Within twenty minutes of posting my last blog, a huge change
occurred in the plans for my dad’s transplant.
Instead of his transplant taking place in Seattle, it will now be taking
place in Phoenix, AZ. I have to be
honest that this makes me tremendously happy.
It’s in my back yard. However,
that means a lot of change for the family in La Grande, OR.
Within the following few hours of the news, plans took shape
to move the whole family back to Arizona.
The youngest kids will be moving in with me in Sierra Vista and Jacob
and Dad will be residing in Phoenix until he completes his treatment and is
cleared to be “home.” His home will now
be mine. I have wanted them to come back
to Sierra Vista ever since this whole journey began.
What is looking like the plan right now is moving the kids
and the contents of their house over the Christmas break. Which starts on December 23rd. I will be flying back to AZ this coming
Friday and possibly returning the following week or so to help pack up the
house and get the move made. There is a
lot to be done in a very short period of time.
I’d be lying if I didn’t say this has me a little frazzled. I’ll survive it, but the list that keeps
growing in my head is becoming quite the disrupter.
After months of prompts to create a fundraiser for my dad
and the kids, it finally went live today.
Over the past year a significant amount of bills have accumulated and
the ability to pay them is becoming increasingly stressful. Now with a move taking place, the expenses
are even more daunting. Nothing is
free! Whatever we’re able to raise
through the fundraiser will help out massively.
If you feel like donating,
please know that it will be greatly appreciated and forever remembered. I am going to make every effort to send thank you cards to all who donate, so please email your address if you do.
As far as my dad’s health is concerned, he’s hanging in
there. His cancer is continuing to
recede thus confirming the success of the chemotherapy. He’s been very tired lately and I believe it
to be reflective of the big changes taking place around him. Jacob and I have been working on the
logistics and are unfortunately at the mercy of others when it comes to full
information. Today we were able to
obtain a large amount, but we’re still in a holding pattern on when my dad will
actually be starting the treatment for transplant.
It sort of stinks to be doing all of these changes right
smack in the middle of the holiday season, but once this move is over it will
be solid. Hopefully the next season of
holidays will bring a new kind of cheer.
My fingers are crossed and my hopes are high that I will be able to blog
about that a year from now.
Hug your loved ones and mend fences with family. I have learned the importance of familial
support over the last year and I am grateful for the bonds that have been
created and strengthened within our Russell clan. We have stayed strong together and supported
each other well. We all have our flaws
and shortcomings, but overall this experience has truly embodied the definition
of family.
I would again like to express my boundless gratitude for
those of you who have kept us in your thoughts and prayers. The thoughts are felt and the prayers are
answered. Throughout all of this, we haven’t
lacked in support and I appreciate each and every one of you who have squeezed
a place for us in your heart. I love
you. That is not expressed flippantly or
shallowly. I truly mean it when I say, “I
love you.”
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