Birthday celebrations

Today is my birthday, and I was surprised with a visit by one of my best friends.  It couldn't have come at a better time, either, because it didn't feel like much of a birthday and I was having a very stressful, rainy, dreary day.  I went out to run and errand with Ty and my sister in-law, Debi, and when I returned Caryn was here at my house!  Caryn drove up from Virginia to spend the evening with me, and I couldn't be happier.  We are going to go out to dinner while my wonderful mother in-law and sister in-law watch the boys.

Tomorrow we are going to celebrate Ty's birthday at Grandma's house.  But first, we will be watching the Irish Day parade here in Long Beach with our friends and neighbors, and we will be going to the childhood cancer cookie sale that will be held in front of the Saloon on the corner of Beech Street and Indiana.  A sweet friend of mine from High School, Erin, had bracelets made on behalf of Ty and we hope anyone in Long Beach can stop by to support the cause.  Thank you!

At Grandma's house we are also celebrating Uncle Harry's birthday and cousin Kayla's birthday.  Then, on Monday, we will be sure to have yet another cake for Ty for his real birthday.  That will be very hard for me.  He is going to have his first chemotherapy treatment on Tuesday, and I just can't imagine how it is going to feel celebrating his third birthday just the day before.  Three is the cutest age, and it's supposed to be happy.  It's going to be really hard. 

Comments

  1. Colleen RosenOctober 2, 2010 at 1:38 AM

    It sounds really hard Cindy. But he won't be on chemo YET for his birthday. So have a nice birthday celebration and take a cue from Ty (as best you can) to live in the moment. He will not be worrying about the next day! If only we could all be so wise. I don't want to sound like a certain Wantagh HS English teacher with a rock and roll mullet hairdo reminiscent of Steven Tyler, but "the child is father of the man."

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Anything but cancer

Image
Cancer is not welcome here.  It can never, ever, ever, ever, ever come back.  As I mentioned yesterday, Ty has been showing some physical symptoms that we haven't seen in a long time.  Please, God, don't let it be cancer again.  Anything but cancer. I spoke to Ty's doctor first thing this morning and he believes the increased weakness we are seeing on Ty's left side is not related to new cancer growth - but that doesn't rule out the possibility.  He feels that Ty is suffering from spasticity, which is becoming more visible now only because Ty is getting stronger.  As Ty's muscles begin to regain mass and tone, the neurological weakness on his left side is becoming more noticeable.  This spasticity is likely permanent, but also treatable with continued therapy.  When I spoke to his physical therapist later today, she agreed that it would explain what she is seeing, and then she reassured me that walking again is still a highly...
Read more

Our baby is finally free. Rest in peace Ty Louis Campbell.

Image
Ty Louis Campbell is gone, but his story continues.  This is our promise to him.  His impact on the world around him gives his short but inspirational life such meaning.  His soaring spirit will continue to fuel a fire in our hearts, and strangers around the world will continue to fall in love with the little boy who fought so valiantly.  The little boy who hurt so much, but maintained a bigger, brighter smile than the healthiest of children.  Ty never did break his fever.  He never really woke up.  Not until he decided to leave this earth and fly freely among the clouds.  At that very moment, he was awake.  He had returned to Lou and I to say goodbye.  To say our hearts are broken would be like saying it tickles to have your stomach ripped open with a spoon.  I went to bed last night with so much worry on my mind, but I was able to fall asleep because I was calmed by the fact that in his semi-conscious s...
Read more

Our aching hearts

Image
My face is swollen.  My eyes are heavy.  I have been crying for what feels like an eternity.  But in between my tears, I have an overwhelming sense of freedom.  Today we were told that there are no more treatment options for Ty.  That his MRI Saturday night shows progressive lepto-meningial disease in three different areas.  Lou and I decided against surgery to fix Ty's shunt, and I am finally free from feeling responsible for whether or not he lives or dies.  Ty is in God's hands. No matter how many times I swore that I leave Ty in God's hands, I was always clinging onto him with every ounce of my being.  Researching.  Fighting.  Begging.  Doing anything in my power to find a way to save him.  Finally, I have exhausted my options and I am letting go.  I may be kicking and screaming, but I am still loosening my grip because I know that I have to.  We have tried so hard, for so long....
Read more