teamsam.com Blog

Sam’s Gift

By Margot | August 16, 2010

Our wonderful friend and phenomenal photographer Deb Schwedhelm sent us an email today titled “Sam’s Gift” with the following link to her post on her website.  It’s impossible to explain all the emotions this post brought about.  Certainly brought on the tears.  Check it out…

http://www.debsphotographs.com/photoblog/?p=1406

Thank you Deb and thank you Terrie, for honoring Sam.

Margot

Topics: Progress Reports | 12 Comments »

Happy 4th Birthday to Our Own Kobe Bryant!

By Margot | August 11, 2010

Sam and Baby Charlie

Charlie and Andy in their Balloon Hats

 

Charlie boy turns 4 today.  He is so excited.  He’s been talking about his birthday for at least a month and telling everyone that it’s “tomorrow”  and he could hardly believe it when we told him yesterday that it was actually tomorrow.  He’s our funny, happy, cool (probably got that from Sam), stubborn yet easy going about some things, sweet little four year old.  I asked him who he wanted to invite to his birthday and he named all of Andy and Sam’s friends and completely forgot about anyone his own age.   We did invite his friends his own age (even some girls much to his dismay) but I’m not sure he considers them his age.  He asked me the other day, “Mom, how did I used to shoot the ball when I was Jett’s age?”  I said, “You are Jett’s age, in fact, Jett is older than you are by two months.”   He’s having his Lakers party at Pump it Up on Friday (ooff hard without Sam)  and we are doing it all purple and gold.  His biggest wish was a Lakers cake so he went with me when we ordered it from the Vons bakery lady.   He explained in great detail how he wants a number 24 on there.     Andy has been excited for him too and went and told the balloon guy at Soup Plantation last night that it’s his brother’s birthday and he needs a balloon.    He sang him Happy Birthday when he woke up this morning and he and Neil picked out some things for him yesterday at Sports Chalet. 

I was so worried that Charlie would be a nervous, stressed out kid because he was born at the exactly the time that Sam relapsed and I was so stressed out through much of the pregnancy.  I think I must have used up all of the stress hormones for both of us because he’s the least nervous, stressed guy there is.  He is shy, like Sam used to be when he first gets into a group but he warms up very quickly.  He’s the only four year old I know that walks with a swagger and trash talks during basketball.   His frank openness about Sam is so fresh.  He’s sometimes just say, “I miss Sam” or “I wish Sam were here.”   Last week when I was putting him to bed he said, “Mom, why won’t God let Sam come down?”  I stumbled over the answer with an I don’t know and I don’t think it works that way and a maybe he does come down but we don’t see him.   Basically I gave no coherent answer.  He said, “Oh, I bet Sam’s mad that God says, No.”   

He and Andrew are becoming such good friends as he gets older.  He is going to be a sports nut like his brothers in case you haven’t figured.   Yesterday at PeeWee sports, Andrew was giving him tips in kickball from the sidelines.  It was pretty funny because a four year old kickball game is not all that technical.   Charlie was telling one older boy who was there with his little brother, “I doubt you can beat my brother in basketball – doubt it.”   He’s swimming like a fish these days and can swim across the pool with no problem.  I think he is more right brained than Andrew who is very math oriented – though I keep counseling myself not to label..  Charlie is reading some and he does a game on the computer where he puts the right letter in the three letter words and he’s spot on.

We are going to the Padres game tonight with tickets we won from a Camp Erin lottery and Maureen is coming with us and bringing lots of Lakers themed gifts. 

  We love you Charlie Boy and we are thankful for you and your brother every day.

