Team Teagan Update | 7-23

“The Great Escape”, In this instance that is more of a statement than a place. This last week has been filled with several mini-escapes, starting with Grandma Pat and Rosie’s Love arranging for us to have a few days together as a family at this great little private cabin on Daggett Lake. So, here we go packing up the car and mini-van, and I mean “packing”, including the dogs and anything else we could fit. With barely enough room for “people” we headed north into the Adirondacks without knowing what to expect from our first family “camping” trip… Honestly, it turned out to be our kind of “camping” – A house! With Light’s, clean sheets and running water - in the woods, near a lake, surrounded by real campers! We enjoyed our time in the woods, as the boys took exploratory bike rides with other kids who appeared even before we had a chance to unpack. Teagan got a chance to splash in the lake without great concern, and just be a normal 2-year old. At night we sat around our roaring campfire roasting marshmallows, making slightly burned gooey smors.

Due to work, I needed to head back on Monday, with Holly and the kids following on Tuesday because Teagan had to go for a short visit to Club AMC for blood counts. But overall it was a great experience!

So, while we were back home, Holly and I spend a few minutes catching up on neglected business stuff in the office. After Holly heard the muffled sound of the latch on our front door, I headed into the hallway fully expecting to see the familiar face of a neighborhood child asking the boys to come play, but instead, in a moment of initial panic followed by burst laughter, I saw our little miss Teagan with full determination making her own “great escape”, as she stepped off the stoop and proceeded to march barefooted down the sidewalk towards the front yard and certainly beyond, had we not heard her. We’re guessing she was so excited and wanted a head start on our next “great escape”, as this one was squarely aimed at her.

Having received the green light from her doctor just days before, and her blood counts well within a safe range, we decided to head south for a few days and give Teagan a chance to meet her all-time favorite character – ELMO!

With hotel reservations in hand, the route programmed into the GPS, and the mini-van again packed with bare essentials, we’re off to PA and Sesame Place! We spent two days running around, armed with our VIP wristbands (given to us by the Sesame Place establishment to provide “no-wait” entry into all rides and shows), from life-size Muppet show performances to knee high splash ponds filled with 100’s of equally excited toddlers and pre-teens hoping for that once in a lifetime chance to stand side-by-side with Elmo and his buddies. But none showed more excitement and joy as our little Teagan, who seemed on the verge of a pint size seizure each time one of these life-size creatures came within 50 feet.

These last 6 months have been very trying on all of us individually and as a family, and this was probably as close to normal we could muster out of a mini vacation and our “Great Escape” from reality even if just for a few days.

Today was Monday, and reality came back into our lives, as Holly and Teagan checked back into Club AMC, to begin her 5th round chemo. This stay is scheduled to be 8-days filled with a variety of chemo cocktails, tests and uncomfortable sleepless nights on that single seat lounger next to Teagans jail like crib. If you feel like visiting or calling, they are in D7 North Room 735A (Phone 262-0330) and should be there until next Tuesday. If the room or phone changes, I’ll be sure to send out an update. But feel free to stop by if you’re in the area.

As we start this next round we again ask for your prayers so that we can come through this unscathed as best as possible, and if we may, we ask for some special prayers for our good friends Trish and Paul Ramsey, who last week travelled to the Boston Children’s Hospital with their 4-year old son Christopher for his anticipated bone marrow transplant, who tonight lies in the PICU, after suffering Kidney failure and some other complications from his chemo treatments.

We know Christopher is strong and determined to fight his cancer, but every voice calling to the heavens is certain to make a difference in his speedy recovery. We can only imagine what Trish and Paul are feeling, and send our heartfelt prayers.

These days our life is consumed with hope for the recovery of our daughter Teagan, and the thoughts of those we are exposed to during this journey – all these families vow to fight, be strong and openly pray to God at each turn in the road. Sometimes the path for all our children – Kyliah, Will, Ila, Emma, Christopher, and Angels Zac and Ryan gets very bumpy, but the help and support YOU, our friends and family provide us gives us the strength to keep fighting each day. Even the smallest gesture of support at the right time has gone a long way – and IS very much appreciated.

If you’d like to send a message of encouragement to Christopher and his family, click the link below, and don’t forget we love reading your messages on our own Guestbook too. Thank You All!

www.caringbridge.org/visit/christopherramsey

Be Well,

Juergen, Holly and Kids