December 25, 2009

A Holiday Greeting from Reid's Family ~

This has been a year of many beginnings. By far the most exciting was college. I lived in the dorms, ate myself 20 pounds heavier, enjoyed my classes and learned as much socially as academically. I landed three sweet jobs during the school year, as a stitcher for the SOU theater department, a ski school instructor and a race coach for MARA. I learned valuable lessons around time management in both work and school and received a lot of great mentoring to help me through my mistakes. I celebrated two years with the love of my life, Emily, and worked as a host over the summer at the Ashland  Bistro Cafe. Right now, I'm taking a break from school and just having fun with life. Next year, I am looking forward to returning to the University as well as traveling to Japan. I hope everyone has had as good a year as mine, and I wish you even better for the future. ~ Reid


Looking back at the year,  I had a great soccer season, fun with friends, rocked hula hooping, goofed with Bella (our pup), loved being at EarthTeach, played with my brother and sister and was the youngest fastest runner in the Ashland 4th of July race! Lately, I have been waking up to frost clinging to the windows of my room and wondering when snow will fall on Ashland. I’m also thinking about turning ten in January. Double digits. Cool! ~ Ginny

Spiraling into memories of this past year - of clear Friday’s at EarthTeach, a clumsy puppy growing up, snow flakes framed against a dark sky, gliding down slopes at Mt. Ashland, the smell of spring on the breeze, an adventure to Hawaii, a 40 mile journey with just me and my feet, 8th grade graduation, music camp - a scottish accent & a pack of wild fiddlers, hot summer air, cold pools, dirty bare feet, the forest, howling at the moon, pie, meteor showers, the smell of a violin shop, my family, my brother, love-sorrow-joy, autumn again, the start of high school, nervousness, feisty English teachers, a soccer ball-sweaty jerseys-long bus rides-team, home alone, turn-on-the-radio-and-sing-really-loud-nights, the moon, scary movies, a hand to hold, mashed potatoes,  the smell of a book store, laughing till you pee, mad dancing, this moment right now and a chance to be thankful. ~ Sarah Gracie



This year I took my first holiday in twenty years and went to the Yucatan Peninsula.  For me, it was a place where, as Neruda would say “...every day on the balcony of the sea - wings open, fire is born and everything is blue again like morning.” The sand was white, the water - truly turquoise, and my heart was rested and filled. One never knows for sure when having a full heart will come in handy later in the year.... ~ M

Day Ninty-Three - December 7, 2009

Dear Friends and Family ~

Let me start by acknowledging the amazing efforts put forth last month in support of Reid. The Ashland Soccer Club, lead by the focused and loving efforts of Christiane Pyle, held the 1st annual Futball for Life! Tournament and over 24 youth teams, volunteer referees, coaches and parents came together for an incredibly successful day of soccer for Reid’s benefit. Then in the same week, the band Borderline (with my sister Emy Phelps and amazing musicians Bob Evoniuk, Sam Cuenca, Bob DiChiro and Jake Phelps) held not one - but TWO brilliant concerts, also as fundraisers for Reid. Additionally, many community members have offered generous donations to Reid’s Leukemia Fund this past month. At this point, about a years’ worth of Reid’s alternative health and nutritional care needs are covered - to support his body and immune system as it deals with the excruciatingly powerful effects of chemotherapy. We are profoundly grateful for all this help.

Standing by Reid in the capacity of mom and caregiver and witnessing this tenderly fierce public support of his battle with leukemia - juxtaposed to his private experience that is so physically demanding and emotionally intense, has been a honor and privilege. Last month, as I sat at Paschal listening to the music, while Reid - that same night - started his third round of chemo in Rogue Valley Memorial, I was suddenly visited by an image of Reid as a four year old whose passionate and singular determination to be Batman dictated nearly every moment of his waking imagination. It was the year when his silky black cape was removed only for swim lessons and even then, with resistance. As I remembered his exuberant spirit, I was struck by the notion that maybe what ultimately makes a super hero isn’t having been born on another planet, or received some strange infusion, or the costume or cape. Maybe the bottom line is that everyone believes in him and truly wants him to succeed; therefore, he becomes and is heroic - no matter the outcome. This is Reid.

Next week, Reid will start chemo round four. He’ll be home for Christmas and another recovery period, and then will receive the last round in mid January. After that, he’ll be seeing his docs at OHSU again and learning the next portion of this life map.

We continue to watch and wait, to take each day as a unique step, to laugh whenever possible, cry when necessary, let go of that which no longer serves and tell each other - every day - about the amazing love in our hearts. I hope you do the same with those your love

All will be well ~ Martha

PS Just a reminder, there are blog pages on Reid’s website. They are essentially an email chronicle. Feel free to share the link with friends. You are also welcome to comment there if you want to share your insights and feelings with more community than just our family.