Margot

Topics: Progress Reports | 14 Comments »

Pics

By Margot | July 27, 2010

Grandpa and Charlie on the Tractor

boys in NM

Boys with the hot air balloons

Charlie Brushing Cash the horse

Andy leading Cash The Horse

Some of the gang on Sam's birthday

Boys watching the balloons for Sam float into the sky

Andy Luke Grant and Charlie (Sam's birthday)

Charlie and MacK

Sharks and Minnows in the Pool

Neil, the shark with group after sharks and minnows

Sam's birthday two years ago

So, thought I’d catch you up with some pics.  The boys are doing well.   They both had a great time in New Mexico, rafting, riding horses, camping and fishing (they both caught fish) and though their tethered balloon ride was cancelled because of the wind they got to see a lot of balloons go up.  We had the first nice day of summer on Sam’s birthday.   Andy is going from sport to sport.  Had baseball camp with Luke last week and has soccer camp this week and then is going to basketball this afternoon.   He did really well in his basketball game last week and for now anyway basketball seems to be the sport of choice.  We’ll see after a week of soccer camp.  He really seems to be thriving and blossoming.  He’s stopped a lot of his nervous tics.   I read in one of the bazillions of grief books I read that sometimes with siblings along with the sadness and grief comes a sense of relief.    Don’t take that the wrong way, I think it has less to do with Sam then with a total change of lifestyle.  Andy suddenly has a normal life.   Life without Sam is hard for all of us.  Life without cancer is easy.  And therein lies the rub - and what a rub it is.   I know that Andy misses Sam tremedously and I see it at the summer parties when he is without his wingman.   Charlie is doing well.  He’s wants to do everything Andrew does and is young wingman in trianing.  He is so excited for his 4th birthday coming up.  He asks everyday if it is his birthday so I’d better get on the stick and start planning.  Can you guess the theme?  It has to do with a certain NBA Championship team.

Neil and I have been doing all right, working, parenting, loving the boys.   I keep making email plans for coffee with my friend Joanne at the hospital but then not following through.  I had to break the hospital seal two weeks ago and take the boys to their dentist whose office is at Children’s Hospital.  I stayed far away from the oncology wing but even pulling into the dentist parking lot nearly gave me a panic attack.   We didn’t have our regular dentist so the  other dentist asked me how Sam was.  Ugh.   I read on Will Lacey’s site that they had a session on PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) for cancer parents and I can sort of see that.  On wikipedia  the third symptom reads as follows: 

C: Persistent avoidance and emotional numbing

This involves a sufficient level of:

The thing is there are so many good memories of Sam and he is so worth remembering - every single bit of him that I don’t want to avoid it.   I remember trying to brand the feeling of holding him into my brain.  I wish there was more of him I’d branded into my brain.   Enough rambling.  Probably none of this makes any sense or comes to a point.  We are actually doing better 4 1/2 months later so no need to think I’ve gone around the bend.   Just miss our Sam.    We are truly enjoying Andy and Charlie though.  Neil’s birthday and our anniversary is coming up this weekend.  Last year we spent it in the hopsital.  Happy Birthday and Anniversary to my amazing husband.

Margot

Topics: Progress Reports | 16 Comments »

Sammy – Happy 10th Birthday!

By Margot | July 13, 2010

Dear Sam,

Happy 10th Birthday Buddy!  I know you would be so proud of those double digits.  We miss you tremendously. Dad and I and Andrew and Charlie and your friends are going to celebrate you today.  Your brothers and I just got back from vacation back in New Mexico and we thought of you every step of the way.   Every time I looked up into that bright blue New Mexico sky with those amazing clouds I thought about you.  Andrew and I jumped in and floated down the river rafting and I kept thinking of when you and I jumped in and it was so cold it took our breath away and we jumped right back in the boat. We stopped at echo canyon and yelled out “Sam we love you!” so it would echo up to heaven.  I thought of you when Andrew caught a fish and he yelled  “Fish On!”  just like the guy in River Monsters because I know you would have laughed with me.  I miss your laugh so much, buddy.  I hope you laugh a lot in heaven today and I hope there is a mint chip ice-cream cake and soccer and laser tag. 

