Author: New View for PAN

The Rear View

As the school year comes to a close, our family has had time to reflect on the year we worked through and locate the bright side of it all.

Our family endured two medication changes, a biopsy, a concussion, 64 doctor views on the biopsy, months of steroids, marks like a cheetah for months, a mysterious eye funk, new scars inside and out, a mangled foot, an ambulance ride in a different state, and too many “I’m not sure” or “I do not knows” responses.

We close the year by putting those in the rear view.  We choose to move forward and not look back.  Though the moments and challenges brought us down at times, the bright side keeps us moving forward.

Our successes included Superintendent’s List, a communion, a character award, new friendships, a new instrument, a new sport, a new club, a gala, a golf outing, and the publication of a book.  We choose to celebrate the moments that made us proud and joyful.  We choose to recall the challenges to remind us to grow and endure.

The Rear View is a perfect lens to see shortcomings, learn from failures, and reflect on success.

The rain comes and goes, but the rainbows make it all worth it.

Reflect.  Reset.  Leave it in the Rear View.

Kelsey Hates the Needle

Author Mary Wagner & Illustrator Krystal Almora @krystalalmora release their first book, a picture book designed to help children ease their fears about vaccines, medications, and injections of any kind.  Please consider purchasing a book.  All proceeds benefit Kelsey’s Kaleidoscope, Inc.

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

@kelseys_kaleidoscope #chasingthecure #newviewforpan

Blessed

Balance and blessings can be hard to see when life gets in the way.

Celebrating the moments and rejoicing in gratitude are daily goals and often struggles.

Saturday was a gift and a true celebration of family, love, and the blessings we have together.

A dress was built from two matriarchs, a headpiece worn decades ago was transformed into  something beautifully old and magnificently new, and love was a part of every turn.

This day was a joyous day.

May blessings surround you today in reflection.

 

Perseverance

Today’s words come from a community that values character and recognized Kelsey for displaying perseverance.  Her teacher’s touching words speak volumes.  Below are the words that were shared about Kelsey and her exemplary character.

“Perseverance (noun), continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition. When asked what perseverance meant to Kelsey, she stated, “When you try and try even though it doesn’t go your way!” I couldn’t agree more. Kelsey is a perfect example of a student who demonstrates perseverance inside and outside of the classroom.

As she enters the classroom each day with a smile as bright as the sun, and a readiness to learn, you’d never know, but Kelsey fights a rare autoimmune disease called PAN.  PAN is a rare a potentially fatal disease that affects small and medium arteries causing injury to organs and unfortunately, does not have a cure at this time.

Despite difficult days, physically, mentally, and emotionally, Kelsey never gives up. When a challenge arises in the classroom, Kelsey faces it with confidence, patience, persistence, perseverance, and determination.

She is a thoughtful friend and wonderful role model for her peers. She goes out of her way to encourage others, and shows outstanding leadership skills in the classroom.

Kelsey is always willing to lend a helping hand.  Kelsey, I cannot think of someone who could be more deserving of this award than you.  You’re too positive to be doubtful, too optimistic to be fearful, and too determined to be defeated. You are one of the most courageous young ladies I’ve ever met. Never give up!  It is my honor to nominate you, Kelsey, for the trait of perseverance.”

Golfing Glory

Monday, April 29, 2019 was a beautiful day.  Crisp air made the red BMW at hole 7 sparkle as it awaited a hole-in-one that never came.  It sure was fun trying.

Supporters drove as far as three states to attend our inaugural golf outing.  Tee markers showed the generosity and laughter was heard along the green.

The love and dedication of our organization and those who support our efforts is overwhelming to witness.

Monday was no exception.

While drinks flowed and friendship was visible on every cart, our hearts are heavy with the mission we seek to attain.

Kelsey developed a new limp over the weekend to remind us once more of our why.

We are constantly reminded of our why and thank those of you who care about it, too.

Our gratitude goes out to all who helped us make our inaugural event one we will continue as an annual outing.

