Osteosarcoma Awareness

Dear Ravi,

Remember when I told you about running the Brave Like Gabe 5km, and how this year I was going to walk it virtually? Well, yesterday was the day. June 27 was Gabe’s birthday, and she wanted a race in her memory. As I was 18 days out from surgery, I did not know if I could participate in the actual run, but I signed up, donated money to osteosarcoma and rare cancer research, got my shirt and number and was ready to go! You dad and I walked about 5 miles yesterday and 3.1 of those miles were for you and Gabe. I heard that the race raised over $40,000 for rare cancer research. This makes me very happy!

I was very tired after our walk, but it was a good tired. I am glad we got the miles in yesterday because right now we are under a heat dome. It is about 84 F outside but feels like 94 F. This is an excellent day for daddy and I to finally break down and put in the window AC. The dogs keep asking to go out and then they turn around and come right back in. Nikki has not even tried to make a dash for it. Catherine the hedgehog is in full sploot mode in her habitat.

On Saturday we met up at the airfield with Tom, Penny, and River. Daddy took them all for rides and everyone had a great time. I did not go up as I still have my neck brace for another 4 weeks. I am looking forward to getting it off. Once I am free, I will be able to drive again, get a haircut, go up in a glider, and be able to sleep more comfortably. I am not complaining because you never complained. The brace is doing its job and protecting my cervical spine while it fuses. It will be nice to get some independence back!

The cherries on your tree are fully ripe and ready to be picked. That is my next task for the day. My original plan was to make a cherry pie for Daniel and Robin, but I don’t know if I have enough cherries to do that. I will ask Daddy what sort of tasty treat we can turn these cherries into. Your crab apple tree is also doing really nicely, but I don’t think the crab apples are ready to harvest. I think that will be an adventure for August.

June is such a bittersweet month now that you and Mercury are gone. It used to be my favorite month of the year. Now, it is a time of remembrance and grief. If I could bring you back, completely healthy and happy, I would do it in a heartbeat; but your body is no longer in this world. You fought so hard and now you deserve eternal happiness and freedom. No more chemo, no more seizures, no more pain or fear. I know that you are flying free with Cousin Joyce and a myriad of other good souls. July is sarcoma awareness month, and I am going to use my platform to raise funds for the Osteosarcoma Institute. The therapies used to fight this disease are over 40 years old and they don’t really work. We can do better. Science can do better. As Paul Wellstone said, “We all do better when we all do better.”

I am about to go out and put some water out for the birds and pick the cherries from your tree. I am quite open to divine inspiration as to what to do with them. Fly free my son and know that my love for you and for Mercury will never die. Mom.