Love, Mom 

Dear Sammy –

I love you buddy.  I love you with every ounce of energy in my body.  I think of you all day and I know that you are ok, that you are in Heaven.  I get a sense that you laugh at us alot at how upset and sad we are and that you want to tell us “that things are ok”.  And I can see your incredible smile and laugh.  And Mom is right – you would be SO PROUD of being double digits!!!

Today, it’s sunny.  There is a beautiful blue sky for the first time all summer.  No marine layer for you on your birthday! 

Sam, we’re going to “rock it” on your birthday.  We’re going to the park, playing some soccer, eating some ice cream, and we’ll hit the beach and catch a few waves.

I love you more than anything in the world buddy.

Your Dad.

PS – Sam – your buddy Joe sent you a birthday card.  It said: “Sam was the most best friend a kid could wish for.  Happy birthday Sam!”. 

 Joe speaks for all of us.

Topics: Progress Reports | 36 Comments »

Off to New Mexico/Summer So Far/A Cancer Called Neuroblastoma

By Margot | July 5, 2010

Neil and Andy on the way into the Padres Game

Charlie hiking the ball at Luke’s flag football b-day party (one day of the summer he wasn’t in his Laker’s jersey)

Andy running the ball at Luke’s b-day party

Joe’s tenth birthday at Laser Tag

boys in the hot tub with Grant

Sam running the ball in 2008 because I can’t post photos without him

Charlie and Andy and I are off to New Mexico for a week today.  We are looking forward to camping and fishing and maybe some river rafting. Pics above are a few from summer so far, playdates and swimming and a couple of Padre games  birthday parties, soccer world cup, barbeques and fireworks.   A lot of firsts without Sam, Mother’s Day,  Father’s Day, my birthday, 4th of July, packing for a trip.  Joe turned ten last week and that was hard.  Neil went to the Laser Tag party with Andy and he and big Joe played against all the boys.  He was much braver than I was because I couldn’t go.  I took Charlie to Toy Story instead.   Hard to really put into words all the things we miss about Sam and what we miss about him together and individually.  Doesn’t really do him justice to write a laundry list but little things and big things every day.   Andy and Charlie are doing well.  Lots of basketball.  Charlie is still only wearing a Lakers jersey every day and only basketball shoes.  I went to the Library to sign the kids up for the summer reading program and the book Charlie picks out while I’m trying to sell some of the classic story books?  “The Golden State Warriors” because, as he noticed, and I never would have, it has Derek Fisher from the Lakers is one of the guys on the cover.  He used to play for the Warriors I guess. So now we now lots of facts about The Golden State Warriors and their entire history.  Isn’t that useful?   Andy is into The Discover Channel lately and great white sharks.  He watches this show called River Monsters in which this hokey british guy is always trying to catch these deadly gigantic fish in some river in Africa or South America.  Andy loves it and can now tell you all sorts of facts about the goliath tiger fish and the size of its teeth.  He’s going to miss his first basketball game in New Mexcio but then will have a full summer season when we get back.   We are taking a counseling break for a while as I think we were probably over-counseling Andy.  He’s doing pretty well but cried some yesterday when he thought about how much Sam would have loved the 4th of July.

CNN today has a video on their home page today about a little boy named William Bunn who died last week and was buried with full police honors because he became an honorary officer in his town and was an inspiration to the entire force.  What struck me about the story though was when the announcer said, “William had a cancer called neuroblastoma.”  Nobody ever says “a cancer called Leukemia” or a cancer “called breast cancer”  or a cancer called “prostate cancer.”   Maybe when news announcers can just say “he had neuroblastoma” and people will know what they are talking about  we will get closer to a cure for all the kids fighting this monster disease.   I’m adding a link to a story about DFMO, one of Dr. Sholler’s current trials.  The man in the story Andre Bachmann refers to of course is Neil:

http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/hawaiinews/20100626_old_drug_has_new_promise_to_fight_cancer.html

I’ll post pics from our trip when we return. We get back on the 12th,  the day before Sam’s 10th birthday.

