Jordan's Journey

She is back at Ronald McDonald Camp, and very excited about it. We won’t see her again until Thursday. She took her camera and promised to snap lots of pictures. I miss her already.

She had a rough chemo day. She did great getting accessed and hob-nobbing with some visiting celebrities. But the drugs socked her a little harder than usual. We think her body is starting to tolerate them less. She gets sick almost as soon as they drip. Fortunately, she doesn’t need to tolerate the drugs for much longer. Though chemo may have won today’s battle, you’d have a hard time seeing it now. When I came home, she was still glad to see me, still incessantly chatty, and still spirited in just about every way.

She gave me a handsome handmade card. She drew all the pictures, and dictated her sentiments to her school aid. Here’s what I received in the booklet card, panel by panel:
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He’s a great tickler! He knows my tickle spots, especially the one under my arm and my neck!
–
I also like to watch Andy Rooney with my Dad!
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He’s so clever about making podcasts with me.
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And he’s so busy working on my book.
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He’s the only one who can say fast “snugglebug sugarbug snicklefritz.”
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He’s a great cook! He makes the best scrambled eggs and soft bacon.
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I love when he reads books to me and we cuddle.
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It’s great to have a dad like mine. He’s the best dad ever!
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I love my dad. Love, Jordan

I read this thing over and over, and every time, my eyes get wet. Love that girl.

Jordan, The Persistent

She plops down on the sofa next to me and sighs.

– When are we going to the store to buy my tea?

– When you clean your room.

– Oh!

She groans and heaves another sigh.

– You always want me to clean my room.

– If you didn’t mess it up, we wouldn’t ask you to clean it.

– But I want to get that tea. I love that tea.

– And I want you to clean your room.

She shakes her head and flaps her hand in the air.

– We have two problems, she says philosophically.

Jeanette lifts her book closer to her face in order to hide the laughter.

Two Strong Women

One has quiet strength. She can withstand setback after setback, steel herself and trudge forward without much complaint. The other is a lion. She will overpower you with the force of her will, and let everyone in her path know that she has conquered you. My wife and my daughter flirt with strength on very different paths–paths that have converged on an epic scale. At times, they butt heads. But just as quickly, they console one another.

In a few days, Jordan will be on summer break. The two girls will spend a lot of time together, some of it in a hospital, some of it on a bumpy road to recovery. It isn’t clear yet how much work there is ahead, but one thing is certain: the women in my life will lead us through the next chapter of Jordan’s Journey.

Hooded Bandits

She was supposed to clean her room, but she spent most of the day prancing around with a feather duster. I occupied my time playing with the camera. Occasionally, she would sit with me for a portrait or comment on one of the photos. She’s excited for summer to start, and she’s eager to go to camp. Though she doesn’t let on, I think she was rather pleased with her latest test results. I hope she always carries this mighty strength with her, well into the days when she is old and grey … when others begin to act a little feeble. With her will and her energy, she could conquer the world.

Just received fabulous news! A senior neuroradiologist at CHLA reviewed the film from the MRI scans Jordan had last week. He compared the new scans with a study from August 2008. The comparison demonstrates “significant reduction in the thickness and prominence” of the disease around her brain.