A Mother's Story

Friday night we participated in the Relay for Life. Our team raise almost $4000. Wow. I actually think we will be over $4000 as there is still money coming in. What a wet Relay we had. It absolutely poured. We had one heck of a time getting our tents up. Oh my. We got soaked. Drenched. We got the tent up just in time for me to do my speech.

But the rain didn't dampen our spirits and together with 50 other teams we Relayed for 12 hours and raised over $85,000. Lucas lasted until about 11 PM. He said he wanted to stay up all night but he got cold and when he laid down it wasn't long until he was asleep. My nephew Zachary on the other hand lasted the entire night. Boy did he crash in the morning.

As we walked the track and all of the luminaries burned my thoughts were with so many. Babies. Children. Teens. Adults. So many precious lives lost. So many fighting the battle right now. But I have hope as the group of people in those yellow shirts - the Survivors - continues to grow.

I want to give a shout out to our team - Randy, June, Emily, Alison, Heather D, Heather C., Corinne, Rosalie, Patti, Mona, Elaine, and Becky, and of course our inspiration Lucas for working so hard at fundraising, for enduring the pouring rain to relay, and for your great support. I want to say a thank you to our special helpers - Mary Ann, Sandy, Betty Jo, Dale, and James for help with the fundraising events. I want to thank my friend Amy of Amy's Creative Embroidery, Wilmot, NS, for donating the awesome team hats. Thank you so much to everyone that donated and supported this important cause.

As I mentioned in my speech it was reported earlier this year that research funded by the Canadian Cancer Society has identified 8 genes, that when mutated lead to medulloblastoma. Lucas also benefits from Camp Goodtime which is funded by the cancer society. So I can see that the dollars raised for the Relay and the Cancer Society are making a difference.

I'm disappointed that I didn't get very many pictures - not a single one of Lucas other than him in the sleeping bag. My camera was in the car for safe keeping and by the time we got our tent and cover up it was time for my speech. I'm hoping that someone out there will send me one or two pictures of Lucas.

Wow have things been busy in our lives. There has been lots going on to get ready for the Relay. I'm so proud of my team. They have worked so hard and we have raised over $3000 so far. Many thanks to those who have donated. I truly believe in the great work of the Cancer Society. The Relay is less than a week away. We are praying for NO RAIN as it will be a long cold night if it does.

Last weekend we participated in the IWK telethon. Generous martimers and local businesses raised 5.4 million for the hospital. Awesome. Lucas presented a cheque for his school on air. And I worked the telephones for a 2 hour shift. I love doing the phones. It is fun to be behind the scenes of the production.

Lucas got his hair cut really short yesterday. I already miss the longer hair but this will be much eaiser for the summer. He likes it and can spike it up. He's been well but covered in cuts and bruises from all of his falls. He's such an active kid and because of his balance issues he tumbles a lot. Last week he came home with a smashed up forehead. The next day it was his left eye. And earlier it was a wripped up knee. Poor guy.

We went to see Cirque du Soleil the other night. It was the Alegria production. I was beyond amazed. We had second row seats so had great views of everything. Lucas' favourite part was the fire batons. I liked it ALL!!!

We will be meeting with the school next week to discuss next year. There had been talk that Lucas would go into a 2/3 split because he is having a hard time with school. But I guess they will be putting him a in 3. Fortunately his teacher is very familiar with the brain tumour world as her son also had one.

So that's about it for us. I'm sure there is more to share but it seems I never get time to update. Thanks for continuing to follow Lucas.

 MRI.GFR. IV access for the radioactive material. Machine that tests to see if radioactive material is moving. Taking his blood pressure. Nurse Irene wasn't far away.

 Lunenburg, NS

 Kingsport, NS

 Music Festival Performance

 A friendly little horse we found on one of our road trips.

Happy Easter Everyone. I hope you were all surrounded by your families on this blessed day.

Lucas has been great. He had a wonderful weekend and my nephew Zachary spent it with us. This makes Lucas very happy. As an only child he loves to spend times with his cousins. Zachy likes to get a break from his two sisters ;). This morning we went to church and when we got home to boys went on an easter egg hunt. Too bad it was raining. They still had fun though.

Lucas finally got a hair cut. I had mixed emotions about it. But it was getting so shaggy. It definately needed a trim.
Last weekend was the Relay for Life at Acadia University. We were asked to speak at the Opening Ceremonies, and Lucas walked as a Survivor. It is always such an emotional event for me. I'm filled with thankfulness for how well Lucas is doing, sadness for those lost, especially our family and friends, and of course hope for the future. I lost it during my speech but luckily Lucas was by my side and his little noises and remarks were a great distraction. He brought lots of smiles at the end when he ended with, "Keep kickin' cancer's butt." One of the other survivor's had his little boy with him, probably 4, and he said to his mom, "Mommy... he said "butt". We all smiled at that.

MRI time will soon be here - April 29. I haven't been thinking about it too much but I know as the days draw closer my little anxiety knot will form. But I really have no reason to worry. Lucas has been feeling great with the exception of colds and coughs.