 

This is Me

The showstopper, This is Me, brought down the house and led to few dry eyes at a recent chorus concert.  Our first every concert of this age group was filled with wide-eyed children singing:

“When the sharpest words wanna cut me down
I’m gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out
I am brave, I am bruised
I am who I’m meant to be, this is me
Look out ’cause here I come
And I’m marching on to the beat I drum
I’m not scared to be seen
I make no apologies, this is me”
This is Me.  The power of broken parts and scars struck a cord with#thisour family along with the likes of all present.
This weekend, we opened the New England Journal of Medicine to read, Treatment Strategies for Deficiency of Adenosine Deaminase 2.  This is Me resonated differently reading this article.
Grateful for attention on this grand scale in a publication read by so many, we could not feel a strange new chorus…
This is Kelsey and she is simply who she is supposed to be:
Look out ’cause here she comes
she is brave, she is bruised
she is who she’s supposed to be
This is She.

Dream Big

This week, our well visit led to Kelsey conversing with our doctor about how she hopes to be a professional basketball player and a doctor when she grows up.  We always encourage our daughter to dream big and hope she always aspires to do so.

Anyone who couples a headband tiara with a dry fit basketball tee deserves to follow her dreams.  Right?!

We smile and laugh as we dream of the future for our children, with our children.

Then we reflect on recent news and feel it hard to process reality sometimes for those challenged by Kelsey’s disease.  We learned about another patient whose marrow transplant donor backed out.  We are hit hard with that reality. We pray for that family and hold on tight to our hope for our daughter and all the other children we know who suffer.

Another family reached out to ask us about their challenges to discuss treatment options. We try to stick together because learning from others gives us strength and comfort. We pray for our friends near and far and wish them well in their treatment plans as limited options exist right now.

We send positive vibes to anyone who struggles to dream big today, and we continue to hope that someday all of our children’s dreams will come true.

Four Steps for Success

Spring has sprung and Kels has been practicing her basketball shots for a few minutes each night.

Tonight, in a cotton floral dress and sparkle shoes, she was determined to take a few shots.  Her will and desire to reach goals always inspires us.

She was making one basket after another and saw our pride as she swished in this outfit (made for anything but basketball).

“Want to know my secret?  There are four steps to success here,” said the sage.

”Bend your knees.

Eyes on net.

Focus.

Follow through.”

On our way inside, she reminded me that those four steps are always with her.

”My family bends for me, keeps their eyes on the prize, never loses focusing, and they keep following through.  Do you think that will bring me a cure someday?”

We all hope those four steps get us there.

Let Your Wings Fly

Busy. Complicated. Life.

These days are flying by us all.

After a few recent days where we all faced small challenges, the following was found on the counter to “brighten our days.”

Celebrate the small moments.

Let those wings fly!

Be as HAPPY as possible today.

 

Ten Lessons

Ten years ago today our lives changed forever as we welcomed a beautiful baby boy into the world.  Ten years, a decade, has passed in the blink of an eye.  Lessons have been learned abundantly through the years.  These stand out as the ten most important:

  1. Life changes. Thomas Rhett sings the lyrics well.  Take each day as it passes. Some days you will yell, some days you will cry, some days you celebrate, and no two days are the same. Celebrate today and take the ups and downs as they come. From diapers to puberty questions, life changes. Embrace it all.
  2. Family is everything. We have not been strangers to challenges, nor triumphs. At the end of the day, our family is there.  No questions asked.
  3. Laugh. Anxiety can build at any age. We rush to say, you’re young, enjoy yourself. Kids can be complicated and challenging. Laugh with them and listen to them.
  4. Be present. Put the phone down and listen to your children. Play with them and let them know you are there for their stories, big and small.
  5. Show up. We do not recall each game or event our parents attended but seeing the way our children’s eyes find us on the field let’s us know they are watching.  They know we are watching them.  Win or lose, we show up and we celebrate their effort either way.
  6. Make the milestones memorable. We missed our child’s first Christmas because she was hospitalized.  Since then, we enjoy every celebratory milestone and make some traditions up to celebrate just because… Missing one makes each one to follow more important to remember and cherish.
  7. Don’t be so hard on yourself. We all make mistakes. Get back up and be vulnerable.  To your children, you are still the best.
  8. Be grateful. We are grateful for all we have and want our kids to look on the bright side, strive to be the best version of themselves, and celebrate their natural talents and strengths.
  9. Capture the moments. Traveling through ten years in photos makes it all seem more surreal (& real!). Technology has made it easier today than it was ten years ago to capture the moments with clarity for today, tomorrow, and the future.
  10. Don’t Blink.  Kenny Chesney’s words bring a tear to my eye because ten years have gone by in a blink.

Here is to listening, loving, and savoring the moments.  Happy birthday to our baby boy.