It's hard to believe it's been a year since our All-Star Angel lost his battle with Leukemia. Not a single day or even hour goes by without a memory or thought of Cal popping into our heads. It's not any easier to deal with and it will never be easy but what gets us through each day is realizing there is nothing we can do about it except learn to live with and make the most of a terrible tragedy. Cal was a great athlete and awesome all-around kid who was just turning into a young man when the Lord decided he needed him more than we need him - he will be forever missed by more people than we will ever know and can probably comprehend.

Before school this morning, Cal's brothers, sisters, Stacey and I were out at his ball field at Concord Park in South Elgin. We tied balloons representing his favorite things to the scoreboard - Sponge Bob, Yu Gi Oh, White Sox, Stars and a special heart from Lexie then said a little prayer before releasing ballons with notes we all wrote to him attached. The kids loved it especially since they were able to go in late to school!

On the positive side of things, the Foundation (www.calsangels.org) just granted its first wish to Paige Stibgen (Caring Bridge site: paigestibgen) an eleven year girl from South Elgin battling the same form of Leukemia as Cal (AML - Acute Myelogenous Leukemia). Her wish was to go to the circus and Sea World while visiting relatives in San Diego. The Foundation was able to arrange great seats for Paige, her mom, brother, aunt, uncle and cousins at the Barnum & Bailey's Circus as well as an event filled day at Sea World including a behind the scenes Penguin tour, dolphin interaction, dining with Shamu and a one on one experience with Shamu and the trainers.

Even though it was for one short day, it was absolutely fulfilling and quite an awesome feeling to be able to take this little girl's and her family's minds off of the doctors, the hospitals, the blood labs and the Leukemia and spend much needed quality time together doing something that most only dream of being able to do.

We have already begun working on a second wish for a little girl from Elgin who is also battling AML. She is getting ready for her stem cell transplant sometime in the next month so we may not be able to grant her wish until after transplant. You can follow her at Caring Bridge site taylorbaum.

Thank you to every one of you that has been there with us along the way including the creation of Cal's Foundation. Leukemia is an ugly, horrible illness and what these kids go through can be compared to nothing less than war. Through Cal's memory and with the help of those that either knew him or of him, we will continue to be there for as many of these kids and their families as possible!!!!!