Just Going to School

November 4, 2003

We heard from Erin's doctor moments ago with the great news that all of Erin's tests (CT scan, bone scan, MIBG scan, bone marrow aspiration and biopsy) from last week were clear. We were not really expecting to hear otherwise, because Erin looks and feels so well, BUT it is much better to hear the final results than just to hope or expect them to be good.

I haven't written much about Erin lately because it is sort of mundane (in a good way). She has been healthy and happy. She loves her first grade teacher, Miss Hanson, and her student teacher Ms. Sims. She has two good (old) friends at school who she sees everyday--Nico and Ayeesha, and two good (old) friends who don't go to her school who she sees when she can--Katie and Tiffany. She is also making loads of new friends at Mary Branch Elementary.

In many ways it seems like Erin has picked up her old life where she left off without really missing a beat. Her dance lessons have expanded to an hour and a half each week, with the addition of jazz. I don't know if she is at all graceful or coordinated, but she wears a smile the whole time. She also goes to the marvelous children's music program at First Presbyterian Church on Sunday afternoon for two-and-a-half hours of singing, handbells, drama, and fellowship. Thanks to all the staff, volunteers, and helpers who make this program happen!

Erin's soccer team, The Sharks, will conclude their fall season next Monday evening. She has a blast with Jackson, Bailey, Junior, Josh, Nestor, Dustin, Tori, Noah, and of course her buddy Nico. While The Sharks have not outscored their opponents yet, they love to play their positions: outside runner, inside runner, hammerhead, and T. Rex, oh and also the position some of you might recognize. . .goal keeper. They also have fun at practice playing Blob Monster, World Cup, and Soccer Red Light, Green Light.

The rest of the family is trying to keep up :>. Davis's soccer team was undefeated until last Sunday when they took a loss in a tight game to the first place team in the league. He is playing awesome, and I for one am glad to see him play (having missed all the games last fall when Erin was in the induction chemo phase of her treatment). Davis is also doing well in school despite his heavy academic load: Calculus, Chemistry, Physics, AP American History, and sophomore English (plus art and soccer).

Walter seems to have gotten used to being department chair. He is also teaching a graduate seminar this fall, so he has a lot of balls in the air. I am fine as well, though considering how much grading is sitting on my desk right now, I probably should be attending to that rather than updating Erin's website.

Thanks for checking in with us. Erin will have an echo cardiogram in December to check whether her chemo has had any effect on her heart functioning. Scans again in mid-January. In the meantime, with Halloween behind us, it will be a mad dash from now until the end of the year.

October 31, 2003

Erin finished her scans and testing yesterday and we made it back to Bryan for school today and trick-or-treating tonight. We have good results from the CT scan--all clear. I will post other results next week when I hear from Erin's doctor.

Erin will be a cowgirl tonight. I think she is still hoping for a (real) horse as a prop.

October 11, 2003

Thanks to everyone who has visited and taken part in Lunch for Life for neuroblastoma research. The effort is continuing, and although we haven't raised $10 million, we have had a terrific response. If you have taken part, drop me a note at w-buenger@tamu.edu with the subject "I Gave Up Lunch for Erin."

Erin continues to amaze us and everyone around her. She is definitely hitting her stride in school, soccer, and dancing, and she looks and feels great. The rest of us are doing pretty darned well ourselves.

Erin will have the next rounds of scans at the end of the month.