Margot

Topics: Progress Reports | 10 Comments »

Running on Empty

By Margot | June 20, 2010

Guest commentary by Neil:
Even with Sam gone, I love this blog. It serves as a diary of our life and I can always go back and relive the events of the day.
Father’s Day. What can I say. From an activity standpoint, it was a home-run. We had a “Easter egg hunt” (we’re big on those even on non-Easter Sundays) with clues that led to tickets to the Elton John concert in July. Lawn seats because you know Andy and Charlie will want to run around. The boys are going to their first concert so we thought we would make it something great so they would never have to swallow hard when they’re adults and admit their first concert was something horrible like Lady Gaga. Or God-forbid Kenny Chesney. (The trivia-minded will want to know that my first concert was Chicago at Hershey Park Arena. It doesn’t get much better than “Saturday in the Park”.)  And before I forget, we went to the Padres – Orioles game.  3rd base, 19 rows up.  Great seats and the Padres struck out with a guy on 3rd in the bottom of the 9th. 
Uncle Matt joined us for our Annual Water Balloon Fight at Kate Sessions. Note to mom: don’t throw balloons at Charlie’s eye or he will cry 🙂 Note to Andy: this is the last year you will be allowed to throw with your left hand. At age 7, he has a 90-mph fastball but we also know him well enough to acknowledge that with his right hand, he wouldn’t be able to pick-up a $1-million dollar bill so we feel safe restricting any future Water Balloon Fights to Andy having to use his right-hand.
We went to the beach — Charlie danced in/out of the waves; Andy boogie-boarded and did great. The surf was rough and the sun was warm.
We barbecued steak at the pool and the boys swam and jumped into the hot-tub.
We watched a little bit of the US Open and were very glad that someone not named Tiger won. Especially on Father’s Day.
I miss Sam terribly. I think of him when I see other little boys in cute skater shoes, sitting on their skateboards and just hanging out. Boy he would have been so cute. He would have LOVED to hang out on his skateboard and kick back with his friends. I would HAVE LOVED to just see him grow up. He always just made me laugh because he loved life and he was a goofball with a great smile.
I think of him when I see the adorable little girls in his 4th grade class – I miss the whispers between Sam and Andy about which girl is cutest and which girl they like.
It just kills me that Sam got a death sentence: not ADHD, not diabetes, not something that would be more chronic. It’s very hard to understand and accept. I read books on God and Heaven and am thankful that I have friends like Ron who keep suggesting books to me. My God and Heaven library is 30 books strong and growing. It’s important that I come to terms that Sam is in a safe place; perhaps he’s even in a better place. But he’s not with me and it hurts.
I think there is a God. I think there is a Heaven. But those questions which were so academic while Sam was alive have a sense of urgency now that is very hard to explain.
I reach out to my extended neuroblastoma family for comfort and support on a daily basis. With other parents who have lost kids, we can end other’s sentences; we know there is someone on the other line who knows how we feel even when our feelings are lost or crazy or crushed.
It helps to watch video of Sam. I love his voice and I love seeing him interact. He seems alive still.
I am thankful for Andy and Charlie. They are best friends. They laugh and love and live. They remember Sam.
Andrew wore his TeamSam shirt today (thank you Andy and Melissa!) and wore Sam’s bathing suit to the beach. Coincidentally, another little boy, Nick Hulquist, had the same suit on. I love looking at other boys and visualizing Sam. I think about the coincidence of another boy having Sam’s suit and whether that should help me feel that Sam is in a better place.
Charlie talks about Sam. Sam’s always sitting on the brightest star in the sky in Charlie’s mind. Charlie is a smart guy.
Andrew and Charlie – gosh, I love those guys with every breath I take. And I’m so lucky to have them.
I go up to Kate Sessions Park and read his plaque. I don’t know why – I just feel that it helps me connect with him. And I hope that if his spirit is rolling through the canyons, he’ll appreciate the love I have for him. I don’t want him to be forgotten.
I sit and stare at his remains in the urn in our living room. I wouldn’t have them anywhere else but why God? Why? Why take the most beautiful little boy in the world away from his dad? Why do that? And how is that fair to his brothers – beautiful boys in their own right who now get love from a fractured dad? It doesn’t make sense. And it just stinks. And I work really hard to make sure that they don’t pay a price for my heavy heart.
I don’t know why I write this. I just hope that somehow things will make sense someday.

