Quick update. I am currently in Anderson, Indiana on my way to see family in Ohio. It is mom, the girls and I. We have made this trip for many many years, but this time it is different. For those who don’t know, Ohio is where my moms side of the family is from. The car ride was a little tougher than I thought because of the nerve pain in my legs, but I made it;) It just makes it ever so clear that I am not back to 100%…. not sure I ever will be 😦

But….. for this trip it’s all worth it:) I get to see family and bring back one of my most favorite people in the world…. Mark. He is my uncle. He has been a part of my life forever and he is one of the most caring and loving people I have ever met. See, Mark has Down Syndrome. When my grandmother (who he lived with almost all his life) passed a few years ago, things have been tough for Mark. I know he misses her terribly, so this trip every year is so important. It gives him a break from his small
town, and he always has the best time.

It’s also one of the reasons I love my husband so much. Since the first time he met Mark he showed him nothing but love. He went out of his way to take him out, spend time with him, and love him. John has always understood how much this means to me….and him. I have to spend extra money on things when I travel and when he’s in town, and John has never made me feel guilty about it. He loves Mark too and just wants him to have an amazing time when he visits. I couldn’t ask for a better guy for Mark to spend time with. I’m so lucky:)

Mark has lost both his parents, and recently a brother. He has a hard time dealing with death as I imagine most with down syndrome do. So….. when he found out I had cancer, I know it scared him. I am a person he connects with being fun, and energentic, and silly. Not a person who is sick…. or worse, who could die too. I talked to him a few times while I was sick, but it wasn’t easy. I could tell in his voice that he was scared. All I remember saying is
“Mark I promise when I pick you up this summer I will be healthy and cancer free…no worries.” I’m not sure if he believed me or not, or even at the time if I believed it… but, I wasn’t going to even for a second give him any clue I was sick.

So, here I am in a hotel room late at night, not being able to sleep thinking of him. I just want to give him the biggest hug ever and reassure him I am better now. Mark is everything to me and my family. I know my grandma is looking down from Heaven and is so proud of all of us and how we take care of Mark. As a child I remember asking her what would happen to Mark if something happened to her? I was just a kid and really didn’t know the answer. Her same response was ” I hope to live just 1 second more than him, so he won’t have his heart broken.” She loved Mark so much and never wanted him to feel pain or sorrow. So, now as an adult myself I will do anything to show him we love him and make my grandma proud.

Well, better get to bed. Long day tomorrow. xoxox Here are some fun pics from his last visit!