Could it be, The light at the end of the Riley Tunnel??!?

We have been inpatient approximately 4 weeks and 1 day-Whao! That is 687 hours we have spent in Riley during this hospital stay. It has been a roller coaster of a ride coming in from NYC late on July 22nd in an emergent situation to Keegan loosing the ability to move his lower extremities and given massive amounts of steroids. Then went his Stooling and Peeing, the bowel issues that ensured, and subsequent traditional radiation followed by Proton Beam radiation (and being transferred everyday via ambulance for the last 2.5 weeks to Bloomington and back).

Through it all our doctors and nurses have been wonderful as always. We picked up right where we left off and even have met a few new friends. The hospital stays don't get easier per sei but its like coming home. You like to visit and catch up with some of these people and then you are ready to go home. Home is a place Keegan and I have not seen since July 8th, the day we left for Florida, with no inclination that a relapse of his relapse loomed in our near future.

Tomorrow should be the day that we have been waiting for. It should be the day that we are released back into the world that has not stopped although our own world seems to have. We will leave Riley and head down to Bloomington to our new "home" for 4 weeks more of radiation. While I am a little scared of the new experiences to come, Proton Beam is the only way for us to proceed and I will then put on my Big Girl Panties, suck it up and deal with being in yet another new place because we are trying to rid our son of the terrible disease that has taken his ability to probably ever walk again. We want/need/pray (etc) that this saves his life.

As we are loading up our car tomorrow and saying Goodbye to our home for the last month, I will remember that Hope is what resides and Riley and it is what I will carry with me to Bloomington. Hope is what I hang on to as I see the burns from Radiation taking their toll on my sweet 23 month olds spine  and  hope is what I cling to as we embark on yet another new journey because of C-A-N-C-E-R.

Picture Courtesy of : TeriLee Jewerly

Once we are settled in in Bloominton I will give out the address of where we will be staying so if anyone would like to write words of wisdom or send cards of encouragement to brighten our room you can do so. We would greatly appreciate it!

On a side note (and for those of you that don't already know) I am in the process of trying to write a book. A book about family, faith, and most importantly Keegan's fight. If you have any words of wisdom on how to tackle our story or even write a book and get it published in general I would appreciate an email to chupp {dot} beth @ gmail {dot} com .

Thanks for the never ending prayers and love!