Happy New Year! May this year be better than the last!

Have you ever wondered why memories of tragic events or hard times stick with you more than happy occasions and why those tragic events bring out the best in people?  We joined friends, last night, for a new year's eve party and we were reviewing this past year and talking about how Aly's illness and treatments went by so quickly and at the same time it seemed like forever.  Our friend, Pete, asked about specific dates of when Aly was diagnosed and when she had her brain tumor surgery.  I didn't even have to think about it before I had the answers.  I was off a little on the diagnosis date.  I said March 31st but that was when she entered the hospital for her first chemo treatment and stomach tube placement.  The diagnosis date was March 28th.  It all moved so quickly when I think that not even a full 3 days passed between diagnosis and the start of our journey.  It seemed like a really bad April Fool's joke which we thought would never end.  Aly spent all but 6 days of April in the hospital.  That was just the beginning of a 6 month roller coaster ride that had us feeling very positive at some points and very scared at others.  When I reflect on that 6 months, some of it is just a blur other times are crystal clear.  August 8th was the surgery to remove her tumor.  Just days before, we had received the results of an MRI and CT scan which showed spots that were unexplainable.  We thought we may be losing our little girl as they were thinking the cancer had spread even during chemo.  Thank God that it wasn't new growth.  Through the surgery, they found that it was areas of bleeding which ended up healing.  If we fast forward to where we are now, it is amazing that Aly is here with us and there are no signs of cancer.  We still have challenges to overcome, but we are so very thankful that the future looks so much brighter than it did not so long ago.
This new year will bring nervousness as we tackle one MRI at a time hoping that the cancer stays away.  It will bring growth hormone therapy for Aly.  Her pituitary gland does not function and will no longer function, so the growth hormones will get her through puberty and the growth that comes along with that.  She will, forever, take hormone replacements to make up for what her pituitary does not make.
This year will also bring an above ground pool to our back yard which was Aly's Make a Wish wish.  She is looking forward to that!  Aly is also hoping to get back on the swim team.  She is hoping to start back this week.  That is her goal and I hope her energy level cooperates enough to let it happen.  I have been waiting for her to tell me she wants to swim.  Just last week, she said she wanted to give it a go after Christmas break.       
All we wish for is that this year will be better than the last!  We hope the same for all of you as well.  Happy New Year!