When is spring, Mommy ?
First day of school. Dylan, Jack and Lucas are all technically enrolled in Casis, this will be the only year that they will all 3 be in one school together. Lots to be grateful for around this, but I wanted, for a moment to focus on Lucas.
The doctors tell us that Lucas cannot attend school until the spring because its 1 year from his transplant date. Lucas asked us yesterday, “when is spring Mommy?”
“Its after winter sweetie, but we are basically right on with fall which is right before winter”, Mommy replied.
I watched this narrative unfold. I watched the wheels turn in his brilliant mind.
“Another hurdle”, he thought. “I got this.”
Lucas set his alarm last night for 6 am, to make sure he could get up in time for the first day of school. To make sure that his brother and little sister got to school on time. He read Dylan the poem that Ms. Vienne gave them The Night Before Kindergarten. To him, getting to watch his little sis go to Kinder was special, they call themselves the Team Bone Marrow when we watch movies at night, and they sit in the same chair.
Lucas made sure that Jack and Dylan’s backpacks were ready to roll this AM. That they didn’t forget anything. He walked with them to school and we held hands. A couple of his friends noticed him and waved, going into their second grade class while he watched.
First thing we did was make this morning about Lucas, went and hit tennis balls, took him to play mini golf, let him play a little Minecraft. The school is assigning him a “home teacher” which may be virtual, but at least its something. To their credit they really are trying.
Erin and I got the COVID booster this weekend. Its tricky for us, we can’t risk getting sick because we have to be there for Lucas, and we have to try our best to reduce exposure as much as possible, so we are doing what the doctors suggest. Nothing partisan about it, just listening to the smartest doctors we have ever met, and following their recommendations. Doctors that have been published, cited, and are masters of their craft. Due to unfortunate circumstances these doctors are our world. They are where we get our information from. They are who we listen to to protect Lucas as his cells recover.
The blog still lives, I don’t write in it as much as I used to because we are focused, rebuilding, trying to be a family. We are here though. We are here with our minds, our bodies, our souls and our spirits.
Lucas noticed me and Erin complaining about how the booster made us sick this weekend. Its such a pittance compared to how many days he had fever over 104 the past year ( at least 50 days by my count ). 104. Have you ever had a 104 fever ?
Erin had a very human moment at the Kinder / Parent meeting earlier this week. She shared our story with Dylans new class. Dylan the hero that had just months before gave her very cells to save her brothers life. Those cells that live within him.
Casis gave us a private tour of the new facilities yesterday at 3pm. Thank you Ms. Vienne, she was Lucas Kinder teacher. He had not seen her for a really long time. With love in her eyes, behind the mask, behind Lucas’ mask, I know they wanted to hug but weren’t allowed. He got to see where he will go, where his siblings get to go, where all our neighbors kids get to go, and dream. Dream about getting to be a part of the normal again. Thats all he wants. He doesn’t want a big fuss made, he just wants to hang out, be a second grader. Thats all he ever wanted.
