Marvelous Monday

And just like that: Monday!

We had a whirlwind week (ummm… it seems like this is a real pattern here), and now that we’re finally home, in our little abode, it is all hitting me. My phone is buzzing and vibrating with photo tags, well wishes, comments, and a list- a list of gifts, cards, beautiful  messages lining cards all meant for Addie. In just 2 years my sweet angel has so many who love her, who celebrate her. For all the people who could be there and all those who wanted to be, I am thankful. How can one little girl have  such love surrounding her? As I type away, I am watching her sleep, and even with her eyes closed and her chest rising and falling, with her gentle snore… there is still the hint of her smile. Her happiness and her personality are always shining through- and this is why people are there. She’s a magnet to love. Our love. Your love. Thank you for celebrating our (almost) two year old with us!

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I forgot to update everyone on Addie’s growth (which we truly only chart from her specialists) in the last post about Delaware, so I wanted to share her stats here:
23 Months:
24.25 pounds
29 inches long
20.3 inch head circumference

As I plotted her newest numbers with the doctors on the most important CHART according to her doctors (weight for height), we came up with Addie being at -1 SD for her head, which really put to rest the concern for hydrocephalus because her head is slowing on its growth  pattern. For height, she’s at +1 SD, so she’s right above the mean, and for weight she’s right in the middle. When you see the numbers on a growth chart, her own growth chart, it’s pretty cool! Dwarfism is an umbrella diagnosis with many forms defining it, and I feel very fortunate to have so much research about Addie’s form to help guide us through her possible medical needs.

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Lastly, some random to start your week off… Heather, a fellow blogger and advocate, contacted me regarding a cause close to her heart. As I read her story and web page, I felt the need to share the information with you. As a child, I remember my school spending a lot of money to renovate during Spring Break one year. When we came back, there was some discussion about asbestos and that’s what they were doing… as a kid, I had no idea what that meant, but loved that our tiny school had gone through a face lift. Reading Heather’s story brings me such peace- knowing that I was not exposed to something so terrible as so many are. Please read and share her story…

At age 36, I was diagnosed with mesothelioma just 3 ½ months after my first and only child, Lily, was born. I was given just 15 months to live unless I underwent a drastic surgery to remove my left lung. Miraculously, I beat the odds and I’m still here eight years later.

Asbestos is not banned in the US, yet it’s the only known cause of mesothelioma. I was exposed to asbestos through my fathers work jacket when I was just a little girl; my diagnosis came about 30 years later. Once diagnosed, most patients die within 2 years. I am one of few survivors who openly share their story and work to spread awareness regarding the dangers of asbestos.

In honor of Asbestos Awareness Week (April 1-7), I created a webpage dedicated to raising awareness. Although this week has passed, I would love to help educate and protect your readers from this preventable disease!

Here’s the link to my awareness page: mesothelioma.com/heather/awareness

#themoreyouknow

Have a beautiful week, Reader!