04/07/2025
This photo was taken during the July 4th week last year. I still distinctly remember how busy my month was as I was balancing taking my flower farm side hustle to the next level while balancing a full time job. In between, I traveled to Florida for a work trip, took a few days off for a flower farming conference (yes they do exist!), and even got into a small fender bender.
Then our world came crashing down at the end of the month when we found the lump on E's right leg. Eric took her to the pediatrician and to the pediatrician's credit, she didn't dismiss us but rather asked us to get an xray and ultrasound. Ultrasounds were backed up until September! I searched for so many places before I found a same day apt. I'll never forget the technician's face when she did the ultrasound. After consulting with a family member who is a ped onc, Eric and I decided to drive down to the the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's ER the next morning. We dropped everything- I took off from work, we cancelled a long awaited celebratory dinner date with friends, and that was the start of a life long journey.
I share this because July 4th is the birth of our nation and there were so many times in our cancer journey that we realized we won the lottery of living in this great country. Our healthcare is not perfect and it is expensive, but it is also excellent. We have equipment and treatment not found in other countries. When we were discussing the possibility of proton radiation, I reflected on how the majority of the limited proton radiation machines are located in this country! I think about all of the children in nations who don't have the same level of diagnostics and care, and how life and death can be determined by something as uncontrollable as the country we are born in. No country is perfect but to me, this is the country that has given my daughter an opportunity in a way that only few other countries could.
Happy 4th, everyone!
