St Jude with Sylvia – Day Unknown

Memphis Day ???: Once again, things are pretty uneventful. We checked into the hospital last night and things went just like before – waited downstairs for a little bit and then we were ushered upstairs to our own private suite. They started Summer on fluids last night and chemo early this morning. Unfortunately, Summer started feeling nauseous pretty early today, but the nurses seemed on top of everything with additional medications and even some aromatherapy (ginger and mint – I’d take a candle like that). She still ate pretty well and they seem happy with how much she’s voluntarily drinking. Nothing to worry about there right now. She seems in pretty good spirits considering.

High point of the day: A visit from a therapy dog! She was super sweet and mellow. Summer has met her before and said she has a habit of stealing people’s shoes. I don’t believe it! She was too cute and fluffy!

Low point of the day: Hearing some of the little kids on the floor crying. Ugh…. That made my heart hurt. I get so focused on Summer and how well she’s handling everything that it’s easy to forget about the children here who are in more pain or are at least too young to process everything calmly. And all you can do is feel for the parents/caregivers and pray it gets better. The helpless feeling is the worst.

But I don’t want to end on a sad note, because this is a place of hope, right? So many good things have happened here, so many people have been helped, and that list just keeps growing everyday. Not only do I enjoy my time here with Summer, but it’s given me a greater appreciation for, well, everything – my family (James taking care of the boys, so I can be here, and the fact my boys are perfectly healthy right now), my job that allows me the flexibility to work remotely, the doctors and nurses who take care of everyone (including me), the people who donate time and money to make St. Jude possible…. The list is immense. I wish I didn’t have a reason to be here, but I’m glad I had the opportunity to be. It’s a life-changing experience for sure.