Monday, December 17, 2007

Happy Birthday to the Most Beautiful Blue-Eyed Angel

Picture--the day we brought our new baby home!! What a beautiful little Allie!



It's Allie's birthday today. She would be four. I had a baby four years ago?? Sometimes it seems like it was just yesterday that I found out I was pregnant, Mother's Day 2003. What a present that was!



Maggie could not have been any sweeter today. She slept in (hallelujah--that means *I* slept in!!) and then we snuggled and watched TV for over an hour. We didn't rush, we didn't stress. It was nice. We ran some errands and then went to the Heroes for Children office for a little while and had a quick meeting with Cheryl and Christi. Andrew met us there and took the rest of the afternoon off. He hasn't come with me to the hospital for our birthday tradition in over two years, so it was a VERY big deal that he came with me. We had a quick lunch together at Chick Fil-A, picked up a decadent cake for Doctor Goldman. We went together as a family to visit the outpatient clinic at Medical City.



Dr. Goldman greeted us immediately and ushered us over to meet the patient at the infusion center. "Did you ever get help from Heroes for Children?" he asked the mom. "Well, she's one of the FOUNDERS! Come here, Jenny!!" The mom gushed her thanks and her son was so very sweet. We enjoyed a nice treat with Dr. Goldman and the nurses. Dr. G wasn't as interested in the cake at first as he was with Maggie. This is why I love this man--he put her on his lap, cut a piece of cake, and fed her cake and icing. He kept saying, "this is my birthday present--this is the best present I could have!" The nice treat for me today was not only did I get to visit Dr. Goldman but both Dr. Weinthal and Dr. Lenarsky were there as well. What a treat to get to see all three of them. Dr. Weinthal did make sure to remind me of his birthday in July!



Dr. Lenarsky asked me if I would like to meet a sick little girl newly diagnosed with Wilm's Tumor, a tumor of the kidney. The four year old was diagnosed 13 days ago with cancer. She's the youngest of five. Last week, we mailed her a check. The child has had cancer for less than two weeks and HFC has already helped. The mother profusely thanked me for our help. I got a little choked up watching the little girl lying limply in the bed. A flashback hit me of my Allie laying in that very same bed in that very same room vomiting uncontrollably as I listened to Dr. Lenarsky report to me that Allie's first round of chemo was not successful. She still had 50% cancer in her blood after one grueling month of chemo. We had been hoping for less than 10%. Our intention was to come back in that day for her bone marrow aspirate at the clinic, then up to the transplant unit for a quick 8 day round of chemo. The plan was 8 days of chemo then three weeks at home. Those three weeks never came. We sat at that room with our horribly sick baby and she died less than four months later, never going home again. So, yeah, I choked up just a little.



While we were at the clinic, Deb, my fearless Co-Director of Camp Discovery and awesome oncology nurse at Medical City, called up to 12 South to see who was working. Both Kochumol, Cindy (Allie's two favorite day nurses!) and Michelle (Allie's favorite night nurse!!) were on the floor. We were for sure heading to 12 South! I went up to the window at the nurses station and quietly knocked on the window. Looking up expecting to see a patient visitor, Michelle squeeled when she saw us! In a flash, everyone was out in the waiting room to say hi to Maggie and give big hugs. It was a great homecoming to them all. Again, I choked up talking to Michelle. When I told her Allie would be four, both our eyes filled with tears.



When Maggie could handle no more, we decided it was best to hug and head home. Maggie crashed in our car on the way home, and I got the pleasure of sleeping with her softly on my chest for more than two hours. For me, that is pure bliss. There is nothing better than a sleeping baby (though Andrew reminds me she is definitely not a baby anymore, I refuse to accept that!) on your chest. I could remain that way for hours.



Dinner with the Kriegers was a perfect way to end our good day together. My heart is full. I'm so thankful that I have spent the day honoring my sweet angel.



Happy Birthday, my Allie. We miss you every single day.

38 comments:

Heather said...

Happy Birthday, Allie.

Jenny, you have done the best possible thing you could have done to truly honor your daughter and her legacy.

The grief you and Andrew experienced and continue to experience is unimaginable. But I'm just so amazed at the "next steps" you have continually taken. Not down a road of not being able to get out of bed in the morning, but down a road of passing on such good and assistance to other people who are facing the same challenges you did.

Tina said...

Thinking of you Jenny,
Tina & Angel Lance

Jennifer said...

Jenny,

Thinking of you, Andrew, Maggie, and your beautiful angel Allie.

Her story continues to inspire so many people, and she will never be forgotten as result of the things that HFC and Friends of Heroes do in her memory.

