated.
"That's great! Where are you?" I was assuming that because Kim and Hannah had been down the hall for a bit, that they would have already seen Dawn and Danielle.

"We're on 16, and in a room," Dawn was now coming in more clearly. Must have been my last move to heighten my stature.
"We're on 16 as well. In fact, Kim and Hannah are down in the waiting room," with the last ounce of energy I had to remain balanced I said my goodbye and went back to my novel of motor oil, hard riding, and patches.

Kim and Hannah eventually made their way back to me and we were off to see Dr. Laack for our results. Two girls, two excellent results - one night to celebrate before heading back to Michigan in the morning.

Foto Friday

One of my favorite moments in a match is when the players forget the score.

Alex - partnering with Sam and readying themselves for another run at STATE!

USTA Tennis - Service!

WAM Cookie

"We've been on many visits to wish kid homes, but this has to be the first visit we've had to our home," Harry greeted us at the door with his familiar smile. It's been over six months, but I finally finished the all-encompassing DVD of Hannah and our family's Make A Wish trip to Give Kids the World and all the theme parks imaginable. As I finished the final burn, Kim took no time in announcing throughout the house, "We're going to Harry and Sharon's!"

Harry and Sharon are the two nicest people you would hope to never have pay you a visit (because that would mean that they were there for Make A Wish). However, meeting them in a different capacity is all together fine. While they train with 40-60 mile bike rides, I find walking down the steps on most mornings a bit slow. Harry and Sharon participate in WAM: Affectionately known by riders and volunteers as WAM, the Wish-A-Mile 300 is a three-day, 300-mile bicycle ride from Traverse City to Chelsea, Michigan to raise funds and awareness for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan. We wish them the best of luck and the cushiest of seats.


Changing gears a bit. From the fitness test of WAM we shift to the sugary sweets of South State Street and Hannah's Cookies for Cancer Kids. "I'm ready to get started," Hannah's been informing us (by us, I refer to the baker, Kim). With her surgery behind us and one more visit to Mayo in July, she's hoping to sell some lemonade and cookies for the kids undergoing cancer treatments at Bronson. With our visit to Mayo in less than a week, I believe Hannah will begin her corner lot stand over the Venetian Festival weekend.



In other related news: Max turned 9! Kim and I survived the Boy Party Sleepover!!

I Live Another Day

You see, the trick to a good haircut for a 'soon to be' nine year old boy is that the hair must look as if it hasn't been cut - oh, but it has though.

You would have thought we were printing money in order to buy another American Girl Doll by the way Hannah was trying to get into the bathroom to watch the de-hairing. She even was so thoughtful as to bring her own scissors along for the chopping.

After kicking big sister out and locking the door, Max and I got down to business. I would snip and he would say, "Are ya done?"

"Not exactly," I explained that being my first time as the cutter, I would need a little time in order to meet mom's approval. I kept picturing the many hair mags that lay around the shops; I knew I had to use a comb at some point (because all good hair stylists hold a comb in one hand and scissors in the other); I also knew I needed to develop a dialogue with my new client, "So,...new in town? I haven't seen you in my barber shop before."


All in all, I live another day and Max was totally happy with the cut (which appears as if I didn't cut it at all).