Summing up a whole year is often like visiting a medical office for me: a dreaded, but sometimes necessary exercise. I hate the action of listing it all out because it can be so trite to gloss over and wrap up, but as soon as I start, all the painful, awful, funny, perfect, and wondrous things that have passed start washing over me and I never regret the exercise. One of the most amazing aspects of this last year has been Chase’s role as a national ambassador for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, and this morning, in the last of the 8,760 hours of ambassadorship, we sat down early to reminisce over some of the opportunities: shaving his brother’s head, going into schools to meet with children and talk about cancer and chemo, getting to connect with so many people on something that has shaped us on such a significant level – to name just a few.
Memory is hard for Chase and he slumped down in the chair as I asked him what his favorite part of the ambassador year has been. “Can’t I just say that I love Dr. Lulla? He’s my favorite. Can I just say that?”
“What about the time you made Aidan bald?” I laughed.
He slumped further. “Please don’t laugh about being bald. It hurts me.”
Reaching over, I picked him up and hugging him close, I explained that my laughter stemmed from his and Aidan’s precious hearts for each other, not their lack of hair. Never the lack of hair.
And then he settled into it. “I did like shaving Aidy’s head. That was fun. And I really liked doing the Pin Guard tournament with Miss Jen at school with the firemen. And I think I liked whenever they gave me a microphone to talk to kids too. Those were my favorites.” He stopped and thought for one minute more, and than as is his habit, he interrupted his own musings. “Also, I think that . . . Hey, Mom! I have a great idea! I want to make cards for kids who have cancer and chemo like me! The next time we go to my hospital, can I take cards to my friends like my Mia and my Lucas?”
And with that, the time for memories were over. But isn’t this the point of sharing our stories? Of being an ambassador? Reflection that leads to action. For Chase, in this moment, it was wanting to encourage other kids. And over this past year, as more and more have looked to encourage and action has been taken – from grade schoolers growing out their hair all the way to a US Congressman signing the STAR Act – thousands upon thousands of dollars have gone to change the outcomes. This is amazing!
As 2015 comes to a close, we acknowledge the hard things that have brought us to this point, revel in the joy that keeps us going, are deeply thankful for all the ones around us, and look expectantly to 2016 for all that it will hold.
A huge thank you to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation for letting us help carry your message this year.
