Skip to main content

For Sarah

Today marks one year since my sister's bone marrow transplant.  For those of you in the know about that sort of thing, it's a pretty big milestone.  This weekend she is celebrating with a big group of friends, but sadly I can't be there. If I were, I'd stand up and make this toast:

It was late August 2010 when Sarah called to tell me she had cancer.  Acute Myeloid Leukemia, to be precise.  She told me what that meant and what her treatment plan was, but I heard it in a blur. One thing she said stuck with me, she assured me that everything would be ok because she had no intention of leaving her children.
She went into chemo and things got worse, but then they got better.  She was in remission and went back to her life.  Then in January 2014 things got much worse.  Cancer was back and she needed more chemo and a bone marrow transplant.  She endured those treatments and the side effects so horrendous I wouldn't wish them on anyone.  She did it all with quiet grace, and dug deep to come out the other side.  Last summer she went through hell fires, and her words still resonated, she would not leave her children.  For those boys, she would do it all again, but today we celebrate the fact that she may never have to.
To Sarah, her strength, and her boys.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

My big sister and the egg sandwich that might cure her cancer

I usually like to keep things light hearted here At Home With Ann.  Simple recipes, awkward jokes, toddler antics and kitchen fiascos.  But we all experience times in life when we are thrown for a loop and face something that stops us in our tracks.  I, like a classic control freak, tend to keep things to myself.   Everything is under control, see? My house is clean, dinner is cooked, the dishes are done, I'm on schedule, I blow dried my hair, I don't need help.  See?  See?   But this time it's not about me, it's not something I can control, and wishing it away won't actually make it go away. Me, my Mom and Sarah last Summer Three years ago my sister, Sarah, was diagnosed with a form of leukemia called AML (acute myeloid leukemia).  My reaction was typical.  This happens to other people.  Not my 33 year old sister who lives by the ocean, gets tons of fresh air and exercise, and eats healthier than anyone who has ever entered Whole...
10 comments
Read more

Peanut Sauce Spaghetti Squash Bowls

I know, it's been a while. Turns out wrangling three little boys doesn't leave a lot of time for recipe writing and food photos. We still eat, though, and pretty well! Mostly I share quick recipes and meals on my Facebook page At Home With Ann , so please follow me there! I love spaghetti squash as a substitute for pasta. It's healthy, way lower in carbs and higher in vitamins.  It's also easier to prep than zucchini noodles, and I think it stands up to hearty sauces better.  I simply stab it with a sharp knife a few times, and roast it in a 400 degree oven for an hour, or until a knife easily slides through the skin.  Let cool, cut open, discard seeds and shred with a fork.  Spaghetti squash with meatballs is in our regular dinner rotation, but there is often a lot of leftover squash.  This easy vegetarian dish is a perfect quick dinner or lunch, and if your kids don't go for the peanut sauce, there is plenty of cut veggies for them to eat. Peanut Sauce Spa...
Post a Comment
Read more

Not Really Engagement Chicken

There is an urban legend of the Engagement Chicken , a dish that if made for your boyfriend, he will be so impressed with your domestic skills he'll propose. I've been married for a year and a half, so I'm not putting it to the test, but I thought it might be a good way to make my first attempt at roasting a whole chicken.  After research, I decided to take aspects of recipes from  Ina Garten , the  Pioneer Woman , and good old Joy of Cooking  . The first step of making roast chicken is by far the hardest.  You have to remove the neck and innards and rinse the raw bird.  Because he is a good person, my husband did that part for me while I covered my eyes and ran out of the kitchen. After it was all clean and patted dry with paper towels, I stuffed a halved lemon and 4 cloves of garlic inside, and coated the entire chicken with olive oil.  After coating with oil, I sprinkled liberally with salt, pepper, sage, and thyme. The best part is that th...
5 comments
Read more