09062024
2 Years and 2 Days Ago….September 6, 2024, that was the day that forever changed our lives.
Hutton’s favorite artist was Lindsey Stirling, and she happened to be playing a show in Concord, CA, which is very close to Hutton’s godparent’s house in San Ramon. Jeremy got us (me, Hutton, and her Godmother Meredith) VIP tickets to her show, which included a meet-and-greet. Hutton and I decided to make a weekend of it, so we left Yorba Linda early and drove up to San Ramon. We listened to music, talked, and were very excited for our girls’ weekend with Auntie Meredith.
We got to Meredith’s house around 11:30 am. We were at her house for about 20 minutes when my phone rang. I was sitting at their dining table eating Chipotle. Hutton and Dominic were on the couch with their kitty, Lucy. I will never, ever, forget that moment.
On the phone was her sports medicine doctor. The MRI results were back; Hutton has a tumor in her hip, and I was told CHOC would be calling shortly to schedule a follow-up MRI, as well as a tumor specialist to schedule an appointment.
My stomach dropped, the world stopped, and our lives were forever changed. Hutton was 5 feet away from me, and I was doing my best not to allow her to see my reactions. I needed to tell Jeremy. I needed to tell my mom. I needed to tell Meredith most of all because it was her house I was at; she was on her way home from work, and she needed to know what she was walking into. All I knew in that moment was that I DID NOT want to tell Hutton right then. I texted my mom and Jeremy. “Hutton’s doctor just called; she has a tumor in her hip. I can’t talk because I don’t want her to hear me.” I texted Meredith, “Hutton’s doctor just called; she has a tumor in her hip. I can’t talk because I don’t want her to hear me. I want you to know, but she doesn’t know, and I’m not going to tell her yet.”
With all the questions, worries, and fears swirling in my mind, I did my best to act “normal”. We got ready and went to see Lindsey Stirling. It was an amazing show, and we had an amazing time. Seeing her light up while watching her favorite artist, seeing her beautiful smile- it still makes me smile thinking about it.
I did have to step away a few times to take calls from doctors, but Hutton had no idea. We spent an amazing weekend with Auntie Meredith; we went to Sausalito, we went to our favorite Mexican restaurant up there, we wore matching pajamas, and we had the best weekend.
That was 2 years ago, though it feels like that was an entirely different life…a life that, as hard as we may try, we will never get to return to. Our family has changed; we have changed. We had no idea Hutton would still be fighting 2 years later…but here we are. What does the next year have in store for us? We have no idea; all we do know, is we will continue to do everything we can to fill Hutton’s life with love, joy, and the best memories we can create.
