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St Jude – Weekend in Tremont and Chicago

Posted on May 8, 2023May 8, 2023

Ang brought Summer home for the weekend!  That was a bit of a thrill… For us anyway.  I can tell that Summer is eternally bored when she comes home to Tremont and all of her friends are back t college.  Fortunately, that would be solved before the weekend is over!

Angela and Summer had a guest in Memphis last week.  Our good friend Tammy spent the week with them at the apartment in hopes that this would inspire Summer to do some more activities.  That didn’t work from what I heard.  Summer is super run down the week after chemo and even if she wanted to…  She said she was gassed!  It was OK…  Sounds like they did make it out to eat a few times, plus Tammy and Ang made it to the zoo.  So…  It was a bit of a break mentally for everyone.

There is not much to report on the treatment front.   Lots of rest and checking Summers numbers.  When the week was over, she got to come home.  Because, as she promised… She is leaving St. Jude every weekend!!!  Unlike most weekends where she wants to break from her parents so she can stay in Carbondale…  Summer wanted to come home so that she could make a graduation for her high school friend Olivia.

That left us with a few days to hang on.  Friday night we stayed in and that was fine with me.  I was gassed from a long week.  Saturday was yard day.  We started early and I mowed while Angela and Summer planted some small saplings that Lynette had given us.  After that, we ran over to the Red Barn in Mackinaw for a Mother’s Day Gift Bazaar.   I gotta admit, I was sure that Summer would not want to go.  Heaven forbid she run into anyone from HS in her current condition.  Right?  That’s what my 21-year-old self would be thinking.  She’s much stronger than I will ever be.  She never wears a hat unless there is sun.  She enjoys the security of the cane so she uses that.  She has no fear of her appearance or weakened condition.  So awesome.  I am always in awe!

We then made a plan to run over and see Grandma Marie in Bloomington.  She’s back at the nursing home and it sounds like they are sending her home this week.  (This worked out perfectly since Summer was in town and Marie was not in Fairbury where she would normally be.  It’s just a lot easier when time is  a commodity!)

We got to the nursing home and found Marie walking down the hall with a therapist.  She said she was headed to PT, but she would be back.  I want to emphasize… She was walking like a champ and was not wearing one of those belts that therapists use to keep you from falling.  She was also in normal people’s clothing, unlike the last time I saw her in the hospital.  We made a command decision to run out for a few minutes.

May 6th was Free Comic Book Day 2023.  We figured running down to Graham Crackers in downtown Normal would be a fun sidetrack.  It was.  Summer and I got a few cool books.  Angela ran over to Garlic Press.   I am always on the hunt for a replacement spatula (Can you tell I have a spatula fetish?) because my pampered chef one has started falling apart.  The handle and the steel don’t like to stay together anymore.  No dice.

We headed back to the nursing home and then found Marie in great spirits and full of energy.  I swear…  She looked and sounded great.  Summer and Marie talked about their cats and Summer’s treatment.  It was so good to finally see them together. Ever since Summer’s diagnosis…  Marie has been sending letters and reaching out in support.  But, they have not been able to see each other with their dueling maladies.

We ended the day with Mark and Tammy at our house to play some games with us and Summer.

Saturday was a good day.

Saturday night/Sunday morning night was a terror!  After we talked about it today, I think Summer got as much sleep as I did.  Not much. Between the lightning and the thunder, I would not get 1 straight hour of rest.  That sucked because Sunday morning we were hitting the road to get Summer up to Dominican University in Chicago for her friend, Olivia’s graduation ceremony (The one who gifted Summer a Ghost and Bat Spatula to use in Memphis).  I tried to sleep in the car while Angela drove, but that didn’t work.  Summer rested as best she could during the drive.

Once we were in town…  Summer was released at the front door of the event to Olivia’s boyfriend.  Again, another surreal moment of this treatment timeline coming to an end that we can let her go in Chicago with very few “strings attached”.

With Summer occupied, Angela and I had a free day (4 hours!) to spend with our other kid.  1 hour north is Carthage College.  We blew up there and spent a few hours with Aiden.

Aiden has bragged that Kenosha has a massive Italian population and because of this they have an equally massive Italian market.  I would not say it was massive…   But it was definitely very nice and full of authentic Italian goodies.  (No Pizzelle maker though)  We grabbed a couple of made-to-order paninis and went toward Lake Michigan for lunch.

Before we left town, we grabbed a few bits from Aidens room so that he won’t have to pack as much when his finals are over on May 24th.

The ride how reminded me that we were all exhausted.  Summer was sleeping up front and Ang was napping in the backseat.  I was in terrible shape as well.  Summer did mention that she had a headache and of course… that gave me a ton of anxiety.  She did say that this was the least amount of sleep she has had in ages.  She was dog-tired today.  I give her credit for pushing through.


This coming week will have those tests we have been waiting for.  I have made plans to be with Angela and Summer this week… Something that has not happened since the holidays last year.

The plan this week is for the Lumbar Puncture and MRI.  That last showed nothing to be concerned with according to Doctor Gajjar.  I was still nervous, but we have trusted the St Jude process and hope this week is it!

Summer and Angela both told me today, “What if they don’t let me leave this week?”.  That’s an option???  I guess I never thought about it, but it’s possible they want to monitor something else.

We have nailed about every date and I can’t fathom the thought.  But, anything is possible.

Wish us luck.  I will share the results as we get them.


Oh, facial surgery is planned for June 23rd.  Happy birthday to me!  I guess I’ll be in Memphis!

Related

4 thoughts on “St Jude – Weekend in Tremont and Chicago”

  1. Debbi says:
    May 8, 2023 at 5:52 am

    Prayers for a wonderful outcome.

  2. Tina says:
    May 8, 2023 at 6:30 am

    The Final countdown!
    Oh be joyful. Praying for clear scan and clear CSF. ❤

  3. Linda L Robinson says:
    May 8, 2023 at 10:14 am

    Hi, Honey. So glad you were home for the weekend and got to Olivia’s graduation. Rest up tonight for the scans this week back at St. Jude. I am praying for you. Love, Grandma Linda.

  4. Charity says:
    May 8, 2023 at 1:07 pm

    Eric, Angela, Summer and Aiden… praying for safety and positive outcomes!

Comments are closed.

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