Courage for Claire: May 2016

Thursday, May 19, 2016

Day 171

Plts- 110
Hct- 38.1
Hgl- 12.3
ANC- 1.4

We keep moving along, bit by bit, step by step. Claire started taking a class two days a week, so she is officially a college student. Our beautiful friend from London has been here visiting. Today we had a photo shoot for the amazing Anything Can Be project. (www.AnythingCanBeProject.com) Sadly, our little hospital neighbor passed away. He will not be forgotten. And I have been moved daily by the Humans of New York Sloan Kettering posts on social media. If you don't read those you really should. They are telling some very special stories about the world of childhood cancer. AND I am enjoying preparing for my concert on Monday. There just might be an appearance on stage by my very favorite survivor...so PLEASE come. The rest of our story is going to be in pictures today. Welcome to our world.

Special guests at the Mormon Tabernacle Choir concert.

Four beautiful survivors! From the left, Bethany (read about her journey at brilliantbethany.blogspot.com), Lilly (read about her journey at bebraveforlilly.blogspot.com), the lovely Madeleine, and Claire.

An exciting night at the theatre. (pioneertheatre.org)

Thanksgiving Point! (Madeleine and I may or may not be a little crazy in a golf cart ;)

Hello.

At the Storm Mountain amphitheater with three young women who have faced their own storms.

In case you are wondering, Silver Lake is still snowed in.

Getting makeup before the photo shoot.

Cooking with the chef. They are making pasta. A huge shout out to the talented young Chefs Nick Fahs, Mike Blocher, and David Barboza for a great day and a delicious lunch. I can't wait for their new restaraunt, Table X, to open in my very own neighborhood. (tablexrestaurant.com)

Stirring the clams. I don't even like clams, but these were delicious!

Taking care of that pasta like it was a baby. (Cooked in water that was as salty as the sea.)

Claire especially liked plating.

The finished product. Isn't it pretty?

Channeling her inner Julia Child.

Presenting the very first Claire Driggs Family Cancer Survivor Scholarship to this lovely young lady. A lot of people in my neighborhood were generous supporters of this scholarship, and to them we give a very heartfelt thank you. We can change lives one person at a time.

Thursday, May 5, 2016

The day after my last post Claire went back to the hospital with a fever. Fortunately she didn't have to stay, but it brought up a lot of emotions. Then I started taking her temperature a few times every day, and she started worrying every time her back ached. She went in for her regular clinic visit on Monday. Everything was fine. In fact, she will now only see her doctors monthly, but will continue to get blood draws every two weeks. The sad thing is that I was actually relieved that I had another commitment and David needed to take her to clinic because I was so afraid that things would not be fine. The fear is real, but it is no way to live. So yesterday Claire and I had a heart to heart. We decided that it was high time to stop acting like she is an invalid, because she is not. I committed to only take her temperature if she is actually feeling sick. She committed to getting dressed every morning and having an actual day. And you know what? I noticed a difference today. We had breakfast with friends, stopped at Trader Joe's, and Claire even played her Viola for a bit. I think we are making progress.

On another note, I learned that our sweet little neighbor across the hall during Claire's transplant is nearing the end of his battle. He, and all of the other children we've met whose lives have been far too short, will hold a space in my heart forever.

And, FYI, I am doing a benefit concert for Curesearch for Children's Cancer on Monday, May 23rd at the Mount Olympus Presbyterian Church, 3280 East 3900 South, SLC at 7pm. Your support would be greatly appreciated.