In front of CJ's bag at the Relay for Life.
From left to right:
Alibrandi, Travis, Jerri, CJ, Brett and Corey
From left to right:
Alibrandi, Travis, Jerri, CJ, Brett and Corey
Right up there on a list of things I never expected to see in my lifetime would have been my son's face on a hospital's campaign letter representing kids with cancer or any other life threatening illness for that matter. Although, I knew CJ had been chosen to represent Joe DiMaggio in their mail-out campaign letter, I did not know when it would arrive and exactly what it would look like. I knew I had seen plenty of them before my own son was diagnosed and but I really did not know what to expect other than the free mailing labels they always came with.
Well, it arrived in the middle of the week, and, looking back, I believe that may have been providential. It landed on my counter smack dab in the middle of a very hectic week of settling two small children into our home and making the necessary adjustments of going from four kids to six kids literally overnight. It came, in the middle of trying to figure out where everyone was going to sleep and where their clothes were going to go. In the middle of endless potty accidents and washing load and loads of sheets and clothes...there it was. In the middle of wondering how we are going to get through this new trial, there lay this reminder of all that we have been through this past year and a half. It was a reminder of the enormity of what we can get through that we may have never thought we could.
That letter and all that it represents came as a reminder of sudden change and God's faithfulness during difficult times. I needed that reminder because once again our family has drastically changed overnight and we are treading unfamiliar waters. No, it is not a cancer diagnosis for one of our children, but it is a huge change none the less. Taking on two small children that have been through so much already is weighing heavily on me.
Believe it or not, I feel a lot like I did when CJ was diagnosed. For one, I have no idea how long I have with these children. Is it enough time to show them all I want to show them and share with them all I hope to share with them? Is it enough time to build the relationships and earn the trust to speak into their lives the beautiful truths of the gospel? As with CJ, I have no idea how we are going to get through each day other than to lean on God's grace. I don't feel equipped to handle this, yet I know God has called me to it, so I wake up each day and do whatever it is He has laid before me. So even though this is drastically different, the feelings are very similar.
Our concerns for CJ in this would be his continued health as he completes his chemo treatments. He is rounding the bend and the end is in sight with only five months of chemo to go. However, we now have one child in the home attending public school. That's right! Talk about treading unfamiliar waters...I am now not only a home-school mom but also a public school mom (so to speak) since I had to enroll my nephew in first grade to complete his school year.
With that, we are extremely aware that we are opening our home and exposing CJ to that many more germs and infections. Although, he is doing well with his chemo and his counts seem to be okay right now, we are aware of how easily and unexpectedly they fluctuate from one extreme to the other. Even though we will just have to cross that bridge when we get there but we would love to know he is covered in prayer regardless.
Also seemingly providential, smack in the middle of this week also lay Poppa Enzo's birthday! The latest reports we received after his most recent scans were not good. We were told "the chemo is not working." Words I have dreaded ever having to hear for CJ and never expected to be hearing for poppa so soon. So the day after receiving the letter reminding me of how far we have come with CJ, I stood before poppa while we had a special time of celebrating and honoring him in both a serious and humorous way.
We will try a new chemo next week and hope and pray for the best, but I can't help but wonder if right up there on that list of things I never expected to experience in this lifetime will be watching my son recover from cancer while simultaneously watching another loved one deteriorate from it.
Thank you to those who have stuck with us and continued to pray for our family. We are extremely grateful.

CJ and Alibrandi with Poppa Enzo
That letter and all that it represents came as a reminder of sudden change and God's faithfulness during difficult times. I needed that reminder because once again our family has drastically changed overnight and we are treading unfamiliar waters. No, it is not a cancer diagnosis for one of our children, but it is a huge change none the less. Taking on two small children that have been through so much already is weighing heavily on me.
Believe it or not, I feel a lot like I did when CJ was diagnosed. For one, I have no idea how long I have with these children. Is it enough time to show them all I want to show them and share with them all I hope to share with them? Is it enough time to build the relationships and earn the trust to speak into their lives the beautiful truths of the gospel? As with CJ, I have no idea how we are going to get through each day other than to lean on God's grace. I don't feel equipped to handle this, yet I know God has called me to it, so I wake up each day and do whatever it is He has laid before me. So even though this is drastically different, the feelings are very similar.
Our concerns for CJ in this would be his continued health as he completes his chemo treatments. He is rounding the bend and the end is in sight with only five months of chemo to go. However, we now have one child in the home attending public school. That's right! Talk about treading unfamiliar waters...I am now not only a home-school mom but also a public school mom (so to speak) since I had to enroll my nephew in first grade to complete his school year.
With that, we are extremely aware that we are opening our home and exposing CJ to that many more germs and infections. Although, he is doing well with his chemo and his counts seem to be okay right now, we are aware of how easily and unexpectedly they fluctuate from one extreme to the other. Even though we will just have to cross that bridge when we get there but we would love to know he is covered in prayer regardless.
Also seemingly providential, smack in the middle of this week also lay Poppa Enzo's birthday! The latest reports we received after his most recent scans were not good. We were told "the chemo is not working." Words I have dreaded ever having to hear for CJ and never expected to be hearing for poppa so soon. So the day after receiving the letter reminding me of how far we have come with CJ, I stood before poppa while we had a special time of celebrating and honoring him in both a serious and humorous way.
We will try a new chemo next week and hope and pray for the best, but I can't help but wonder if right up there on that list of things I never expected to experience in this lifetime will be watching my son recover from cancer while simultaneously watching another loved one deteriorate from it.
Thank you to those who have stuck with us and continued to pray for our family. We are extremely grateful.
CJ and Alibrandi with Poppa Enzo