Shhhhhhhhh!

Please read the next sentence in a whisper, for that’s how I’m saying it, afraid that if I shout it from the rooftops Tate will be struck down again.

Good things keep happening.

Last night ASU’s Wind Ensemble performed at Gammage Auditorium in Tempe. Scott was on the stage playing bass clarinet; Greg, Tate and I were in the audience. TATE! He was able to enjoy the whole concert wearing special earplugs designed for musicians. (They let in music and conversation, but suppress general noise.) Tate even ate a piece of chocolate mousse cake during intermission. Participating in normal activities and eating enough have not been possible in Tate’s world for so long. My face hurt from smiling so much. Last night was win-win.

It was win-win-win-win-win-win-win!

On Halloween Tate was determined not to spend the evening at home. His friend Emma lives in a neighborhood where they close the street and have a block party, and Tate asked her if he could come. When we pulled up to the event, barricades were already set up a few houses away from Emma’s. I asked Tate if he would be okay walking to her house. He looked at me as if it were the stupidest question in the world and answered crossly, “I’ll be fine.” That response, that annoyance, was wonderful! The exhaustion, physical pain, and anxiousness that have ruled his last 18 months were not in charge that night. My heart swelled as my oddly-clad son limped down the sidewalk to celebrate Halloween with his friend.

Other good news is that Tate was accepted into ASU’s College of Engineering, and he would like to start as a part-time student in January. We are in a bit of a scramble to get everything set up; Tate has worked on it mostly by himself and asked us for help this weekend.

Tate is also pestering Greg to take him to renew his learner’s permit. Ha. I’m not sure I’m ready for that, but it doesn’t matter. The important thing is Tate is ready. He will have to go through a physical evaluation to determine whether he is safe to drive; there’s a whole procedure established for drivers like him.

Tate has two occupational and physical therapy appointments this week, and next week he has chemotherapy and a 5-day steroid pulse. The appointment is with his oncologist Dr. Williams, who Tate hasn’t seen since April when test results suggested he might be experiencing a relapse. We’re looking forward to seeing Dr. Williams. The Nurse Practitioner Angie and the team of nurses do an outstanding job taking care of Tate, and it’s also nice to have questions answered from the doctor’s point of view. The nurses definitely have more hands-on knowledge while the doctors have a deeper understanding of disease, treatment, and the many details that overlap each other.

I am thrilled Tate is beginning to venture out into the world again with us, and sometimes without us. Last week Tate was reminiscing about his original plans to graduate high school early and move away to college as soon as possible. He closed his eyes, shook his head, and smiled a wry smile. That future is closed to him, but he is still looking ahead.