Topics: Progress Reports | 17 Comments »

Slideshow

By Margot | June 16, 2010

Uncle Matt put up Sam’s slideshow that we made for his All Star Party on the YouTube channel yesterday.  It’s a lot of pictures.  So many that we had to divide it into parts.   There are so many great ones, I had a hard time picking.  If you have some time check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/user/teamsamhutchison

Margot

P.S. Sorry for all the bad words in yesterday’s post.  I know you are all lining up to invite Charlie to your preschool parties now 😉

Topics: Progress Reports | 3 Comments »

Outrun it?

By Margot | June 15, 2010

Sorry for the lack of update.  I keep starting an update and then deleting it. 

Andy went to grief camp this past weekend and he had a great time.  Isn’t that a funny thing to say? “A great time at grief camp” has got to be the world’s greatest paradox.  He went canoeing and climbed the rock wall and got to hug a horse.  He brought two pictures of he and Sam and did a lot of memory and coping activities too.  I really recommend Camp Erin for any kids who have suffered a loss.  They’ve really got a fantastic program.  I have to say that I had several moments dropping him off and picking him up that seemed totally surreal.  “Here I am dropping Andy at grief camp because his brother died.  Who in the hell ever thought this would be part of my life?”  Also, some of the ceremonies they told us about at the wrap up had me very close to tears.   We drove up with Mallary and her kids,  George (9), Jillian (7) and Claire (5).  As I think I’ve written before, they lost their dad last year to cancer. - On a side note, I got a query letter for a book in my inbox for work this morning titled “Cancer as a Gift.” – Not really thinking I’m the person to work on that one.  Anyway, George and Jillian attended camp too and it was great to drive up with them.  I told Mallary, I think George is going to be a comedian when he grows up.  We had a lot of laughs on the drive up and back.

Neil and I had a nice weekend with Charlie boy,  he had a nice playdate on Saturday with his best buddy Jett and sister Kennan and Maureen came over Saturday night for dinner.   He is still wearing his Lakers jersey every day and manages to keep us laughing.  I wasn’t sure that I should write about this story because it isn’t going to get me “mother of the year” but what the heck.  One of Sam’s favorite songs was “I Got a Feeling” by The Black Eyed Peas and Maureen got us the CD a while ago.  The boys love to listen to it but the first song on there is Boom Boom Pow which has some bad language in there.   So we were listening to the CD in the car the other day and Boom Boom Pow came on and Andy shouted out, “This has bad words.  This has bad words.”  I said, yes let’s just ignore the bad words and  try not to listen to them and definitely not repeat them.”  So Andy says, “Yeah but does Charlie know which ones are bad, what if he doesn’t know.”  I said “I’m sure he knows, lets not _”   Andy interrupts, “Charlie Charlie, do you know what “S” “H” “I” “T” spells?”  Charlie nonchalantly shrugs his shoulders and says “I don’t know…. F&*^K?”  He said it flat out no qualms at all and I nearly crashed into a tree laughing.   Nice huh.   Andy’s counselors loved him at camp and I was so proud of him going to an overnight camp.  He’s started his basketball practices for the summer league and carries his ball with him everywhere he goes.   As does Charlie pretty much.

Neil went golfing on Sunday and I’m really glad he got out.  He hasn’t much and it was good for him to go.  I went last night to a coaches meeting for soccer.  I’m helping coach Charlie and Neil is coaching Andy.  All I could think of was Sam and how I wish he were signed up for fall soccer.  The more they talked about “under tens” the more it was a knife in my heart.   Though I’ve tried really hard to outrun the sadness by keeping busy, lately a general glumness has settled over me.  I’m off for some exercise  so perhaps I can run out from under it.  Ha ha.  Don’t be surprised if you see me on the news as the next Forrest Gump because I might have to run across the country and back for that.

