Survivors Day

Dear Ravi,

Happy Sunday. Daddy and I went to church this morning. No one showed up to help him with the AV equipment, but he did figure out how to make the microphones work. Hopefully, next Sunday a mentor will step in, and he can learn to do both streaming services as well as sound. Anyway, it all worked out! As Joy often says, we are just learning together. After services we went to the chapel to visit you. It was nice and cool there down, but I am certain that you are elsewhere having adventures with Cousin Joyce.

Today is the day that celebrates cancer survivors. You never got to celebrate that. Oh my goodness! You, in proper cardinal form, just showed up outside my window! Hello, my love. Great to see you. Never once have I said that you lost your battle to cancer. You did not lose a battle at all; medicine simply failed you. Full stop. You stayed with us as long as you were able and then Jesus took you by the hand and guided you home. This does not mean that I do not deeply miss and grieve you, but it does mean that I know that you are in a better place.

I am two days out from my spinal fusion. It feels like I have been waiting for months (actually, it has only been one month) but time has dragged. Suddenly, the surgery is right in my face, and I am more nervous that I would like to admit. We check in to the hospital on June 9 at 9:10 am. Surgery starts at 11:10 am and should last 2.5 hours. I should be in the PACU for a couple of hours after that and then transferred to a room. I hope to go home sometime on Wednesday. Penny is going to sit with Daddy while he is in the waiting room. Robin is stopping by the house midday to let the dogs out and give them some love. A dear friend from church has started a meal train. We are well taken care of. Mostly, I just want to get the surgery over with and head into recovery.

Please keep an eye out for Laurie’s dog, Luka. He should be arriving in heaven sometime this week. He will be deeply missed on earth, but you and Rosie, Dave and Joyce, can make him feel welcome. Today in heaven, Prince is celebrating his birthday. In his honor, Daddy and I are playing lots of his music. I will be talking to Jenn in a few minutes. Her son, Zach, is not a cancer survivor, either. We belong to the mom’s club where no one wants to be a member. It’s kind of a sucky club. We would rather skip the membership and have our sons back.

Just a quiet day here, rain is moving in. I am preoccupied with thinking about surgery, but I wanted to reach out to you. Fly high and fly free, my son. Love you to the moon and back. Mom.