Good morning!
We had Shereen's graduation party last month and it was a good day. It rained in the morning and in the evening, but for the party the weather was fine. It was so nice to see everyone.
The learning how to drive is going much better. She has been to many lessons at Sunnyview rehabilitation hospital, and I think that it has been very helpful. She has more lessons scheduled, and she has to take the 5 hour course that is required for a license in NY state. I don't she's ready to take the test just yet- but at least then we can schedule an appointment for the future. In the mean time we will have to arrange rides for her to school. Since I don't have to work the week of Aug. 25th, I will drive that week, but then we will have to rely on others to help us out.
We did the Ride for Kids in Utica, NY on July 20th, as we had planned. It absolutely poured rain the whole day! Shereen rode in a side car- it was pretty cool! Bill and I followed the huge group of motorcycles in the car. They said the hundreds of motorcycles spanned nearly 5 miles! I really was touched and amazed that people that don't even know Shereen or any other kids with brain tumors would do that! It really was inspiring and uplifting. We decided before hand that Shereen would go on stage at the celebration of life at the end to say thank you for the scholarship. I told her not to worry- that all she had to do is say thank you. I was worried for her- she always struggles to find words, and she is a little bit on the quiet and shy side. When she finally did speak, she did a great job. She did struggle, and do her whole protracted word search thing- and my stomach was in knots! I am so proud of her. She didn't just say thank you- she actually talked a little bit and stayed up there the whole time for all the pics and everything. Her pic is posted in the ride for kids website under the 7/20/08 Utica ride. She looks like a little kid- like she 7 instead of 17, but it's a cute pic! The man whose bike she was on the nicest guy in the world. I think he told me he's been doing the ride for 11 years! He sent us an email afterwards and in it he offered to come here, (at least a 3 hour ride from his house one way) to take her for a ride on her birthday! I thought it was so sweet of him, but her birthday is November 22, so I think it will be way too cold! Anyway, afterwards, Shereen said she wanted to go back again for the Ride for Kids next year. I was pretty surprised. One of the Moms we met there spoke to the crowd and she told me that next year I should get up and tell our story. I told her I have terrible stage fright and I didn't think I could do it and Shereen said she would get up there with me! I was surprised by that too- my Shereen is full of surprises! I also told her I thought I would get up there and cry through the whole thing and she said that's okay- she spoke 3 years ago and she cride the whole time and it was amazing anyway. She said you could have dropped a pin in the room.
Shereen and her sisters are on a trip to Hershey Park with their Dad for 4 days. It keeps raining here- I hope the weather is better in PA. I miss them, but it's nice that they get to go.
Shereen's next MRI is scheduled for August 22- next friday. I am not too nervous yet- even though she keeps telling me she feels nauseous all the time. It's weird how sometimes I feel so calm and other times I get so edgy. I think she is actually looking forward to going- as a way just to know what's happening. She doesn't really explain, but the feeling that I get is that she just needs to know.
Thanks for listening! Say a prayer for a clear MRI and a healthy girl! If you read this drop us a line to say hi!
Love, Mary Jane