Praying for a cure, and working tiredlessly towards that goal,

Jen C.
Friends of Heroes webmistress
Ukiah, CA

joanaTX said...

Happy birthday sweet Allie! You are so very missed.

Leah said...

Happy Birthday Angel Allie!

Kellie Gray said...

Happy birthday! *hugs* to your whole family...

Anonymous said...

Love you and thinking of Allie as always.

Laura said...

Thinking of you as you celebrate darling Allie's birthday. XO

Kylee said...

Happy Birthday sweet Angel Allie.

Polly Sturm said...

I'm sending heart-felt hugs to your family as you remember your sweet Allie and honor her memory on her birthday and every day.

Mom Of 3 said...

Happy Birthday sweet Allie!
Jenny you and and Andrew are truly an insperation to people everywhere. I know Allie is smiling upon you so proud to call both of you her parents!

Chaney said...

I am glad you had a great day. Your strength and support for others is amazing. You amaze me. Andrew amazes me. Miss Maggie is amazing.

Happy 4th Birthday Allie

Robin said...

Happy 4th Birthday Angel Allie.

Unknown said...

You are so amazing, Jenny.

Amy said...

Happy Birthday Beautiful Allie!!!!

Amy said...

Happy Birthday Beautiful Allie!!!!

Tammy said...

Happy Birthday Allie! Your the reason I donate blood every 2 mos. your the reason I check in and pray for so many kidos still fighting. Your Mommy is doing wonderful things, helping familys in need everyday, you would be so proud of her. We miss you beautiful blue eyes, and that contagious smile! Hugs from Fort Worth!!

Cookie's Mommy said...

i am crying at your post, what a fantastic way to end a great day honouring your girl :)

Allison (Allyoops) said...

Happy Birthday Dearest Allie - you are never too far from thoughts.

Allison (ally)

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Beautiful Allie! I thought of you all, all day yesterday and had hoped you were having a wonderful day and a great visit with Dr. G! Allie will never ever be forgotten and I can just imagine how proud she is of her mommy and and amazing family as she watches over you all. I hope we can hang out soon! Aiden is ready to do some flirting with the prettiest little girl in town! Loads of hugs to you!

xoxoxox Melilssa

Adrianne said...

Happy Birthday a day late Angel Allie. Your legacy will forever live on.

Amy said...

Happy Birthday sweet, beautiful Allie.

This is the first time I have been to your blog Jenny and what a day to come. Your sweet Allie still holds a special place in my heart.

Rebecca Vilkomerson said...

Happy Birthday sweet Allie! I still think of you often, and especially today...

Amy B. said...

Happy Birthday, sweet angel! I'm sorry it's a day late, I was out of town yesterday. Blessings to your wonderful family!!

Cinnamon said...

Happy Birthday Miss Allie!! You are forever loved by several whom you never met but touched our hearts for life.

Melissa said...

Happy Birthday Allie!

You have me totally crying here Jenny, I'm thinking of you! (( hugs))

Lisa L said...

With much love to you Jenny, to you Andrew and to little one who never 'knew' her sister in the way we know our siblings. Holding you all in my heart today on Allie's birthday.

mrsf5 said...

Happy birthday, Allie. Thinking of y'all this week...

Laurie said...

Allie was thought of all day yesterday, thinking how such a sweet angel did such great work here on earth and continues to do so :) Happy Birthday Allie!!

Mary Beth said...

Jenny what a beautiful tribute to Allie - it sounds like a perfect way to celebrate her birthday.

mrsvanoven said...

Happy Birthday Allie, her life is celebrated all over the world!

Faith M. said...

What an amazing way to celebrate her birthday!

Krissy said...

Happy Birthday Allie.

Jenny,
Your posts about Allie always bring such mix emotions for me. Happiness, sadness, excitement, and joy. Thank you for all your wonderful posts.
Krissy

Furuya Family said...

Happy Birthday Sweet Angel! You truly are a Legacy & Your Mother is a Hero!

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday Sweet Allie!!!

Dana said...

Happy Belated Birthday Allie! I hope you had a lot of fun and celebrated with mommy while watching over her!

Hugs,
Dana

M.Yeager said...

Happy Birthday Allie! You have forever changed my life!

Spence Ohana said...

I'm catching up on my blog reading and wanted to send belated birthday wishes to Angel Allie! I always remembered her birthday on our birth blub board because that was my due date - I was overdue and had Madeline on the 23rd. It is amazing it's been 4 years since their births. I think it was so wonderful how your family spent the day remembering sweet Allie.