Sunday, September 17, 2017

An Unexpected "Opportunity"



When Dominic was a toddler, I would take him to music classes and he would cover his ears or bury himself in my lap because it was so overwhelming. Never in my wildest dreams did I think he would go from that to wanting to play the piano!! Dominic has been getting music therapy from the Michigan State University Community Music School for several years and each of the four music therapists that he has had have each taught him something different. He has "sampled" different musical instruments and now primarily plays the keyboard and/or piano during his once a week therapy session. Last year, when we learned of his high interest in playing the piano, we sought out a used one. We found one that was "free" and only paid to transport it. This past summer, he refused to play every time I "told" him to. I realized I had to "ask" him! Good grief. Dominic doesn't read music, he plays by memory. Anyways, flash forward to this coming Wednesday. Two of the non-profit organizations I am affiliated with are joining together to sponsor a music event in the evening. Last Wednesday, his music therapist handed me a sheet of paper listing the songs and order of everything for the joint music event. I noticed Dominic's name was next to five of the songs. She told me he would be accompanying on the piano!! What an incredible and unexpected opportunity for Dominic. This afternoon, I reminded him about Wednesday and asked him to practice, then handed him the sheet with the songs. He has been playing for a couple hours already!! We are expecting a big group on Wednesday night, so I hope he doesn't get "stage fright!!!!"

Saturday, September 2, 2017

The Moment I Realized Routine Appointments to the Dermatologist Will Never Be "Typical," As A Skin Cancer Survivor


I had my first dermatology appointment since my March surgery on August 14. It was recommended to me that I go every six months the first three years after my surgery and then yearly. I went into the appointment thinking everything was fine, I would be in and out quickly and I would have plenty of time to do some shopping! The gal that I had at the dermatology office, examined me quite thoroughly, asked me a bunch of questions and then started circling moles! Hmm, I knew that wasn't a good sign. In that moment, I realized my routine appointments to the dermatologist will never be "typical."  She began telling me, "you do know that since you had malignant melanoma once, you are at a higher risk to get it again and for the cancer to metastasize, don't you?" I knew I was at a higher risk to get malignant melanoma again, I didn't know about the metastasize part. She said, "I need to do two biopsies, you have some moles that I would rather have in a jar than on you." Um, okay. She then said, "I will have the results for you in two weeks." I went and made an appointment with the receptionist and then drove home. I wasn't in any mood to do any shopping by then. The hubby and Lauren both asked me how it went when I got home, so I explained everything to them. Once again, for the second time this year, I had to tell my elderly parents that I may need cancer surgery.  I felt so awful at the thought of putting them through that again. I spent the next 15 days keeping extremely busy to try to keep my mind off of what the results might show. It was incredibly difficult to wait that long. Anytime my mind wandered and I started thinking about it too much, I got a feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach. The hubby was off last week from work and he came along with me to my appointment. Luckily, both biopsies were negative. Whew! The sun and I have a totally different "relationship," now. When I mow the lawn, I put SPF 50 on the parts not covered up and I wear sunglasses. When I sit on our deck, I put up the umbrella if I don't have sunblock on. I wear sunblock when I know I will be in the car driving around a lot. My hubby and I are doing monthly skin checks on each other, it's on our family calendar in black marker! I have learned two important things since this cancer journey started in January. One is, I have an incredible and large support system. Two, I am not at all embarrassed or self-conscious to have my 3 1/2 inch scar visible in public. It shows I am a "survivor."
 

Presume Competence

Since we have traveled outside of the United States since Dominic was very small, we have had to get him a Children's Passport every fiv...