Monday, October 31, 2016

Monday, October 31, 2016

Tonight's picture was taken on Halloween 2008. The last Halloween we had with Mattie. Mattie was six years old and was in his second month of cancer treatment, as well as had his first limb salvaging surgery of his arm. Mattie was very hesitant about getting into a costume. Mostly because he knew whatever he wore would clearly show he had cancer. 

At Georgetown University Hospital, Halloween is a big deal. The Hope for Henry Foundation provides a huge party and also provides costumes for the children. Mattie's art therapists knew that picking out a costume in front of a ton of other children in the clinic would be a disaster for Mattie. So instead, they invited Mattie and I to look at costumes a day before the other children. This was a blessing because Mattie typically shut down with noise and chaos and he was also very fearful that others would bump into his arm that had the surgery. When we came in to look at the costumes alone, Mattie went through them at his own pace. It was Mattie who spotted the mummy costume and selected it. In all reality it was the perfect costume for him because it covered his bald head and due of the nature of the costume, you weren't thrown off by the fact that you couldn't see Mattie's right arm. You couldn't see it because it was under the costume, bandaged! 

The photo was taken in the Hospital elevator, while Mattie was going floor to floor trick or treating. Though Mattie was smiling in this photo, the event and day were very hard for him. He was highly agitated and angry. 


Quote of the day: If you seek creative ideas go walking. Angels whisper to a man when he goes for a walk. ~  Raymond I. Myers

Well when the State Department says something is OVER, I clearly know that means absolutely NOTHING! The unit that we live in has two ways to get outside. You have seen my deck side, since I have been posting about that for a week. The State Department construction has been so intrusive on the deck side..... with dust, debris, and terrible noise. Which started in August of 2015!!!

But this is what my other side looks like. I am the balcony with the flowers. Next to me are scaffolding, ropes, and a lot more noise. I haven't mentioned this side because my deck side was so horrendous. But this morning, there was a jack hammer going on near this scaffolding and my whole interior was shaking. In the Spring I had the living room windows washed. They looked fantastic, until the State Department started sand blasting and power washing their side. Needless to say, all that dust and water landed right back on my windows. I am truly livid with their level of disregard and today I wrote another formal complaint to our complex's management. I am getting tired of living with noise, dust, debris, workmen around, and attitude. 

Sunny and I went for several walks today. While we were out and about, I saw many preschoolers dressed in costume and with their parents. One school had a Halloween parade down by the waterfront. Frankly it was a very bittersweet sight. I can't help but look at these children and parents and think..... that was once me, but cancer took that away. As awful as it sounds I always wonder which of these families will be like me and worse I think over and over again.... why did this happen to us? Of course there are no answers to this question. 

In a way this is the last day of peace for me, because as of tomorrow the Foundation's Post Halloween Candy Drive will begin. Candy will get dropped off at different locations (this is an example of bin on the door step of a friend's house) and I will also be running around town picking up and carting candy. 

I am certainly happy to run the drive as it helps to stock our snack cart at Georgetown University Hospital. But the candy drive is VERY labor intensive and requires a lot of manpower and volunteers. 

Bins like these will be dropped at different locations in the Virginia area. I have very dedicated volunteers who manage the distribution of bins, the picking up of candy and sorting it. However, I do take on all of this for DC and Maryland and I can assure you candy is heavy and in bulk smells horrific. Last year, I collected about 2,500 pounds of candy and sorted it myself in DC. My Virginia team picked up and sorted 5,000 pounds of candy last year and then we transported it to Mattie's school. At the end of November 2015, I went in a large school truck and delivered the candy to three locations. The 2,500 pounds of candy that was in my home in DC, I transported to various hospitals and organizations on my own. Literally ALL of November I am inundated with candy! By the first week of December all the candy is gone and delivered which is a great feeling.