Birthday & Bell!
8/29/2022
August is our family’s birthday month and thankfully, we were able to celebrate each in good fashion. For my birthday, Ian and I made a day-trip to my alma matter, East Carolina University. It was a central meeting spot to retrieve the kids from my dad and a fun opportunity to walk down memory lane. It’s hard to believe, but I hadn’t been back to campus since I graduated, 25 years ago! On the big day, the four of us went to an aerial adventure park to challenge ourselves on a ropes course. While quite thin and weak, even Ian got harnessed up and hung out in the trees. For me and the boys, fun continued the next day at the driving range and batting cages, while Dad went to treatment. We then passed the kids off to my mom for another week of kid duty in Greenville. Our hope was for Ian to be discharged by his birthday, but the doctors weren’t quite ready to sign off. In true Ian form, he decided to play hooky and we both made the trip home for his birthday! We celebrated with mini-golf, then chocolate cake at the dining room table. Our first taste of normalcy in a long time. The next day, we dropped off Brooks and Stone for their first day of 2nd & 4th grades, then headed back to Duke for the final stint.
The last few weeks of treatment were filled with every test in the book - bloodwork, cognitive, mobility and of course, bone marrow. It would be the last time that the doctor jammed a DeWalt into Ian’s pelvis! As Ian wrapped up treatment, I wrapped up my Durham bucket list - hiking, paddling and exploring everywhere in the area! With no body of water or museum left untouched, I seriously thought about writing a tour guide for future caretakers. Finally, on August 29th, Ian was officially released from full-time treatment. With doctors and nurses lining the hallway, Ian walked through a tunnel of cheers and rang the bell! After five months at Duke, we were cleared to go home! Halleluiah!
The very next day was Brooks’ 10th birthday. Per usual, Ian and I painted the rock and threw him an epic party. Another milestone met! While Ian was happy to be home, he was obviously exhausted. Basic daily activities were a struggle and side effects were nagging. With a long road to recovery, his treatments were scheduled to continue with bi-weekly visits to Duke, and alternating bi-weekly check-ups at Prisma. It was a tough juggling act (work/school/sports/doctors), but we felt blessed to have the opportunity!
