"Ok, but I Won't..."

First Game Day 2012!

As I pulled Jace’s jersey over his football shoulder pads at 5 PM last night, I told him, “If you get dizzy during the game, just sit down-- or tell your coach, OK??”

He impatiently replied, “Ok, but I won’t.”

“You won’t get dizzy, or you won’t tell your coach?” I quickly tried to clarify…

But it was too late. He was running away from me onto the field to start warming up for his football game.

I haven’t let up on the steady campaign against football…J, but I’m still losing.  Jace is determined to play, though football has proven more difficult for him than baseball. Despite his chemo treatments yesterday morning, which included anesthesia, LP, chemo to the spinal fluid and brain, AND IV chemo in his port, Jace insisted on playing in his game last night.   He’s trying to earn a starting offensive position, and he knows that won’t happen if he stays home. He spent most of the afternoon on the toilet with a bowl in front of him, but when it was time to ‘suit up,’ he didn’t hesitate.  

Jace also made me promise I wouldn’t remind his coach that he had chemo that same day.  Jace knew he wouldn’t get enough playing time if I did. 

I’ll admit that when I watched Jace trot off the field after a victory, smiling big…sweating…giving the other boys high fives… I melted a bit. I don’t like football any more than I did, but it’s proving to be another challenge that is NOT getting in the way of our Iron Man.  Isn't it interesting how sometimes our kids teach us the most valuable lessons?  This week Jace is teaching me that complaining doesn't help, we are stronger than we think we are, and when things are difficult, we just need to endure. Thank you all for sending such reassuring comments and thoughts. I'm so grateful for the feedback we get from this blog. 

This morning out of the shower Jace was dizzy and tired. He rested on my bed while I rubbed his feet and legs. I reminded him how close he is to finishing chemo. He smiled a weak, pale smile that said, thank goodness. Then he got ready for school, found his backpack and headed out.  I called after him, “If you get sick, call me?...”

He replied, “Ok, …but I won’t.”

8 AM After LP

7 PM  After Game