Hi and I hope this finds you enjoying your week and the start of the month of May. I have many things to catch you up on so this will be a bit of an all over the place life lately. This post is filled with highs and lows, good things and hard things. It truly feels like a synopsis of what life feels like most days. Holding all the things at the same time and trying to do the best that I can to be a good mom, daughter, friend and human rather imperfectly.
A SPECIAL VISITOR
My mom was here visiting for a week. She had an endoscopy procedure scheduled at Duke along with several routine post-transplant follow up appointments. I have mentioned this before but my mom will be under the care of the transplant pulmonology team at Duke for the rest of her life. The first year after transplant can be a little tricky as the body works to heal from such a major, invasive surgery. It is also a challenge to get all of the medications and dosing just right so they keep a very close watch on you. It’s been hard on my mom but overall she’s doing really well. As she gets further our from her transplant, the frequency of her visits should space out significantly.
We were in Durham for three nights but my mom got to spend a couple nights in Charlotte before and after our time at Duke. Finn was thrilled to have her with us (as were the pups!).
We were hanging out in the back yard one afternoon and I had gardening gloves on to pull weeds. Finn asked if I had gloves for him and I said, “no but maybe we can get you some.” The next thing I knew he came outside wearing one of my winter hats. He said it was to “protect his head” haha.
There were also a lot of treats during Meme’s visit and Finn was down for it! 🙂
THREE DAYS IN DURHAM
While we spent a lot of time at the outpatient hospital clinic, my mom and I were able to get out and have a little bit of fun too!
One day we took an afternoon outing to Eno River State Park. While my mom isn’t quite ready for any sort of intense hiking (yet!), we did enjoy casually wandering around. It was a gorgeous day and we visited at a time when the park was uncrowded.
We also ate a whole lot of delicious food, which I will share in my next recent eats recap!
We will be heading back to Duke early June. While this transplant journey is a hard one with many twists and turns, we are so grateful for the extraordinary care that my mom is receiving at Duke…and that they gave her a chance to receive the gift of a lifesaving organ transplant.
April was National Donate Life Month and they had this sign up in the main lawn in front of the Duke Medicine Pavilion as well as a huge painted sign in the grass. We took photos in front of sign because I wanted to do a post on Instagram for National Donate Life Month to encourage people to sign up to be an organ, eye and tissue donor.
WEEKEND WITH FINN
We dropped my mom at the airport around noon on Friday. I didn’t take any photos the rest of the day but we took a short trip to the playground and went on an evening walk with Virginia, Stella and the pups.
We had a lazy start to Saturday morning and played with toys and cars for about an hour while I drank my coffee.
Next up was a birthday party at My Gym for a friend of mine’s daughter. You guys, it’s the saddest birthday story. This was supposed to be her 3rd birthday party but they postponed it twice due to covid and it ended up being her 4 and a few extra months birthday party. Well, one hour before the party she started vomiting and wasn’t able to come to her own party. Can you imagine!? My friend came and hosted the birthday and her daughter stayed home with her husband as it was too last minute to cancel or postpone again. Ugh, I hate it for them.
Since Finn got his exercise at My Gym, I was able to easily convince him to ride along for a stroller run when we got home. I have a post coming up about how to keep older toddlers/little kids happy in the stroller!
(I love this maxi dress. It doesn’t overwhelm my frame and comes in petite sizes. Love the way it fits and drapes. Here’s a link to my flip flops.)
We had a super fun and casual Saturday night in downtown Matthews. It’s a very family-friendly and charming suburb of Charlotte that’s an easy 10 minute drive from my house.
We planned to grab pizza for dinner but there was a 45 minute wait for a table so we wandered down to Grace O’Malley’s for drinks for the adults and playtime for Finn. Finn was on the border of hangry so it was amazing to find other kids and corn hole for him to play with. It totally distracted him from the wait for dinner.
Once we were seated at The Pizza Peel, I think Finn’s dinner dreams came true. He had a kid’s cheese pizza and a side of French fries. Pizza twice in one day (he had pizza for lunch at the birthday party)…living the life!
The evening ended with ice cream at Artisen Gelato. My idea of a perfect Saturday evening.
I didn’t take any photos on Sunday. We had a super low-key day that included a morning walk with the dogs, cleaning, organization and laundry, a Target run and a quick stop into J. Crew for an outfit for Finn’s four year photos. We shot them on Monday evening with Amanda James at Glencairn Gardens in Rock Hill.
Mandy has been shooting Finn at different age milestones since he was 10 days old! She is so talented and I treasure the way she has documented Finn’s baby and toddlerhood and our relationship. I can’t wait to see these.
REST WELL, SWEET SAM
It breaks my heart to share this news but my parents lost Sam just a few days after arriving back home in Florida. This sweet boy made it through nearly seven months of living in a hotel with my parents through my mom’s transplant journey. He became the mascot of the hotel and the staff loved him. He got so much love and affection from them, they helped walk him when my dad had long days at the hospital and they even got donuts to celebrate his 15th birthday on March 17.
Sam was a constant companion for my mom through her waiting when she was so sick and so tired, and the greatest company and comfort for my dad during the 39 days my mom was in the hospital. Sam was always there waiting when my dad returned to the hotel after long hospital days.
