On a brighter note, the half marathon took place 2 weekends ago. I am so grateful to the team and all who donated. We could never thank you enough. It was great because Jasmine was super excited to be at the event. We had a great time and wished we could have been at Amanda's run too earlier this year. Not to mention, some of the other donations we got really came at perfect timing. We somehow let a bill slip through without having set up a some sort of payment plan. Thinking it was one we already started paying on, we didn't think anything of it. We got our first ever collection notice in the mail. The amount miraculously was the same as the total of other gifts and donations we received that weekend. It literally saved us. With that situation out of the way, we will never let that happen again. It was too close of a call.
We are also due to have extended school year services start over the summer. Jasmine will be receiving extra therapy other than speech. We have yet to get the details on that but are happy to hear it is on its way.
Jasmine's past treatment before the run went well. She was such a big girl. She didn't fuss or cry with anything related to her pre treatment, treatment or post. She even took her vitals sitting in the chair all by herself. We even got her to do a finger painting or two. She took her Ariel with her everywhere. The doll definitely needed to be thrown in the wash when we got home.
A couple of experiences have stood out to me over the last couple of weeks. The first is one of a little girl at Panera. When we got done in DC that last treatment, we stopped at Panera to eat. Of course some people turned to look at Jasmine which is something I expected. After we started eating, a girl about 8 or 9 came up to our table and asked if Jasmine would like a cookie. I asked Jasmine if she wanted it, but I already knew. She made her usual gesture to signify yes while keeping her eyes fixated on the cookie. I told the girl yes and thanked her so much. The girls actions took me by surprise and left me feeling grateful to some parents who took the time to explain things of this nature to their children. To the little girl at Panera, I thank you so very much. The second experience came from a girl who was about the same age. We stopped at McDonald's the day of the run to get Jasmine some lunch. While we waited for breakfast to end and lunch to start, Jasmine played in the play area. There Jasmine played at the end of the slide as she always does. She merely takes a couple of steps to climb at the start and comes back down or crawls the length of the end of the slide. She's never ventured past most those points to my or David's knowledge. There was this girl who came over and talk to us about the run and asked if Jasmine had cancer. I explained why we were there and yes she did. She asked me how old she was and told me about a special hour long show she saw about cancer. The show presented all the cancers and what special places the kids got to go to cheer them up. She told me her cousin said she wish she could shave her head and go to all those places. Her cousin, as she continued to tell me, was wrong in saying that and she explained to her how it was not right to do that. She asked me if Jasmine wanted to go up the slide and I explained that she didn't talk but thought she might like it. She played with Jasmine and asked her questions as if she were giving her answers. Jasmine followed her after a little hesitation. Somehow this little girl had actually convinced Jasmine to climb up the slide. She tried so many times it was as if she was determined to go this way. When a much younger girl came in to play this route, Jasmine was excited and tried to grab her hand to join in. The little girl retracted and backed away. Jasmine tried several times smiling with excitement but she proceeded to back away. I explained to Jasmine that she didn't want to play. Jasmine's new friend tried to snatch her attention back to climbing up with no success. After a while I suggested that maybe they tried the start and work over to the slide. I really didn't think she would go past her normal set point. Her friend just came back into play and coaxed her to enter. I encouraged her to keep going as she looked at me for some sort of approval. Before I knew it, Jasmine was gone and out of site. She was in the tubes somewhere. AMAZING! I was both excited and nervous. What if she didn't come back out? I couldn't go up there and fetch her. Who could if she got upset? Maybe this was a bad idea? Before long, I could see her through a Plexiglas window at a steering wheel. The girl was still there talking to her. Now Jasmine refused to leave this part. She was fixated on the steering wheel. I waved at her and told her food was ready. She would normally be excited by this but she was more excited about what she was doing. The little girl was patient with her and stayed. I kept thinking if this little girl's mom calls her to go, we are in trouble. I tried to talk to Jasmine from below the box and told her to come down. She did after a long while. The girl coaxed her once again. This little girl was a perfect angel. I told her Jasmine has never done that ever. I thanked her so much for staying with her and playing with her. To the little girl, who's name escapes me, thank you so very much for having a big impact on Jasmine and us. This was such a big breakthrough. The third event is something completely different. I find it hard to accept help from others and always have. It's a pride thing that I'm slowly working out. This experience has been humbling in so many ways. But when we were told we had a check coming to us from someone who is also going through treatment, I felt bad. I was touched and felt sorry for them. I couldn't believe someone was going through or soon to be going through the same financial hardships would give us something. I thought so much of the gesture and thought what a great heart this person must have. Still I feel bad for even accepting it when I know I can do nothing to thank them. It was so heavy on my mind that moment and out of no where Jasmine comes up to me. I see the biggest Kool-aid smile and she has opened up my New Testament bible from my first communion. She's holding it out to me with the pages of II Corinthians 8,9 flat out. She kind of demanded me take it by shaking it in front me, all the while still smiling. I take it and she walks away as if her mission was done. I read it. I haven't read the bible in ages. It talked about generous giving. I don't know what to say other than I think God was trying to talk to us at that moment. I don't want to misinterpret it but I found it ironic that the topic I read about was heavy on my mind at that very moment. Overall, I have to say all the above has been mind blowing in such a positive light. Its like everything I've been waiting for is here at the finish.
The light is at the end of the tunnel. After Memorial day , we go in for our last treatment. I can't believe how much time has past. What happens from here is just scans and 3 month follow up. Eventually, we will have to go in to remove her port as well. We pray and hope that her future scans come up negative. That is all we can do. For now, we will just enjoy the long weekend and relax before this last treatment.
