Tomorrow is an awesome day. It's a day of hope and community and commitment to children. It's a day of thanks and a beautiful reminder of something we can do together to make the world a better place.
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| Escaping our room in May 2016 |
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh played a major role in saving Nora. Her team, who I personally believe was handpicked by Nora's eternal Father, was absolutely the reason she is alive THRIVING. Dr. Shaw, Dr. Friehling, Ronnie Ekeroth (the bone marrow genius that she is), nurse Jen...the list could go on, but I would be too afraid to miss someone. The doctors, nurses and professional staff we have met over the years are nothing short of INCREDIBLE.
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| 2 days into our first stay @ Childrens |
Being told your child has stage 4 cancer was like being thrust into "the upside down" for all of my Stranger Things fans. The world as you know it completely stops. Your new world resembles the old one-the furniture, places, the events and even the people are still the same-but it is cloudy. There is a horrible film over everything and it is terrifying. Nothing sounds right, tastes right, feels right. You are looking for "the gate"-the way out-constantly. The big difference in this analogy is that you can't fast forward or stop watching during the scary parts, and when you finally find the gate, the story doesn't end there.
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| "I got this, dad" |
Our journey with Nora has taken us into several different "upside downs." Some were scarier than others, but all of them passed through the doors of Children's Hospital at some point.
Let me be super honest-I wish I wasn't walking tomorrow. I wish tomorrow was just another Saturday. That would mean February 23, 2016 never happened. That would mean no scars, no scans, no chart, no chemo, no IVs, and no reason to be scared. But we can't go back to life on February 22nd, so we move forward-because that is the only direction worth going.
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| First Annual WALK for Children's June 2016 |
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| Second Annual WALK for Children's June 2017 |
Tomorrow is a way to fight back. It is a way to show our strength and perseverance to the world. It is a way to say THANK YOU to those who saved not only our daughter, but thousands of other kids fighting unfair battles. Tomorrow is a day to celebrate those fighters, or champions, as they so deserve to be called. Tomorrow is a great day to celebrate being alive and to celebrate Nora's survivorship. To recognize the bright future ahead for our kids and the hospital dedicated to their health. I love my city. I couldn't imagine living anywhere else.
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| Meeting da Beard...again |
I wish I didn't have reason to love Children's Hospital as much as I do, but when this life was handed to us, they rose to the occasion of carrying us through. They saved my child and in turn saved me. I hope you will walk with us tomorrow. But if you can't do that, I hope that you will pray for the children-past, present and future-that walk through those doors to be saved from illnesses and circumstances that they don't deserve. Miracles are happening inside those doors everyday and it couldn't be done without days like tomorrow!
