Marc’s 14th Birthday was October 2nd.
Happy Birthday Marc!
Marc Sr. and I took the day off – we didn’t think we would be up to doing much other than thinking and celebrating the time we had with our MJ. I made MJ a bouquet of flowers, so after going to breakfast Marc and I took the flowers. Then, once Mikayla got off from school that day, we took her to go with us so we could all release some balloons at his site and say a prayer for our MJ. All-in-all it was an ok day…
I guess I find myself getting through my days now and finding solace in the words a friend told me – after she heard about Marc’s diagnosis. She told me “… in death there is no time” – so I hold on to those words tightly and use them to get myself through my daily life. I imagine Marc in his room playing his video games and once I pass away I will suddenly be placed in my kitchen calling to Marc “… it’s almost time to eat, start getting ready” and he will come down and not even notice the time that has passed, and he will not even know how much I missed him (because I never want him to know a time when I was not there with him) and he will just say “ok, mom – where is dad and Katie” and I will say “they will be here by the time dinner is finished” – and by the time dinner is ready, all of us will be together again and have done what we were called to do on earth, and we will be eating one of my large meat and potato dinners that I love to cook because my family loves to eat… so that’s how I get through my days… oh, I then, of course, I will have to ask Mikayla “where are my grandkids” and she says “they’ll be here shortly, mom”.
But today, Mikayla has been keeping us busy – but what’s new. She is our social life – but we love it. Fall soccer is back in full swing and Mikayla is in a more competitive league this year-- which we are finding more demanding on time and travel. We don’t travel far - just to the neighboring cities so I can’t complain too much and the girls and the parents on the team all get along so well that it's fun to just hang out, watch the girls, and enjoy their company. As I watch Mikayla playing, it’s hard for me not to think of how proud her brother would be of her – as I know he is… Marc and I are also very proud of her. She is such a good person, with a big heart and a great sense of humor. Her teachers even enjoy her personality and, every once in a while, she will share stories with us of things Mikayla has done in class that made her laugh. So watching Mikayla grow up is the greatest joy in my life…
The Foundation has also been keeping us extremely busy. We have had two walks and a kickball tournament which has allowed us to be able to reach out to parents and families, and to offer support and resources in the Denver area. Our goal is to strategically place binders in key children’s hospitals and try to offer help to as many families and children as we can across the country. Wish us luck!
I thank the community, friends, family and the DPG parents who have so gracefully given of their time, money and support to see a day when parents have support, resources and a cure for DPG cancer.
