Andy and I had synchronized our watches the night before in order to converge upon Casa de Longo at our usual pick-up time. We will not know until March whether this race is over, but for now we are celebrating this mile marker for what it is – a noteworthy accomplishment!
We arrived at Medical City determined to depart the “old school” way. Mom always told us that you never go to someone’s house empty handed and you never leave someone’s house without thanking them for their kind hospitality –and some how just saying “thanks” did not convey our gratitude for the care and compassion the Dream Team, Part Deux, had shown to our mom. So, in the words of Emeril, we kicked it up a notch …BAM!
As mom entered the doors of the “forbidden zone” she was flanked on each side by a child. We looked like the Three Wise Men …ummm…I mean Wise Guys (it’s an Italian thing) and instead of carrying garlic, marina and parmigiano reggiano; we were bringing cookies and flowers. :o)
It was a day filled with a certain duality, as mom made the rounds handing our pink Gerber daisies to all the staff and fellow patients she had met during the past month. It’s very surreal to feel both sadness and joy co-exist at the same time and in the same place. While they will be sad to see her go, they should take great pride in their life saving work that has allowed her to move forward.
Her staff gathered together one last time to present mom with a bracelet that they had made from the inner, cardboard circle of a role of masking tape. For anyone “not in the know” this object that adorned mom’s wrist was just a cardboard circle. But for those who are privy to the story, it is a prized possession that contains an immeasurable amount of love, compassion, strength and blessings that have been shared between momisan and her radiation team for the past twenty-five days…and those are sentiments that will never be forgotten.
As we made our final round through the radiation ward, we bid a fond farewell to the Dream Team, Part Deux and loaded mom into the car for a victory lap around the parking lot before we headed for home.
As we turn the page in this chapter of the book, I think it is important to once again mention the radiation staff at Dr. Macko’s office. Simply saying “Thank You” does not seem to be enough. It takes a special calling to deal with those battling Cancer and each and every one of you will hold a special place in our prayers for simply being such amazing individuals.
Like I stated in the first-paragraph, today was about saying good-bye the “old-school” way. Sometimes we have the tendency to forego the extra mile when saying “thank you” to those that went above and beyond for us. It does not have to be anything extravagant. It can be a simple handwritten letter or a batch of home-made cookies, the end result is the same …it is gratitude that comes from the heart that is most meaningful.
Thank you all for your love, prayers and continued well wishes – we feel them each and every day.
Val
(Mom and her Dream Team, Part Deux)
(The 3 Wise Guys Post-Graduation)
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