« First Week of School Wrap Up | Home | Mixed-Up Tree »
School, Baseball, Soccer, Max’s Run, Because of Sam
By Margot | September 17, 2010
Back of the TeamSam shirts
Jenna, me, Colleen and Lisa at Max's run
Sam running on the beach with his soccer ball
 Jenna, Colleen, Lisa and I ran Max’s Run last weekend. It was great to see the turnout and great to see some of the nurses there and NB families that I hadn’t seen in quite a while – and some I hadn’t ever met. It was a great event and lots of fun and lots of emotion. I didn’t make 26 minutes but got in under 27 which was ok. While we were there a young woman came up to me and asked if I was Sam’s mom. She handed me an envelope that said “MagicWater-Because of Sam” on it. She said she’d been following our site for a long time and that she’d recently traveled to Africa and given soccer balls to children in 12 different countries in honor of Sam: Sudan, Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Congo, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Nambia, Lesotho, Swaziland and South Africa. The envelope contained pictures of all of the teams that received new balls and a card she had made up with pictures of Sam and his soccer ball on a green soccer field background that said “In Celebration of Samuel Thomas Hutchison” and at the bottom “Sam You Rock!!!” Some of the pictures of the teams included one of the team members holding Sam’s card. Rachel, if you are reading this, thank you so much. I can’t tell you how touched we were and I know Sam would get such a kick out of all of those teams getting soccer balls in his name. I can just see his big grin. I haven’t had a chance to scan all of pictures yet but I will try to get them up here soon.
The boys are doing well in school. Charlie has made a new friend named Ben and though he’s happy to see me when I pick him up, he runs right off when I drop him off in the mornings. He’s been quoting Johnny Test (a cartoon guy) saying, “I know I’m going to regret this” before he does things. It’s pretty funny. He won his soccer game last week. I think it was nearly a shut out. He scored a goal and was so happy. Coaching the little kids is very funny. One little girl Isabella keeps raising her hand at me and saying, “Coach, I’n not tired!” We are still doing swimming on Thursdays and he’s starting side-breathing.
Andy is doing well in school and liking it. Though getting information out of him is like pulling teeth. I keep threatening to go volunteer in his classroom so I can get some scoop. He won his soccer game last week in a blowout but lost his baseball game 28 to 2 and was sobbing in the dugout in the sixth inning. It was pretty painful and they had to use the five run rule every inning. Poor Andy was trying to cover the whole field in the outfield as not every kid seems to notice the ball rolling by their ankle. Andy and Jake both got hits each time they got up to bat and Andy stole around the bases after hits from Jake and scored the two runs his team got. Hopefully this weekend’s game won’t be so bad. He’s still dribbling a basketball everywhere he goes and his in his composition book at school he’s writing a chapter book called The History of Basketball (part fiction, part nonfiction he says). I have visions of some poor girl in high school listening to basketball talk her whole date. Uncle Paul, I’ll have to read it you. when it’s finished.
I’m working hard and trying to get my feet back under me career-wise. The holidays are coming up and in my keep busy, keep moving mode, I sometimes make myself aware that they are coming up and get a feeling of such complete and utter dread that I zoom right by the thought and pretend that it will take much longer than a month to get to Halloween. We are trying to figure out Christmas but will involve some sort of travel as I can’t stomach it here and I think more family around as dilution will be helpful for the boys. Ugh. See, I can’t really write about it without a big lump moving up in my throat.
Anyway, Neil is doing well and is actually going to golf this weekend. He’s doing great at his job and is coaching two of Andy’s teams. He’s still struggling to even go to school. He went to pick up Andy today for me while I was on a conference call and said he had to hustle him out of there quickly, and he also noticed the same thing I’ve noticed -the fifth graders look so tall of a sudden.
Thanks for checking in on us. Please keep Patrick, Nick, Evan, Liam, Sal, Jack, Hans, Will and all of the kids still fighting in your thoughts and prayers. And if you get a chance go to Pespi’s website http://www.refresheverything.com/categories/health and vote for the $250,000 grant to provide less toxic therapies for children with cancer. It’s the Arms Wide Open Foundation for children with Neuroblastoma. It’s currently in 4th place.
Margot
Topics: Progress Reports | 10 Comments »
September 17th, 2010 at 11:48 pm
What a great tribute to Sam. He’s touched people all around the world.
September 18th, 2010 at 4:04 pm
I love that photo of Sam on the beach with the soccer ball. I remember that soccer ball! And now, kids all over another continent have soccer balls…because of Sam! Amazing. What an incredible concept – improving the quality of children’s lives and possibilities through play, sportsmanship, athletic skill, moving one’s body for the pure joy of it all – inspired by Sam’s journey. It’s so…..Sam. I ran Max’s Run because of Sam, and I plan to keep running because of Sam. I ran yesterday. Gotta keep moving. I know the Hutchisons keep moving. Love you all. Lisa
September 19th, 2010 at 3:23 am
Thinking of you!!
September 21st, 2010 at 2:18 pm
I DEFINITELY get the first copy of Andy’s ‘History of Basketball’ when it goes to print. Do you think he’ll autograph it for me? “To Uncle Paul – your breath smells like buffalo farts…” or something to that effect.
I love that Sam and all of his love, excitement and energy is still so….around. Everywhere. Even with kids all over Africa. You just KNOW that is making him grin!
September 23rd, 2010 at 8:15 pm
Dear Margot and Neil,
I think of you and your family all the time.
Love from NY,
Penelope’s mom
September 26th, 2010 at 3:38 am
Thinking of all of you and keeping you close in our prayers
September 27th, 2010 at 12:55 am
Dear Marg, what a heart render! However I’m so glad soccer balls were passed out in honor of Sam Yes I know he loves it! Ican’t imagine the feelings of picking up Andy everyday right next to Sam’s would be 5th grade Even Ms gage being the teacher! I’m so happy you, Lisa,colleen and Jenna ran on the 11th for Sam. I think running a 27 minute mile sounds fabulous! I love you darling; and think you are so brave to keep moving I’m having a hard time doing that in my present condition,but I’m walking the dog and moving my arm. I’m so proud of you & Neil keeping so busy and active as parents and coaches. I kinow Andy &Charlie bring smiles and even laughter to your lips! I wish they lived closer! Love Mom “Grandma Sara”
September 27th, 2010 at 10:41 pm
A quick edit to last comment #6. Marg, sorry I said a 27 minute mile was fabulous I now understand you ran 5k in 27 minutes!! Please excuse me! to run 5k in 27 minutes is quite remarkable!! After having read the Mik’s blog on Max’s run and how much money was raised for pediatric cancer research and how many people participated– I am doubly impressed with you and your girlfriends! All because of Sam and Max and the other NB angels. Love Mom, “Grandma Sara”
September 30th, 2010 at 4:42 am
Back tonight to look at the wonderful picture of Sam…one of my favorite pictures of him is running after the soccer ball.
October 1st, 2010 at 11:04 pm
heyyy guys! miss you so much. that picture of Sam with the baseball is so cute! all of the boys are gorgeous.tell them i say hi
the idea of the tree with different fruits is soooo coool. mum (kari) planted some sort of tree like that afew of days ago.
hope to see you soon! luv you allll xoxoxoxo