Another pleasant surprise

While Stephanie and I sit worried sick about Scott's low count at clinic last Thursday, Scott seems energetic and active. He doesn't seem weak or tired. Does that help us worry less? Not really. Nothing wil remove this round of worry except better counts this Thursday.

We had another pleasant surprise Sunday. I have to preface the whole situation a bit. Stephanie asked me during last week if I could take the boys out Sunday for several hours. Not an ordeal at all because Derry's hockey game was Sunday just before noon, and we could ride about and do a few things if we wanted. She told me not to ask her questions, so I didn't (as I'm a good husband...lol). To be honest, I thought she just needed some "alone" time like we all need now and again.

So we get ready to leave yesterday and she says "now you can't come back until I call and say you can". Which seemed odd, but I wasn't about to question anything.

We went about our business. Sat down to eat lunch and my phone rings. Stephanie says we can now come home again whenever we're ready. We track back and as we get home we see this in the yard:

Yes. The picture isn't doctored. That inflatable snowman is really 12 1/2 feet tall and drawfs Scott. Plus there were lights everywhere, approaching Griswold level:

You see, awhile back a couple of very nice ladies from the Brandon Foundation stopped by the house. They are a local group of folks who have only one goal - to help out families in the Brandon Community. I know that sounds simplified, but doing just that is what makes a "community". During their visit, we basically talked about what the Foundation does, and then they asked what type of things they may be able to help with. Of course all Stephanie and I could think of were things for Scott, and we told them he was asking for a comfy bed (which I posted about a few weeks back when we were called literally days after their visit to go and pick one out). Stephanie had mentioned Scott was going on about Christmas lights on the house. He wanted to decorate the house with lights for Christmas. We'd been doing some looking around for lights and such, but Stephanie would stop me and say "it's too early" or "let's just leave it today, we have other things to do".

I never knew this was in the works. Only Stephanie did.

Sunday, I suppose shortly after we left, a small army of folks from the Foundation's Angels Among Us arrived. I was told they were here somewhere between 2-3 hours. They were here for no other reason than to make sure Scott had lights on his house for Christmas. For the record, here's a picture of them in action:

And here's most of the group, minus a few of the wee ones that had retired to some A/C:

I know Natalie Brock is in there. As well as Shawn Trotti and her husband and I believe Liz Brewer. It's hard for me to remember all these folks, as the last time I saw them (and the only time I saw most) they were dressed to the nines for the Foundation's Evening of Hope I attended.

We are all just staggered and extremely thankful. Such people - most being folks we don't even know, a few we've met briefly - taking time out of their weekend to make sure a kid dealt the hand to deal with cancer has lights on his house for Christmas. I'm humbled by such an action, and I don't know if I could ever properly thank each and every one of these wonderful people.

During conversations I have with different people about this ordeal, the subject of "losing time" seems to always come up. Simply dealing with cancer as a parent robs you of time, regardless if things are going well or not so well. Time is in short supply most every week. For virtual strangers to give some of their's is truly a priceless gift to us. The folks in that picture above are some very special people indeed.