Amanda and the Hendersons

Twenty six days ago I loaded the Honda up with enough stuff for a one day trip to Denver....... Four Wednesdays, Four weekend visits with our other half....624 hours.....Twenty six days....and Parklen, Phinlynn and I are still here. Parklen's illness has seemed to steadily increase...as time has gone on, each flare up has outdone the last.  This was the worst one yet.  This one made him sicker than he has been,  this one caused concern in everyone that knows Parklen.  This stay in the hospital included a tiny infant to nurse and care for.....this stay included frequent discussion about Parklen's future....and a three ring binder handed to every parent about to take their child into a bone marrow transplant. A binder filled with facts......a binder that will make your mommy tummy churn...... I have spent much time thumbing through the pages of this BMT book.....reading over risks, skimming through rules.....every moment realizing that if I EVER thought...

There comes a point in every one's life, where they are forced to make a difficult decision.  These moments come often for parents........ Most parents must decide things like, which schools to enroll in, which pediatrician to use, what diet to feed, which sports to participate in, who to use as a baby sitter.....and so on it goes. When I decided it was time to become a mother I thought of many things, happy things like first steps, laughs, playing, love.  I never thought of things as they have turned out. Parklen has been sick for his entire life.  It has been trying, it has been hard.  Its time for his life to change.  Parklen will heal from this recent ordeal over the next couple of months....after he is at HIS best- him, his sister and I will be moving to Denver.  Parklen will be receiving a bone marrow transplant. There are no more options.  A doctor looked me square in the eyes and said, "Parklen will not live to be a teenager if he does...