Jordan's Journey

I know a girl in Pasadena. She’s got a streak of Ethel Merman in her. Anything you can do she can do better. Nothing stops her. You might slow her down, but you won’t keep her from doing that which she wants. Big, hairy monsters have tried to stop this one. Big monsters with scary names like “cancer,” and “tumor,” and “chemo”. She pays them no mind.

Saturday was Lucas’s school carnival. It was the five-star community event with plenty of physical distractions: bounce houses, bungee runs, obstacle courses. Jordan wanted to do them all. And she did. This picture was taken on the rope bridge. Jeanette and I have blood marks on our lips. There was no need for such anxiety. Jordan did anything the other kids could do. Anything.

The brown-haired boy followed her with his puckish brown eyes as she entered the room. In his tiny six-year-old frame he mustered a dose of full-grown Latin charm. He squashed traces of fear with daring, macho bravado and masculine charisma.

“I’m not sick,” he asserted.

As she climbed into her out-patient bed next to him Jordan grinned wide with her own brand of pride and charm.

“Me, neither,” she replied. “I’m kicking cancer’s butt!” (more…)