Margot

Topics: Progress Reports | 7 Comments »

End of the School Year Stuff and Hunting Rattlesnakes

By Margot | June 2, 2010

Andy ready to take on a snake

Charlie in the Lakers jersey that he wears every day

The boys showing us where they saw the big rattlesnake

Sam with his buddies at the end of last school year. I love this pic.

Sam with his 3rd grade class at the end of last year

We are wrapping up the school year -though California schools get out so late.   Andy is finally finished on June 21st.    The school yearbooks came out yesterday and they dedicated this year’s yearbook to Sam.   Sam’s friend Jayden gave me the above pictures of him from last year with the most awesome card that had me in tears before I even finished it.  I love the picture with Sam and his buddies because I can tell from his side profile what a big smile he had on his face.  Boy do I miss that smile. 

Andy and Charlie went for a hike in Kate Sessions on Saturday morning with Neil and Coach Mike and they saw a snake, and as Andy says, “Not just any snake, a RATTLESNAKE!”  They were hiking along and saw a little black snake and Charlie got down low to look at it and then they all heard the rattle behind them and turned around to see a large rattler all coiled up and ready to strike.  They weren’t too close which was good but Charlie ran in the house afterward and threw himself on the couch and said, “I am freaked out!”  Of course they took Uncle Matt and me back the next day to see if we could see another one and showed us the exact spot where he was.    Probably not the best idea to go back looking for a rattlesnake but hey, we are adventurous.  We didn’t see any snakes on day two by the way.

Andy is super busy with basketball these days.  The summer season is just ramping up.  Neil bought the boys a basketball video with training drills from Steve Nash and they watch it and then Andy gives Charlie “training sessions.”  It’s the funniest thing ever….  “That’s what I want to see Charlie, I don’t care if you make it, let me see that good form.  Awesome!  You’re on fire baby.  Now do it again.  Ok. No, no, you let it slip out of your hand that time, let me see the good rotation on that ball.”    I got it on video yesterday because it was cracking me up.  Charlie is a very patient student.  Then yesterday during Andy’s practice, Charlie was showing Jett and Tyler (both age three) his moves and they tried it and Charlie said, “No, No, let me teach you how to dribble.  You are slapping at the ball, you can’t slap at the ball, push it down with your fingertips.”  It killed me.

Grief Street counseling is going well.  I think it’s good for all of us.  The boys are really liking it, Andy got moved up to the older group and Charlie has  made some buddies.   Andy’s grief counselor yesterday said she was so impressed because he described three different types of sadness and she couldn’t believe how articulate he is.  I think it’s good for him to talk about it there because he doesn’t talk about it at home much.   It’s good for the parents too.   It’s helps me let down my shield a little bit and Neil and I have met some very nice people.  I wouldn’t say it’s fun but it’s kind of like exercising, you feel better after you’ve done it.   Grief for me is like rattlesnakes.  Every now and then I stumble upon something that I haven’t expected and it bites me.  This weekend we went to the beach for boogieboarding and as I was getting the boys wetsuits out, I found Sam’s full wetsuit that we bought him for Christmas with the tags still on and lost it.    We did end up having a nice time at the beach.  Andy caught some great waves, Charlie got wet, got cold within two minutes and sat wrapped in his towel eating his snack for the rest of the time.

We are going to New Mexico for a week in July and Andy has a few camps lined up.  If anyone hears of a couple of extra coaching spots in the NBA, Andy and Charlie are free ;-).

Margot

Topics: Progress Reports | 5 Comments »

Sam’s Story in the Local PB and La Jolla Newspaper

By Margot | May 27, 2010

Topics: Progress Reports | 13 Comments »

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