Ring That Bell!!!!


 

Ring this bell three time well,
It's toll to clearly say,
My treatment's done,
This course is run,
And now I'm on my way. 

On Friday afternoon, the day after Cooper took his last chemo we had a small bell ringing outside at our house with some close friends and family as well as Cooper's former attending doctor. Due to COVID we did not ring the bell at the hospital but wanted to make sure that Cooper had the chance to do this with family and people who love his surrounding him. We had an amazing cake delivered by the Icing Smiles foundation and baker Kimberly Sabatano who completely outdid herself. Cooper received a Harry Potter celebration dream cake that was more than we could have imagined. The cake even had a section in it that had a music box and played the Harry Potter theme song. The Hogwarts train lit up and the cake had everything that Cooper loves about Harry Potter all in one amazingly fabulous cake. 







We cannot thank our amazing doctors enough who got us to today. They make so many personal sacrifices every single day to take care of these kids and to put these kids first. We adore his docs and they are forever a part of our family. We also cannot thank our amazing neighbors enough for mowing our grass, making our Christmas celebrations feel normal, for taking everyday stress away, making meals, and being our family here in Woodsboro. To Grammy and Grandad for literally driving all the way here from VA for EVERY SINGLE CLINIC day. We could not have done this journey without them. To Mimi and Pots for driving all the way from Florida to be here for his bell ringing. Thank you to so many more people who have always shown up for us and supported us in more ways that you can imagine. We love you all.



The day was made even more amazing by a call and a package from Raven. Cooper was so excited to talk to him! Those two are buddies. A few weeks ago I send Raven back the jersey that he sent him when he started treatment to have Raven sign to round things out finishing this journey. Raven did so much more. Raven sent Cooper some of his football stuff which is so very special to Cooper because this was stuff that belonged to Raven and was special to him, and he chose to pass it on to Coop. He sent a sideline blanket, some D-train shirts, gloves, and the most special, his helmet signed with a few inside jokes. Cooper was beyond excited. Raven is such a special friend to Cooper and it was so kind of him to make this day extra special. 




At the bell ringing ceremony, naturally, we were a mess! We were so thankful to have just a few close family and friends there despite the situation. We made the best of it and it was perfect. We are so proud of our guy!

Aunt Connie made the gorgeous blanket for Cooper out of all of his shirts through his cancer journey. This  quilt has so much kindness from so many people, foundations, etc. sewn into it and was made with so much talent and love!!!!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Beginning of the Road

18 Aug 2018 So it begins... There are certain days in your life that you will always remember - wedding day, birth of a child, the day you bought your first home, graduations - you get the idea. Unfortunately not all these dates are remembered for a positive reason... It is with absolute heartbreak that Kristy and I want to let our family, friends and loved ones know that on Aug 18 2018, our son, Cooper was diagnosed with child leukemia.  I cannot put into words how we are feeling or even if we have fully comprehended what this means for us as a family.  As most of you readers probably know, Kristy and I were blessed to welcome Evyn Wylde Trueblood into the word on 15 Jul 2018. So adjusting our lives to a newborn and a family of 4, to now have this news is more than we ever thought we would be able to handle. I am opening this page mainly for three reasons.  First and foremost to remember Cooper in your thoughts and prayers.  Our God is the creator, great healer and more impo
Read more

Snacks, Hair, and a Dose of 5 Year Old Perspective

Everyone thinks their own kids are the best. That's every parent's right as their guardian.  We are obviously bias but we can't help but look at our kid in absolute awe with how he is dealing with this situation. Nothing like your 5 year old setting the record straight with a bunch of grownups who feel like they're trying to get their act together. From the beginning we have done our best to be completely honest with Cooper about what is happening to him. Granted, this is a tall order to try to make sure to explain a life threatening disease in a developmentally appropriate way. Those of you who know Cooper well, know that he is a very literal kid, a straight shooter. You'd better be honest with him or he will be the first one to call your bluff if you aren't. It is this wonderful quality that Cooper has that will most likely earn all of his classroom teachers a nice bottle of merlot for Christmas. Cooper is also a very observant kiddo, he's a watcher...he
Read more

Last big intensification push: It has begun

Image
So on Friday we did not make counts to start the second part of intensification, so we went in Wednesday and Coop made counts like a boss! It was such a long clinic day, but we were thankful to go home. We were the first ones there and the last ones to leave. We barely got out before they would have had to admit us to inpatient. Luckily this week, Kristy was able to attend clinic with Coop too. Last week she was getting over the shingles and couldn't go to clinic as a precaution to the other patients there. Good old stress induced shingles...Ugh....just what every parent with a baby and an immunocompromised kid needs, right?  Cooper actually got out on his bike during the few days we had after he didn't make counts. We figured if he was asking to go outside, he was feeling much better and we had a pretty good feeling he would get going on Wednesday.  Cooper had the choice to leave clinic and keep his port accessed at home for the home care nurse to come out and admin
Read more