Allison is better and has delighted everyone who walked in the room with her gorgeous smile that appeared over and over again today. Finally the army of nurses, doctors, and therapists who met her as a sick, weak kid in bed are getting to see her true nature. She is also much more feisty, and has started complaining and trying to communicate her frustrations through her voice, which makes for long nights at the hospital, but in the end is a true milestone, I think, in her recovery. We had a personal visit with Mickey and Minnie today, and she smiled from ear to ear as she sat, for the second time, in a wheelchair. I don't think you would believe me unless you saw the pictures that our neighbor Jim, who luckily had his camera, took of the meeting.The posts from my long lost pals are so encouraging. They give me a tingle along the spine, and make me remember the many good times and the good people I have known. I'm sorry this bad news has sparked the reconnection, but still glad to hear from you all in your far flung places. Eli in Taiwan, no less, who posted an enduring message of meeting life's trials with hope and life. I think we need to get a world map and chart where our friends are so Allison and Emily can truly understand the scope of our connections and how close the World Wide Web has brought us. And what do I say about my friend Larry Borowsky? Agreeing to go bald to help kids with cancer is a fine way to help out, and it might even improve his appearance! (Sorry, Heidi, I couldn't help it.) Please check out the web link to see for yourself. The place he is getting shaved, Hill, was my middle school. I also heard from Emily's teacher today, who donated blood here at Children's. Another great way to help if you are so inclined.
I am going to really enjoy this high, especially after our plummeting lows of the past few days. I know there are so many challenges, but still the joy I feel right now is undeniable. Who cares if it is a sleepless night with a restless six year old? I can see something more than long days at this hospital. I can even start to imagine coming back home again, thank G-d.
Bless you for your words and wishes and help me celebrate this night!
Dianna
22 comments:
We cannot wait to see that toothless grin back in the hood! So glad to hear some good news from Children's. We continue to think about your family daily and are sending all the positive energy we can muster.
Allison, Drew is so envious that you have lost your two front teeth. She has been wiggling her's non stop. Keep up your awesome work with therapy and getting well.
The Felsher Family
Fantastic!! We love to hear news of Allison's progress - much love and support to you all, we are warmly thinking of your family!
Lots of love,
The Kaufmans
Wah HOO. This is great to hear you smiling in the blog!
Allison, Kika wants you to know that she is ready to come visit as soon as your mom and dad allow it. Her dad is off the rest of this week and wants to bring her on up. She wants to sit and draw funny pictures and make you smile.
Wilson says he hopes you keep smiling too. Also if you need any ideas about how to make trouble with ice machines, or water fountians he can give you some good pointers on how to make priavte floods and wet things. (Kika says don't listen to him. The ideas are interesting and well planned- but they always end with a trip to the naughty chair.)
xo Annie, Tom, Kika and Wilson
Great to hear such encouraging news. We are thinking of you and praying for you everyday. We think of you constantly and again makes us realize just how precious each moment and each day is with our children and families.
The girls miss Allison tremendously. Sarah is working on a letter and is sending Allison her favorite Magic Tree House adventures for you to read to her.
She is missed everyday--seeing her empty desk and wishing she could return and it would all be over. Hopefully, you will make your way home soon and the road to recovery will begin.
The Shassetz Family
Wonderful news! I'm glad I could do what little I could do to help bring this internationally motivated positive energy field to life.
Eli
What blessed news! Greg and I have been praying for all of you. Please know that you are loved and warm with prayers!
Much Love,
April and Greg Wingeleth
(Brian's favorite transitional internship administrator/goddess, and her husband)
How wonderful - that you have some rays of sunshine in Allison's recovery!!
Sharon :)
(my first use of an "emoticon" ever)
It was so great to see Allison smiling. We think about you all the time and send you so many positive thoughts and know that everyone will get through this.
We look forward to seeing Allison and Emily in San Diego in August!
If I could send Shamu out there I would but Minnie and Mickey are the next best thing!
Sending much love from San Diego....
Chris and Lori
Dearest children,
We are all touched by your strength and inner beauty during this major bump in your roads. I want to wrap my arms around all of you and give you all my love, and pray that Allison continues to progress in therapy and is home snug and safe soon.
Love,
Trude
I ran in the Boston marathon on Monday - rainy and cold and long! Many people were running with "in honor of..." pinned to their shirt. I didn't think of that in advance, but I thought a lot about Allison during those 4hours and 14 minutes. I ran in honor of Allison, even if it didn't say so on my shirt.
