Top picture: Benjamin next to "The Hat Tree" in the Oncology Clinic. Kids who need a hat may take one and thankfully that hasn't been us yet. I feel constantly thankful for the volunteers who do such kind things to donate to the hospital! It is so amazing! We have benefited a lot from such generosity in the last six months.
2nd picture: Outside in front of Primary Children's observing the fascinating pinwheel blowing in the wind!
3rd picture: Just waiting for the doctor and the drugs in the exam room!
We had a normal chemotherapy day! Yay!!!! Everything went well yesterday! We were in and out quickly which is always a geat thing! I think however that Benjamin, at the age of 14 1/2 months, is beginning to figure this all out. Many of the clinic personnel know Benjamin as "Smiley Ben"! When they know we are in the clinic, they'll come to find him just because they love him and think he's so cute (my perception anyway)! Historically, he has been incredibly happy when we are there (except the times he has been sick of course)! I worry though that he is beginning to understand our purpose for being there in the hospital and clinic. He does seem less smiley each time we go. I'm sure this is partly because he is getting older too.
Yesterday, I talked to another family while waiting in the waiting room of the Oncology Clinic. Their 15 year-old son looked unwell and had a large bandage covering the one side of his neck. I realized again, as I have many times before, that I am thankful that at least Benjamin is young enough that he really is unaware of all that is going on around him. Assuming all goes well, Benjamin will be less than two-years-old when we complete his 52-week course of chemotherapy. Most likely, he won't remember any of this throughout the rest of his life! I felt so sad for this poor 15 year-old and his parents. They were from Utah County and fairly new to the health problem world. They didn't offer much more information than that and of course, I hate to pry too much. That boy is probably missing a lot of high school and other fun times of his teenage life. I just pray that people like them can find comfort and peace. I cannot imagine struggling through these tough times without my faith to sustain me!
More reason for my gratitude today, is another thought from my Thomas. Benjamin had his fourth real haircut last week! Thankfully, he still has that fine baby hair that doesn't show all of my little mishaps in haircutting (I am self-taught, thanks to my friend Amy who inspired me many years ago!). He is so so wiggly and of course, when I told him to hold still, he was not very obedient! (Laugh out loud, I know!) Anyway, while I was cutting, Thomas, our almost 13 year-old, told me that I shouldn't be cutting Benjamin's hair because we should be thankful that he even has hair! I have had that thought in the past but didn't consider it this particular time, just being anxious to trim the shagginess around his little ears. Thomas reminded me that I should be more grateful and I realized too that I should especially be grateful for Thomas' thoughtfulness. I AM thankful for Benjamin's hair! I am SO thankful for Benjamin's hair! And I am thankful that my almost-teenager was so full of wisdom!
At every visit to the Oncology clinic, I watch the cute little masked-face, bald-headed children! Usually they seem happy and fine. But occasionally I see them with throw-up buckets under their chins being wheeled in wheelchairs, and my heart aches! I imagine them at home where their hair falls out in chunks and how sad and scared they must feel! Benjamin's chemotherapy right now doesn't cause him these severe side-effects, and I often try to remember how thankful we are that we don't have to worry about a bald little head! I pray that we will continue to be blessed in this manner. I pray too for those we know and these children we see at the hospital that do have bald heads. They all MUST have angels being their guides!
More thoughts of angels have filled my mind recently. I LOVED the story in our LDS General Conference this past weekend, told by Elder Kent F. Richards of the Quorum of the Seventy. He spoke about trials and pain in life and told the story of a young 13 year-old who underwent a lengthy surgery to remove a tumor on her spinal cord. As she regained consciousness in the ICU following her surgery, she told her dad all about the many individuals there standing in her room and around her bed. She described each person in detail while her dad recognized her descriptions as family members who had passed away into the next life. For almost an hour, she went on telling of the people there. She told her dad that all of the children in the ICU have angels. I do believe it! I do! I believe in earthly and heavenly angels as I have felt their presence in that hospital and at different times throughout this experience with Benjamin. Angels must follow all of us at different times in our lives. What a wonderful blessing! I will attempt to post the link to Elder Richards talk if anyone is interested in watching or listening to it again or for the first time. It is very inspiring and about 10 minutes long.
Have a great day!
