A Turning Point
Sometime around 1:00 today, everything changed. Robin’s fatigue flew out the window, and the chatty, fun, energetic girl returned! She said, “I want to go somewhere, Mom.” This was the first time she expressed any interest in doing anything, so I jumped at the chance. After reviewing our options, she chose the toy store! We piled in the car and roamed the aisles at Toys R Us (a generally dreadful place, in my opinion). But today it was fun. Robin was beaming. Her hair is a wreck, her tummy enormous, and her cheeks look like a squirrel’s, full of nuts for the winter. But her smile would have made you melt.
She had a $15 limit and was in search of a new baby stroller for her dolls. Although after careful review of her options and a significant discussion, she chose a doll’s car seat, with a doll attached. She proudly carried her new toy to the cash register. She even said, “This is what I have always wanted.” In fact, she has talked about a doll’s car seat for a long time. She continued to carry the car seat through the parking lot and got it nestled in between her and Henry in the backseat.
When we arrived home, I asked her the doll’s name. She said, “Lucy.” This is significant because to-date all of her dolls have names like “Orange Baby” and “Purple Baby.” This is the first one with a name, and why Lucy, we don’t know! Then she told me with great excitement, “Lucy has leukemia too!” We spent the rest of the afternoon playing doctor and giving Lucy her shots. I have been amazed in the dramatic change in her mood and energy level since just this morning. Let’s hope it continues and that she enjoys a nice break before more intense chemo starts again on Monday.
Her hair continues to fall out in strands and clumps. She is not the least bit bothered by this. It is amazing. And I am already SO OVER my anxiety about her baldness. Fact of the matter is, she is so darn cute and so sweet, that the hair makes no difference. She used to say, “When my hair falls out, then I won’t be Robin anymore.” We’ve talked a lot about what makes a person who they are and now she tells us that it is what is inside her heart and her head that makes her Robin. She is now to the point that she wants us to cut all of her hair off. I think we will do that in the morning.
I love this reminder from Donna Joyce: “When I see bald heads, I see a badge of courage. A badge of courage worn by a little girl to remind us all life is fragile.” Isn’t that wonderful?
Sara
1 year ago