6/23/21

 

As I reflect back on the past year, I am so proud to say the I have a graduate! Great job to Ethan and all his class mates. Hilton School District did a great job of with planning and executing such a wonderful graduation ceremony. I can’t say enough great things about how much they have bent over backwards for us. Wow! Frontier Field was a great venue.

I had to go buy some chair pads for Ethan’s boney butt.  His counselor at school has been nothing but supportive and helpful for the past several years. She took care of making sure Ethan’s chair had the pads. 

I dropped Ethan off with his classmates. These are kids he hasn’t seen since March 13 th, 2020. 

Ethan walked by us as the seniors paraded down to the field and found their seats. 

There were speeches made and then the kids lined up for the ceremonious roll call as they get their moment to have their name called. My brother, Brian and his wife, Kristen were watching the live stream.  As we were listening to all the names called and all the families cheer for their kid, Avery and I discussed what we were going to yell out.  We posed the question to Brian and Kristen asking for ideas to tell out. They suggested “I want a toilet” the phrase Ethan wrote to me while on ECMO and intubated right after his transplant. Perfect!

I didn’t cry! I cheered loud and proud! It was a cheer I have been saving up for this day. And of course, Avery and I yelled “I want a toilet” as loud as we could after we cheered of course! I have included the link to the short video below:

  

https://youtube.com/shorts/i0StclpwCIU?feature=share

After all the kids went through the line they circled back to their seats until each kid got to go have their moment.

Watching your first born graduate is a mixture of all sorts of emotions. I miss the little 4 year old Ethan that would tell me all about construction vehicles. It is a moment of pride as you think, “wow! I got them this far, now the sky is the limit.” 

You have your family members that were strategic in building your child’s character cheering them on in person as well as online. THEN you get to see your kid’s friend’s and cheer them on too. It really was a big stadium filled with positive energy supporting the up and coming generation.

Afterward, the kids went to their families and a fireworks display was set to start. The fireworks were a great way to end the evening, with a bang!

My leg is still swollen and sore. I had a doctor’s appointment via zoom. It was quick and efficient. I was asked the dreaded pain scale question. I believe that Brian Regan did a comedy skit on that question. My leg is uncomfortable but I can function without much deviation from normal living.

I have felt multiple aspects of pain with excessive back pain, child birth and my broken elbow. So “on a scale of 1-10 how bad is your pain?” If 10 is the worst, I would say childbirth, so how do I place cellulitis on this scale. I can’t say a 5 because that would be half the pain of childbirth. I don’t want to say a number too low and then have the issue dismissed. I settled on 3. It’s sore and annoying but nothing I can’t handle. Stupid pain scale. I want to revamp the pain scale. Out of these 5 phrases, how would you rate you pain?

1. I probably should take some Ibuprofen

2. I wish the ibuprofen I took was stronger

3. Ouch! This sucks. I need someone to feel sorry for me

4. Woah! Am I dying?

5. I am dying and this f@cking hurts!

I would put myself at a 2. I have antibiotics and hopefully it will resolve quickly. Just a little bump n the road.