My parents said he did great on the 12-hour drive home to Florida. He was eager to go on all of his normal walks and check everything out when they arrived home but also began acting a bit off and getting sick. They took him to the vet where they found that he had a large mass running from his esophagus down to his chest which was most certainly cancer. The vet wanted to keep him overnight to give him some meds, and then my parents planned to bring him home for a few days. Unfortunately, he declined so quickly that they made the difficult but compassionate decision to put him down the next morning.
I have tears streaming down my face as I type these words. Dogs are so incredible, strong and selfless. We all believe that Sam held on until he got my parents back to Florida and knew all was okay. He got to see all of his stuff and his home one last time and then he let go. I am just so grateful that they all made it home together.
Sam lived 15 amazing years, 8 of which he got to spend with my parents in Florida after they adopted him. We will always hold him dearly in our hearts.
And with that, I’m signing off. I plan to be back to a more regular posting schedule in the weeks to come.
Big love to all,
Jen
tears pouring down my face reading the ending of the post. He held on because he knew your dad needed him through that long hospital process. It’s sad but sweet that when back home he decided he needed to move on. Having gone through it twice myself, I know how hard it is. It’s incredibly sweet that he did what he needed to do for his hoomans.
Thank you, Tanya. Dogs are truly amazing in their ability to be so strong and so unconditionally loving for their humans. It’s such a blessing that they were all able to come home together after enduring that process together.
Ah, sweet Sam. It is as if he knew his job was done. Your momma had her transplant and is on the mend. He knew it was his time go to. Sweet boy!
Dogs are just the most amazing and intuitive creatures. They are so strong and unconditionally loving for us.
They walked him for 8 years and in the end, he walked them home. I know that in my bones. Sweet Sam, rest in peace. I’m so sorry for your loss and for that of your parents. It is clear he was so profoundly loved.
Oh Maeve, the first sentence of this comment had me in pieces. You captured all of it so eloquently in a few short words. I am grateful for you.
So sorry to hear about Sam. I have my own Sam who’s a yellow lab and you are so right. He held on for your parents. So sorry for your loss.
Thank you, Nicole. <3
Oh Jen, I have tears down my face now—for all of it. For the way you and your mom have been so brave, for how gentle a man your dad is, for how gracefully you are raising a little boy and embracing single motherhood, for how happy I am that you had such a great weekend with a love in Wilmington … but mostly for the way you so beautifully allow all the joy and all the sorrow in without question. It’s such a brave and heavy lift. But somehow it all came out with Sam and the way dogs hold the line for us and allow us to lean on them. Sending you and your family so much love. xo
Your words touched me so deeply when I read them yesterday. I truly cannot thank you enough for taking the time to share them with me. They were received deep in my heart and I will carry them with me. I feel so blessed for our connection in this space, Pamela. You are a true light and inspiration to me.
Sweet Sam! God Bless!
Thank you, Kim!
Your Mom looks so good! My heart breaks at the loss of Sam! So glad he was there for your parents providing love and comfort at such a hard and stressful time. Our animal companions are so amazing in their ability to be there for us with unconditional and unwavering love. RIP sweet Sam! We lost our special boy Jan. 3 to a spinal tumor diagnosed Jan. 1. Wishing all of you comfort in the memories of the time you shared. Love is forever. Hugs!
Thank you for your kind and comforting words. I am sorry that you have also experienced the loss of a beloved pet recently. It is so difficult but grateful for all the time we had with him and the memories.
Pamela,
Your comment is spot on!
I have tears in my eyes, too.
Jen, you’re amazing!
Julie
Thank you so much, Julie. Pam’s words were such a gift to receive. <3
I have been following along in your mom’s journey. I am so sorry to learn about Sam’s sudden and rapid decline after your parents returned to Florida. Pets are so perceptive and it is such a gift to receive their love. His support for your family is just beautiful. Big hugs. <3
Hi Meredith – thank you for your support through this journey and for your kind words about Sam. xo
So glad to get another update on your mom! Yes…Sam absolutely held on until he was sure all would be well. So sorry.
So sorry to hear about Sam, saying goodbye to a pet is the most heartbreaking thing. Sending all of the love to you and your family!
Thank you so much Alicia.
Saying goodbye to our beloved fur babies is the absolute worst. Sam held on because he knew he had one more important job of getting your parents home then he could rest. RIP Sam. I loved reading about your adventures.
It is so heartbreaking. Thank you for your condolences. <3
Thank you for sharing, as always, your authentic experiences. I’m glad I had a chance to “get to know” Sam via your blog – he sounds like he was such a loving, special part of the family. Sending love to your family!
Thank you for these kind and loving words, Rachel. <3
Hi Jen. I’m so sorry about Sam. I think you are exactly right, that he was holding on for your mom and dad. Animals are so amazing. 15 years is amazing too. Sending love to your family.
Thank you, Jackie! He had a long and happy life and I’m glad he could make it back to see his beach and home before he crossed the rainbow bridge. <3
What a beautiful tribute to Sam! Yes, he certainly hung on to be there for your family. I feel your loss Jen.
Thank you, Susan. <3
Oh, Jen, what heartbreaking news for your family. Like everyone else, it’s clear to me that he needed to be sure your parents were safe at home before moving on. The love dogs have for their families, and their knowledge of what we need at exactly the right time, astonish me. Sending light to you and your family. (And oh, so wonderful to see your mom looking so good…)