It's been a while since I had to do something I really truly wanted to avoid.

That's the upside of having the cancer card. It gets you out of just about anything.

Working? HA! What's that and why would I do it?

If my life had occurred any other way, I would consider myself incredibly spoiled.

No job, no real responsibilities except to my son and family, an aunt that helps with the house, all the bills taken care of by others. 

That does sound nice, doesn't it?

So it's a rare occasion I do something I really don't want to, and when I do, it's always because it's important to someone I care for.

I attended the wake of 18 month old Tessa Newton earlier this week.

She passed away suddenly during the night, being taken from this world far too quickly, especially for such a little angel. 

Who knows why God does what he does. I hope everyone can have faith that there is a reason this happened, though none of us can imagine what it is now.

My heart goes out to the family, friends, and loved ones. 

Please take a second to say a prayer for her and her family.

This is a subject far too hard for me to delve into, which is why I so desperately wanted to avoid any of the ceremonies surrounding her passing. I can't imagine the horror and sadness with the passing of a child far too young.

Now, flipping the script with some good news (again, avoiding what makes me uncomfortable).

Andy is in remission!

Andy has been a perfect, best case scenario for leukemia treatment minus the first round of chemo which did not send his cancer into remission.

He was diagnosed quickly and earlier then he was immediately started on therapy.He underwent two different chemotherapy regimens since his diagnosis to achieve remission (compared to my 6 or so). 

His brother was a donor match for a transplant, which was extremely lucky, since siblings have only a 25% possibility of matching and finding another Loatian in the donor pool is next to impossible). When the first regimen didn't work he was able to consult Boston Children's for a contingency plan but continue chemotherapy at Dartmouth, close to home.

Now that he is in remission and everything is in place for a transplant, the transplant is scheduled for next Monday at Boston Children's Hospital!!

He's staying with his father at Ronald McDonald House this week while undergoing the tests necessary to clear him for the procedure and then Monday is the big day he is admitted to the hospital!

He'll be an inpatient for about 10-14 days and then be required to stay in Boston for at least a month afterwards.

Thank goodness for resources such as Ronald McDonald House and ACS's Hope Lodge that make relocating for these procedures affordable.

It's been a dream of mine to get extreme makeover home edition to create something like this for Dartmouth's Norris Cotton.

CHaD has David's House. I think Norris Cotton should have a "Hillary's House."

My application is in the works. It's been in the works for years. 

Someday. . . . maybe, when I get my attention span back.