A world changed

There are thresholds through which you pass in life, events that dominate the landscape enough to define the era.  "When I was in college...."  or  "Before we had children..."  For us, there was a pivotal swing in August of 2011 when Dan and I landed in Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, and began to actively fight cancer with our children.  Our lives since then have been a constant battle- sometimes more strategic in nature, sometimes completely brutal.  The scenery would shift, from hospital to hospital. The personnel would change, depending upon the flavor of cancer that we were dealing with.  But we have lived solidly under the umbrella of "after cancer" for six and a half years.

We have devastatingly crossed another threshold, one that will define the remainder of our lives. Brent, who worked incredibly hard and always managed to find his way out of tight spots, succumbed to infection on December 30th in Houston.  He was surrounded by those that he loved. We all returned to Ohio heartbroken, but determined to honor his life, and our love for him. 

So, we begin to mend our hearts, and bind up the empty places in our family. I take on a new identity, one so unnatural and unspeakable, that our language fails to name it.  'Orphan' and 'widow' articulate the loss of parents and spouse. But there is no word to identify a parent who loses a child.  I am a bit lost, literally without words.

For the RamerNation, as in all things, life is complicated by having two children with cancer.  We must continue our efforts with Lauren, who is in active treatment for osteosarcoma.  We cannot simply be still, cocooning ourselves in front of the fire while the snow falls, much as we might want to or as much as our souls might yearn for this. Tomorrow, we return to the hospital, pick up the tools at our disposal, and do our very best for our daughter.  

Brent, along with many others, was hoping for a different outcome. However, because of Brent, and many others, doctors and scientists are discovering better ways of dealing with cancer.  My sincere hope is that the tools become more strategic and less brutal.  But, ever practical, we pick up and use whatever we have around us.  For Lauren, what we have available is some punishing chemo, which carried devastating side effects for Brent. 

I try to remind myself that everyone has their own story.  Lauren is very different from her brother, and perhaps leukemia will not develop in her. Like all parents, we are trying to write our very best story with Lauren, as we did with Brent.  While Brent will not be active in our family for this next part, his experience taught us so much. His example of quiet strength and determination is our standard. His love flows through us all, and spills into everything that we do.

We have set up a page to honor Brent and support research.  You may use the following link to view:

Forever RamerNation