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jmc_bksI don't like to drive on the interstate on holiday weekends. I have no problems driving during rush hour, even on the Capitol Beltway or the Mixing Bowl. But holiday drivers are insane, so I tend to avoid highways, either go late or early. On I-95N this morning, there were speed traps everywhere. A sedan was flipped over in the ditch, but no one was hurt, amazingly -- everyone was standing, looking at the underside of the car, flipping open their cell phones. Also saw a tractor trailer clip a Honda -- he had his blinker on, which I take to mean "I'm coming over NOW, make room" but which the Honda driver apparently thought meant "I'd like to change lanes eventually and will let all little cars go by first." Tore the sideview mirror off. I was kind of surprised that no more damage was done.
Why was I on the highway on a holiday weekend? I headed up to the Home Town today for a family party -- it's the 5th anniversary of The Youngest Cousin finishing chemo and radiation and being cancer free. She's 13 now; she was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin's Lymphoma the day after her eighth birthday. She looked perfectly healthy but was having night sweats which worried her mother, who bugged the family doctor, who listened to her and didn't discount her as a mother with an overactive imagination. After the diagnosis, she seemed to get very sick very fast, and spent a lot of time in the hospital. All of her hair fell out (she joked with her dad that at least her hair would grow back, unlike his receding hairline) and she gained a lot of weight from the steroids. But she was completely cheerful and didn't seem to realize that she was that sick. Mostly, she was put out because she had perfect attendance and had to miss school. Really, it was harder on her parents and her brother than her, because they realized how ill she was. My uncle, my youngest, coolest, favorite uncle, became very gray during her illness. He felt like he had failed TYC by somehow not protecting her from illness. My aunt, who works in another part of the health care field, researched Hodgkins Lymphoma exhaustively and wondered if she should've noticed something sooner. The doctors said no, but I don't know if she ever believed them.
After chemo and radiation, the doctors at AI duPont Children's Hospital pronounced her cancer-free. Her hair grew back, darker and curly (it was straight and blonder before). She got to go back to school after a long period of home-schooling -- her teacher brought her assignments and cards from her classmates. Last year her blood work finally returned to absolutely normal; anyone looking at it now would have no idea that she was ever seriously ill. Given the speed she chatters away at, her teengirl wardrobe, her circle of friends and her extracurricular activities, I would have to say she seems just like any other 13 year old. While that's a relief (and a frustration sometimes, given how lackadaisical she is about some things) to her family, I don't think they'll ever forget how sick she was. Hence the party, which was rocking with a combination of adults and kids, people they are still in touch with from the hospital (TYC and her oncologist still email back and forth), colleagues, family, friends, everyone they know and love. Puppet-comedian and moon bounce for the kids (the comedian/puppeteer does a hysterical X-rated act for adults, but that was not on the agenda today), food, alcohol, music, etc. for the adults. Volleyball and basketball set up, along with horseshoes. A good time was had by all, I think it's safe to say.
Why was I on the highway on a holiday weekend? I headed up to the Home Town today for a family party -- it's the 5th anniversary of The Youngest Cousin finishing chemo and radiation and being cancer free. She's 13 now; she was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin's Lymphoma the day after her eighth birthday. She looked perfectly healthy but was having night sweats which worried her mother, who bugged the family doctor, who listened to her and didn't discount her as a mother with an overactive imagination. After the diagnosis, she seemed to get very sick very fast, and spent a lot of time in the hospital. All of her hair fell out (she joked with her dad that at least her hair would grow back, unlike his receding hairline) and she gained a lot of weight from the steroids. But she was completely cheerful and didn't seem to realize that she was that sick. Mostly, she was put out because she had perfect attendance and had to miss school. Really, it was harder on her parents and her brother than her, because they realized how ill she was. My uncle, my youngest, coolest, favorite uncle, became very gray during her illness. He felt like he had failed TYC by somehow not protecting her from illness. My aunt, who works in another part of the health care field, researched Hodgkins Lymphoma exhaustively and wondered if she should've noticed something sooner. The doctors said no, but I don't know if she ever believed them.
After chemo and radiation, the doctors at AI duPont Children's Hospital pronounced her cancer-free. Her hair grew back, darker and curly (it was straight and blonder before). She got to go back to school after a long period of home-schooling -- her teacher brought her assignments and cards from her classmates. Last year her blood work finally returned to absolutely normal; anyone looking at it now would have no idea that she was ever seriously ill. Given the speed she chatters away at, her teengirl wardrobe, her circle of friends and her extracurricular activities, I would have to say she seems just like any other 13 year old. While that's a relief (and a frustration sometimes, given how lackadaisical she is about some things) to her family, I don't think they'll ever forget how sick she was. Hence the party, which was rocking with a combination of adults and kids, people they are still in touch with from the hospital (TYC and her oncologist still email back and forth), colleagues, family, friends, everyone they know and love. Puppet-comedian and moon bounce for the kids (the comedian/puppeteer does a hysterical X-rated act for adults, but that was not on the agenda today), food, alcohol, music, etc. for the adults. Volleyball and basketball set up, along with horseshoes. A good time was had by all, I think it's safe to say.
I 95 & healthy kids
Date: 2006-07-02 02:18 am (UTC)I'm glad your cousin is healthy again, serious illness is terrifying in kids. If my children were ever to be sick like that I'd probably second guess myself all the time.
Have a great weekend~ Amanda Bookwormom (http://www.bookwormom.blogspot.com)
Re: I 95 & healthy kids
Date: 2006-07-03 05:29 pm (UTC)Hope your weekend was great, too!
~jmc