I am thinking of you and glad to hear about the smiles!
much love.
I loved seeing Allison up and about with Mickey. Also, your smile, Dianna, was so heartwarming. You may not be feeling so brave right now, but you are demonstrating grace beyond words. Hugs to you all,
Christina Sevilla
I can't stop looking at the pictures....the sheer joy on your face is worth it's weight in gold.
They, whoever they are, say that times that try our souls develop character....oh contrare - I believe it reveals our character. Just look at all the people around the globe who are praying, sending words of wisdom, hope and friendship - that is a reflection of how you (all) have impacted their lives throughout the years.
Still smiling thinking about those marvelous smiles on yours and Allison's face. These are the moments to cherish.
Love n hugs, Aunt Gail
I check this page every day, and this day was a great day. To see the pics of smiles on the faces of the weary warriors was a real pick-me-up. I enjoy reading the encouraging words from your friends & family, each & every one touches me, and most of them I don't know. It amazes me how connected we all are over this fragile little angel & her family. It is a good feeling, full of love, hope, & prayers.
Love you,
Melanie & Jeff
Congratulations Allison...we are thrilled at the thought of you and your parents having a genuinely happy moment. You are always in our thoughts..
The Freehlings (Liza Hadar Isaac and Lia)
The smiles on your faces are priceless!! So happy you are riding this high -- remember this feeling and let it carry you, whenever it can. But even better news, is that Allison is up in a wheelchair and getting a bit sassy (that is always a fantastic sign!). Allison - we opened a box of Thin Mints tonight and guess who we thought of - our fantastic Brownie salesgirl. Keep up the smiles.
The Adams Family
We share in your joy and celebrate with you! Smiles are worth a thousand words. Thank you for so openly sharing your good days and bad. May blessings contiue to greet you!
Love,
Laura, Rodney, Lilly and Henry
The Price of Children
The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140 for a middle income family. Talk about sticker shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition.
But $160,140 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into $8,896.66 a year, $741.38 a month, or $171.08 a week. That's a mere $24.24 a day! Just over a dollar an hour. Still, you might think the best financial advice is don't have children if you want to be "rich." Actually, it is just the opposite.
What do you get for your $160,140?
• Naming rights. First, middle, and last!
• Glimpses of God every day.
• Giggles under the covers every night.
• More love than your heart can hold.
• Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.
• Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies.
• A hand to hold, usually covered with jelly or chocolate.
• A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites, building sandcastles, and skipping down the sidewalk in the pouring rain.
• Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.
For $160,140, you never have to grow up.
• You get to finger-paint, carve pumpkins, play hide-and-seek, catch lightning bugs, and never stop believing in Santa Claus.
• You have an excuse to keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh, watching Saturday morning cartoons, going to Disney movies, and wishing on stars.
• You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay for Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's Day. For $160,140, there is no greater bang for your buck.
• You get to be a hero just for retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof, taking the training wheels off a bike, removing a splinter, filling a wading pool, coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.
• You get a front row seat to history to witness the first step, first word, first bra, first date, and first time behind the wheel.
• You get to be immortal.
You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren and great grandchildren. You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match. In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God. You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without limits, so . . one day they will, like you, love without counting the cost. We all know they grow up too soon.
Author Unknown
I will keep all of you in my prayers.
Tom Rietz
Dianna,
just a quick note from your friends at CDOT R6. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and family. So glad to hear you had a "high" moment in the midst of the struggles.
We will check in with you around the end of the month - to see what your thoughts are then.
Our best wishes, Sandi and Jim
Allison
I am sorry that you have to do something so hard. I wish cancer medicine wasn't so yucky. Cancer is really stinky.
My little brother had a big tumor in his brain too. He was 4 and now he is 9. They took it out like yours, and he had cancer medicine and he got better. It never came back. He never got sick again except for regular stuff like chicken pox.
Now he is taller than me and faster on his bike and he can do everything but I get to stay up later because I am 11. I will wish that you get well.
sarah
I was so happy to see such smiles! Allison, yours is so pretty and it really made our day to see how well you are doing. Thinking about you daily!
The Walkers
Hi Allison, Save a smile for me- I am coming for a quick hello Saturday in the morning, but it might be too early for you but I hope you are awake. If I miss you, we are coming again on Sunday with my dad too.
LOVE YOUR FRIEND- KIKA
dear Allison I have been praying for your famly and giveing all of my hope to you. I love seeing all of your photos.I hope she walks soon! god bless you all! love, Lilly hargrave.
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