Hallelujah

MUSIC UP: "Hallelujah." The Jeff Buckley version.

Yesterday was a triumphant day. We checked into Admissions at HUMC, walked ourselves up to the surgery suite (sad we know our way there and don't need an escort) and Sylvie was actually... nice instead of psychotic. It was our third time there. The first, for her biopsy and port insertion last February, second for Sylvie's Hepatectomy last May and yesterday to remove the port. We had no idea they had their own playroom since usually Sylvie is having a kniption. Siobhan met us for a few minutes, but I knew Sylvie's friend Jette was downstairs in the clinic bracing herself for a spinal tap sans anesthesia so I told Siobhan that we were a okay and to head back to her. Sylvie really wanted to see Jette and we had hoped to see her later.

I saw Dr. Valda, who is very cautious around Sylvie because usually, well, usually she's a mean little bugger towards him. I promised him that she was a happy little girl and that Sylvie even had a present for him. He came into the playroom where Sylvie was seated in a big red wagon calling "Louise" (Ruby's best friend on Max & Ruby) on a toy phone. She looked up, walked over to Dr. Valda and gave him a Strides For Sylvie t-shirt. He said point blank, Sylvie was a different child. We all laughed. Then he asked if we had the champagne on ice which we replied, since August.

We got Sylvie into her green gown and met Dr. Mandalay the anesthesiologist. Dr. Olssen has been Sylvie's doctor for every other procedure so we went over how crazy Sylvie would be and to not take it personally nor make us wait around for Sylvie to drink clear liquids because quite frankly, she would be defiant. All good. Michael suited up in his white moon suit and I watched him carry Sylvie down the hall to the OR. She greeted the nurses by name. I cried tears of joy.

When Sylvie woke up, she was raring to go. Dr. Valda said she'd be very tired... eat a light meal... skip school... Not our Sylvie! We're probably the only former patients who voluntarily visit to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit but my parents said that a very nice doctor with glasses sent his regards but that Sylvie didn't like him. I was determined to show off Sylvie's nice side. It was Dr. Dyme who is the head of pediatric cardiology, one of our favorite doctors and true to form, Sylvie was nice to him for the very first time. (Past times, she's literally been apoplectic).

I called Jette's dad and they had just left so we detoured upstairs to floor 5E, Pediatric Oncology/Hematology so that Sylvie could visit her nurses who she talks about literally every single day. It's worth noting, this was the first time Sylvie has ever willingly walked there. I pushed the automatic door open button and Sylvie literally RAN in and jumped into nurse Jessica's arms. It was like Chariots of Fire. We were all crying. Jessica, Katie, Gina passed Sylvie around and she hugged all of them. Then she told them about her new puppy, Lucy, "who is bad." It was an amazing moment.

From there we headed downstairs where Sylvie insisted on getting mozzarella sticks and I insisted she was going to puke all over us in the car. Dr. Sarah Zavala met us and Sylvie told her she's been wearing her hearing buttons to school every day.

Sylvie's like the mayor of the pediatric hospital.

Finally, we went home. It was a big day for all of us.

I suppose you could say the chapter is closed although every month we'll scare ourselves silly and sweat bullets while waiting for lab or CT scan results.

I told Jette's mom, Sharmon, that Jette is up next and that we are going to literally bring chilled champagne to the pediatric surgery playroom for when Jette's port comes out.

I had dinner with a few girlfriends last night and I really do feel like all of our families have been touched by Sylvie in such a positive way. Whether it's spending more time with our kids, being grateful for simple things like health & family or just slowing down a little I feel like our lives will forever be better. If Michael and I have learned one thing, although believe you me, we have learned many more than that, but for the purpose of this posting, we are completely intolerant of negative energy and attitudes. Look for the positive in absolutely everything you and your family do, do not cast judgements on anyone else and appreciate everything you have. Negative = negative.

When I was at the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC 4 years ago, I marveled at the photographs of young women walking barefoot under harsh circumstances and without coats or shoes for miles upon miles and thought, "I have no complaints. Ever." And after reading "Life, Faith, Cancer," a gift from Temple Beth Tikvah, it made me further consider the great mysteries and power or powerlessness of religion whether it's the notion of disease, sick children, the Holocaust, the Civil Rights movement, Rwanda, 9/11, Katrina, plane crashes and so forth. There really is no answer but I think faith is a very powerful and good thing regardless of how your or where your message is delivered.

Music Up: "Hallelujah." The Leonard Cohen original version.