Full Update Soon....

In a nut shell, we've been experiencing a nice break and have a lot to update you all on. Four weeks since the last Vincristine shot and doing well. We'll be back in the hospital on Monday for round #5 of 9. 'Til then here are a few snapshots of the last few weeks.

Nearly 40 Valentines for school!

The elusive Great Horned Jimmy

Just waiting...

Uncle Whit gets JT a meeting with Teemu Selanne before the B's game.

Teemu presents JT with his game stick from the night before. Teemu scored a goal with it versus Buffalo the night before and had 18 other Ducks sign it.

JT scores an official game puck!

Intently watching the game.

Highs and Lows

Shea passed away last night. Peacefully, I suspect. The sort of peace that morphine and the such provide as the person takes the final turn off of this bumpy road.

She was only 12. She fought not only cystic fibrosis but cancer, to boot.

On the very same morning that we are waking to celebrate James' half-way point my thoughts occasionally wander off to Shea's family. Although my children are still here (fighting over video games as I type), I have been there, on the front line of end of life decision making with both my mother and brother. I just remember how quick it all happened. How you are forced to put your mourning on hold and attend to the 'business' of death. It's horrible yet unavoidable.

We knew Shea as much as blogs, conversations with friends and meeting up with her on the sixth floor allowed us to. She was part of our MCCP family. Despite not having the closest relationship with her we got to know her well enough to know that we walking on earth are much, much poorer this morning.

I try and not make these pages my pulpit and, at times, I carefully tow the line. I just ask that you join us today in raising a glass to our milestone and - immensely more important - bow your head for Princess Shea's peace and her family's healing.