Recharging was needed for all of us really. It was like a reentry into family life together after a mission apart.
Abby did go out skating on Sunday with friends, which was perfect because we had to cancel another playdate due to the fact that her other friend's family had just had the flu and we couldn't risk exposure for Ollie' s sake.
Naturally Ollie was upset that his sister got to go skating and he couldn't. This is always hard...balancing Abby's social needs against his inability to be among age appropriate friends right now and the perception that one gets everything and the other gets nothing. So Abby sweetly promised to do whatever he wanted when she got home (they had an indoor snowball fight) and I promised that when he felt better and was strong enough I'd take him to an outdoor rink to skate.
Monday we were back at CHEO for blood tests (his levels were pretty good considering he'd just finished chemo) and a PICC dressing change.
We also got to witness our first real bell ringing. The bell is rung by the patient after their cancer treatments are all done. It's the biggest deal around for a cancer patient. The custom originated at a Texas hospital in the 1990s when a former naval officer wanted to ring a bell at the end of his treatment as a symbol of "getting the job done" as he did in the Navy and it has caught on all over the world today. Although there are many who feel it is unfair to those who will never finish their treatments and others still who feel it adds anxiety for some patients, by and large it is still practiced and as a parent of a kid who has cancer, I think it's beautiful. It's a rite of passage and with every step being so hard on this journey, you need milestones and celebrations to look forward to along the way to keep you going.
We had seen everyone waiting for a patient to ring the bell on Ollie's first day of treatment, but this time we were able to stay and watch 6 year old Aidan (who had been having treatment since he was a baby!!!) ring the bell with much excitement and joy from the CHEO staff. In fact when Ollie was getting his blood test just before the bell ringing, the seasoned nurse asked him to be his most cooperative self so she wouldn't miss the event because they'd all treated Aiden for years and wanted to celebrate with him. His mom was overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude and Aidan was almost levitating with excitement. So I cried for a family we'd never met before because we now have a glimpse into what their life has been like for 6 long years. Later, Ollie showed Aiden and his sister how to play his Nintendo Switch and told him how cool it was that they were all done with cancer.
Tuesday we had lovely last minute quick visits from friends Sarah and Charity who brought books and games to help keep Ollie occupied. We also got great news from Ollie's principal that a School Board paid teacher had been approved for a handful of hours each week to come to the house (since we aren't at CHEO enough in between chemo rounds to see a teacher there) to help him keep up with his class and even better news that Mrs. Cranston (Sherri), whom he had for the last two months last year when his teacher was on leave is available and agreed to be his teacher again. Ollie adored her, so this is the best possible solution to get him on track to be able to start back in grade 3 with his friends in September and not lose his grade 2 year.
Also a bit of foreshadowing in that I had seen Sherri at school where she was substituting the day that we got our diagnosis while I was picking Abby up to tell her about her brother. Sherri hugged me and told me she'd be happy to come over any time and work with him if it helped. When the principal asked me if I had any preference in who they hired to teach at our place, it was a no brainer.
Sherri and I first met on the school playground when I was on mat leave with Ollie and she was on leave with her youngest daughter. Our older daughters liked to play together after school, so she has literally known him since he was a baby. Who knew how important she'd become in his life one day?! I've said it before and I'll say it again...everything has equipped us for this journey. Also, St. George is an incredible community and we are so thankful to be part of it. Classes start next week and I can't wait!
Today after the washer technician finally showed up for a service call on our brand new washer (long story and don't even get me started!), Ollie begged me to take him skating. He had been incredibly demanding and difficult the last few days (partly because of the steroids he takes during chemo) so I wasn't inclined to reward him, but realized he just desperately needed to get out for a change of scenery and exercise. There are so few low-risk things that you can do with an immuno-compromised child. So off we went to a local outside rink. On a weekday he won't be exposed to any viruses since there's nothing to touch without gloves and no close contact with people.
Finally, we rested at home until Abby and Mario got home. After a delicious dinner from the Meal Train brought piping hot by another kind friend (we are so grateful for all of the meals you are bringing with love!), Ollie helped Daddy switch hoses on the new washer and held the flashlight. Mommy can finally start tomorrow on the mountainous backlog of laundry from the last 11 washer-less days.
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