A day to celebrate

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Charlotte didn’t understand why we wanted to celebrate today. We tried to explain how having your port removed means you are finished with cancer treatment. Of course, she surprises us with her understanding as she instantly made the connection that she’s still in fact receiving shots in NYC for her cancer and that now she’ll need to have a different kind of “poke” when she gets her pictures taken instead of using her port. She doesn’t see the end like we try to do, and who can blame her. You see she’s already had an end of chemo party in 2016, 2 confetti parades after both of her stem cell transplants, she already rang the bell after radiation in 2017, had another confetti parade after finishing immunotherapy the first time, she had a dance party celebration when she had her central line removed and then rang the end of treatment bell in 2017. She then rang another bell signaling another end of radiation after she relapsed in 2019, along with another celebration when she finished treatment for the second time just 2 months ago, and now, today, some of the sweet staff at Duke put on another dance party celebration for her port removal. So for Charlotte, who started this journey at just 2.5 years old, today was just another procedure. Another appointment. Another scar. And although Brian and I NEED to celebrate every milestone in order to find the victories along the way, to Charlotte, it’s just her life. She finds the joy in every day regardless. She doesn’t like or want the attention or the hoopla, but I whispered in her ear today when she was reluctant that our Duke staff wants more then anything to show her some love and make her smile. And so she quietly allowed us all to fuss over her all day. She carried around the balloons some sweet friends brought over to her tonight like they were her special treasures. When I asked how we could celebrate today’s milestone she said she wanted me to make spaghetti and garlic bread and caesar salad with extra olives along with fire pit s’mores for dessert. She said she wanted to us all to play in the backyard. And so we did. We want to give her the moon. But she just wants the simple pleasures of being home with her family. Today....was a good day. Thank you amazing village for all of your love and prayers ❤️🌈 #charlottestrong



Port Removal Parade: final scar❤️
https://youtu.be/AgxvtWwKaFs

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