Peds in the Weeds

August 7th, 2011
This was the first cancer event we attended as a family. Many opportunites have crossed my desk from the Midwest Childrens Brain Tumor Center
 (http://www.advocatehealth.com/lgch/midwestchildrensbraintumorcenter), the pediatric oncology department and other pediatric cancer organizations the past year-tickets to this and that, party here and there, etc. , but this was one we were actually able to attend bc everyone was finally feeling well  ( and Charito and I were ready to take that leap as a family). We even agreed to attend right alongside R and her family (remember her? 8+ yrs ago Drs Kwon and Goodell treated her for lymphoma and her sis and bro in law are G's godparents and our great friends. A little scary that 8+ yrs apart here we were attending the same event for the same ugly reasons).

The event was described as a huge party in the woods. Picnics, balloons, games, activities and the ever popular Dunk the Docs. I remember the first time I heard about it. It was during our very first clinic visit one week after the diganosis. I remember thinking "How can they talk about some party in the woods when I don't even know what is going to happen tomorrow?" It was really hard to picture any of this back then. To make anything out of each upside down day. My, my how far we have come.

When I asked the kids what their fav part of the day was:
T: "Losing my first tooth and playing mini golf."
G: "Dr. Dell splashed me! Dr Kwon got me wet!" Yes, he dunked the docs in the water tanks. He was given a free pass and Dell told him to just run up there and push the button. We will work on that pitcher's strike for the future!

 G and Nurse Jenn

 G and Nurse Shell

 balloons representing each patient

 The balloon release

 G and Dr Dell-after the dunking!

 Dancing w his girlfriend Areum

 choo choo

 running free

As you can see from the pics-how could anyone NOT have a good time?! It is now an event we plan on attending for years to come. The detail, effort and organization put into such an event was nothing but impressive. And to see the faces of patients currently battling cancer, those who won the fight and continue to treasure the event and those attending in memory of  fighters was nothing short of surreal. Another memory for us to hold onto.