Bittersweet Decisions
It's been a few weeks since I've published anything on this blog. The silence had to do with being extremely busy right now. Both Patrick and John have hockey tryouts this week, and I have been preparing to teach in our homeschool co-op. This year, I'm teaching Algebra 1 & 2 and Chemistry. Beyond that, I'm also teaching group cycle classes 3 times a week. I think it's all getting to me, though, as I feel like my adrenals are headed in the wrong direction again. Certainly my anemia is back full-force. I feel pretty fatigued, but this blog isn't really about me.
Hockey tryouts for John were kind of a test to see how his body would take the extra burden of strenuous physical activity on top of treatments. Well, today, I report that we have surrendered. John made it successfully through 2 back to back hockey tryouts, but today, he just couldn't make it. He cannot do hockey today.
We had a heart to heart about it. His choices were 1) keep pushing and hoping for the best and play travel hockey, which is demanding and requires 5+ hours ice time and travel to games, which can be up to 3 hours round trip twice a week... or 2) play in-house hockey locally, with 2 hours of ice time a week with minimal travel.
My son has played travel hockey every year for 6 years. There has never been a moment he hasn't wanted to push himself. Hockey is his escape. It's his freedom. His endorphins go, and he's just an athlete, a kid playing the game he loves. The decision didn't come lightly. He decided tonight that the most logical choice, as hard as the choice is, is to opt for #2. He simply needs to give his body the latitude to heal. I respect his decision, and I'm very proud of him for prioritizing his health. But the tears still flow from my eyes. My heart hurts for him. I'm crushed for him. I try to hide the tears, because I really do think this is the best decision, and I should rejoice in that. But what happens if he still cannot heal?
This disease is one of plans. Plan A, Plan B.. but now that I'm well beyond Plan C, I don't know what plan to for. We have tried several doctors, several hundreds of supplements, several clinics, several diets. Sigh. That is all I have left right now. Sighs and tears.
Hockey tryouts for John were kind of a test to see how his body would take the extra burden of strenuous physical activity on top of treatments. Well, today, I report that we have surrendered. John made it successfully through 2 back to back hockey tryouts, but today, he just couldn't make it. He cannot do hockey today.
We had a heart to heart about it. His choices were 1) keep pushing and hoping for the best and play travel hockey, which is demanding and requires 5+ hours ice time and travel to games, which can be up to 3 hours round trip twice a week... or 2) play in-house hockey locally, with 2 hours of ice time a week with minimal travel.
My son has played travel hockey every year for 6 years. There has never been a moment he hasn't wanted to push himself. Hockey is his escape. It's his freedom. His endorphins go, and he's just an athlete, a kid playing the game he loves. The decision didn't come lightly. He decided tonight that the most logical choice, as hard as the choice is, is to opt for #2. He simply needs to give his body the latitude to heal. I respect his decision, and I'm very proud of him for prioritizing his health. But the tears still flow from my eyes. My heart hurts for him. I'm crushed for him. I try to hide the tears, because I really do think this is the best decision, and I should rejoice in that. But what happens if he still cannot heal?
This disease is one of plans. Plan A, Plan B.. but now that I'm well beyond Plan C, I don't know what plan to for. We have tried several doctors, several hundreds of supplements, several clinics, several diets. Sigh. That is all I have left right now. Sighs and tears.
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