Coincidence? Fate? Luck of the Draw or Spiritual Preparation?

Have you had things in your life that affected you so much that you never realized why until years and maybe decades later?

Have you wondered why an event or occurrence really "stuck" with you and just wouldn't leave your thoughts and heart?

I have had 2 major life altering and devastating events happen in my life and looking pack in the past I have realized that I was in a way "prepared" for each of them.

Kind of, an ever so gentle,

"hey you, heads up, take note of this cause it will happen to you later" 

tap on the shoulder.

When I was in upper middle school I remember a woman in our town who delivered a stillborn baby boy. Of course I was sad and so sorry for her and her families loss, but that event was something that crept in my head frequently. Very frequently. I could never figure out why her loss would just pop in my head during my high school years and beyond. 

Flash forward to May 1992 when my grandfather died.

When I was almost 7 months pregnant.

We were at the cemetary for the burial and like most funerals you walk around in the graveyard after the service and visit the graves of past family members. I stumbled upon the grave of that baby boy.

I was so sad at the size of that little gravesite among all the what appeared to be massively huge vaults all around him. I remember bending over to clear some leaves off and then moving on.

2 months later I delivered our daughter...born still...after 9 perfect months of pregnancy. 

Kristen's Story

Flash forward to mid 2000s... I became involved in an online group of people who would send cards and gifts to people of all ages who were diagnosed with cancer. I would always sign up for the kids and their siblings and took great joy in shopping, packaging and shipping boxes of fun to children. Just giving back to those who were suffering and making a difference made me so happy. 

In 2006, we went to DisneyWorld for Katie's Senior trip and when we rode Big Thunder Mountain Railroad we sat right behind a Make A Wish kid with his bald head. Just watching him and his family laughing and enjoying that ride was something I would never forget. It made smile and cry at the same time. It was the most rewarding thing I thing I have ever experienced seeing how the cast members asked him when the ride was over if he had enough yet. He stayed on the ride again as we got off and went on our way.

I frequent an online message board for Disney fans and read about a place in Orlando where Make A Wish kids stay on their trips and that they were always looking for volunteers to work shifts. So, in 2008, when we were planning a return trip, I started reading online on how we could try and volunteer a day or so while we were in Orlando. I thought it could be a good lesson for the kids on philanthrophy and giving back. After having the paperwork filled out, we found out we couldn't because Trace was too young...he would have to be 12 or older to volunteer. So we planned on making sure to do it on a future trip...

Then, in 2009, I remember thinking...of 20+ nieces and nephews, none of them have any problems. They are all healthy happy children from toddlers to college aged. How lucky and blessed is our family!! 

And once again...luck?? coincidence?? fate?? whatever?? steps in

...ummm...

storms in like a hurricane...

when Trace was diagnosed with cancer in 2010....

and WE were the Make A Wish family riding Test Track (they wouldn't ride Big Thunder again!! LOL) 

and WE were the wish family staying at Give Kids The World.

The plans of volunteering at an awesome place to give back to kids and their families...yeah right! WE were the ones saying thank you repeatedly to the volunteers...the volunteers of 12 yr olds, the volunteers of high school kids, the volunteers of families just like us. The other families of just like us were sitting beside us to eat breakfast every morning...

Just like us...

those who have buried a child

and those who are supporting and loving their child through cancer.

Trace's Story

Yeah...just like us....

Happy 13th Birthday Trace!

MD Anderson--Trip #9--1 year checkup

Hard to believe it has been over a year since Trace's surgery to remove the cancerous tumor from his cheek. It is still incomprehensible to me somedays that my almost 13 yr old was diagnosed with an extremely rare salivary gland cancer..

But here we are, heading back to MD Anderson in Houston for his 1 yr post op checkup. It's the same as all the other checkups we have been doing every 3 months

Wednesday is labs, chest x-ray and CT scan with and without contrast

Thursday is afternoon dr appt with surgeon to go over results, discuss any symptoms or effects from surgery and make plan for next few months.

However, Wednesday morning I awoke with a terrible headache and very nauseated. I stayed in bed as long as possible before dragging myself and my pillow to the truck for the 4 hr drive from Louisiana to Houston. I got Trace settled in the backseat with his pillow and quilt, books and Legos and then closed my eyes as we pulled out about 9:30.

We pulled into the hospital about 1pm and headed in to the hospital for some lunch before going up for labs. CT was scheduled for 4-5 and he can't eat for 3 hrs before so we knew we had to eat first or it could be late and he would NOT be happy. I was still very nauseated and the smell from the cafeteria was horrible for my sick stomach. I was soon feeling worse and went to sit in the lobby while Trace and dad went upstairs to do the labs and chest x-ray. They were done pretty quickly, so we decided to go back to the hotel so I could rest before the CT.

I get us checked in and head up to the room while they were getting the stuff from the truck. My body let me get to the room before I got really sick...then I climbed into bed. They got me settled with some Sprite and crackers before heading back to the hospital. Luckily he got in fast and they were back at the hotel with dinner within a few hours.

He had to get stuck 3 times for his IV this time...a first! They usually get it on the first try and usually use the same vein that was used for his blood draw. But, this time that didn't work. He's a trooper though! Dad said CT was fast and that yes, he does have a brain. :)

I was feeling better that evening so we all settled into bed and watched a pretty interesting show on PBS about a man who spent a year raising a litter?? herd?? gaggle?? of turkeys. haha No human contact, just turkeys and other wildlife for over a year. To each his own I guess. In the end, the last turkey who would visit him attacked him and spurred him...made for an interesting end to his research.

On Thursdays his dr. appt is not until the afternoon, so we always just lay around until noon, then check out and head to the hospital. We grabbed some lunch and headed up to the 10th floor to await the results of his tests. We get called back fairly quickly and

continued CANCER FREE!! YES!!

We discuss his other symptoms of excessive salivation at times, a few pains, continued numbness of ear lobe...all of which are normal and expected. Dr. decides we can wait for next visit for 4 months instead of 3...YAY! stretching out the visits. :)

Next visit---March 2012.

We are out of there and headed home to Louisiana around 2pm. We stop in Lake Charles and pick up Kelsi from college to come home for Thanksgiving break, meet my parents for dinner and get home around 8pm.

Long day of stress, celebration and family. :)