She Cheers On

We have just returned home from a basketball game at the kid's school. Like lots of other parents in the stands, we cheered, we took pictures, I swiped a chair from the line-up row...ok, most other parents didn't do that; however, it looked great in our photos and I did return it. :-)


This was the first home game of the new season. Amanda and her fellow cheerleaders all looked great in their outfits and, for the first time, our son Caleb was playing since he decided to give basketball a try this year. We were so proud of them both.

Amanda was thankful that her new leg was completed and she was able to wear it today. The people in the stands saw the smiles and the cheers as she and the other girls supported the boys on the court. They also saw that there were times Amanda stepped out or sat for a few moments and then joined back in with her squad. However, what they didn't see was the extra determination and the strength it took for Amanda to stand and cheer today ... the pain that we haven't been able to get under control.

Over the last days of Thanksgiving break and as classes resumed, Amanda has struggled as pain meds are now necessary to try and find a way to control the strong pain that is occurring. The doctors are aware and I have been been documenting pain levels and times and pills taken. We are looking for clues to see if it is tied to the new infusion that she is receiving. However, we can't allow this to continue for any longer and so we will be taking Amanda back to Houston this week. Scans and tests will be done to try and determine the cause of the pain. We are very concerned...

Amanda loves being a cheerleader. She loves being a senior and she loves being a part of the class of 2010 at CFS. She does not love anything that tries to stop her from fully participating in any of those activities. But she does not quit. She does not stop...she cheers on.

Then so will we.