All Aboard!

February 20.
“Come play trains with me!”  That is what Greyson insisted yesterday as he held my hand and led me to the basement of the Snyder home.  I arrived at 9am for a video shoot which a company out of Indy, Cantaloupe, graciously agreed to do for us as part of this campaign when Angela asked.  They are the same folks who handle the IOS marketing videos.  Cool people.  Big hearts.

So I carefully made the descent behind Grey.  Not only did I see OSU galore down there (Go Bucks!), I saw more trains than Jesse James has ever seen.  Tracks led around an entire wall, over bridges and through canyons, with NAMED train cars carrying nothing other than their respective internal individual batteries.  Duracell would be proud of that getup.  Around and around those things went, making noises as they chugged and crashed, chugged and crashed.

All as Greyson educated his studious audience. 

He was simultaneously laughing and barking orders.  “No!  That one doesn’t go there!”  Ok, dude.  I only have a daughter and she never played with trains although I would have much preferred that over Teletubbies.  Talk about freaky giant alien-like English-accented overstuffed loons that scared the crap out of parents.  Me included.  Yikes.

Anyway, I didn’t really know what I was doing with the train situation.  But I did know what I was doing when we left there and went to Lutheran.

Cantaloupe shot a video of a “day in the life” for Greyson.  His days not only include playing with trains, but once a month they include a trip to the Hospital for treatment to rid his little body of leukemia.  As Dana and I discussed today after we saw a much “sicker” looking child being wheeled out of the Doctor’s office, sometimes it’s hard to remember that Grey is sick.  Sometimes it takes a nurse named Shelley injecting chemotherapy into his port to remind onlookers that he has cancer.

I watched as Grey actively participated in a mock check-up, and educated us once again about the right way to do things.  Dr. O’Brien and his nurses are amazing.  They have their own language – with each other as well as their patients – and it was inspiring to see.  Dr. O’Brien (an OSU Grad, I might add) explained that some of his research included a 2-year stint whereby “day and night,” he researched the implications certain drugs have on one cell which is triggered, goes haywire, and turns into leukemia.  ONE CELL. 

2 years, day and night, looking at something which most of us never even consider let alone understand, is how this Doctor used and continues to use his gift.  That guy not only saved me from having to step it up in Science class, he and other researchers like him saved me period.  Just like they are saving Grey.

While Greyson may not know the technical behind-the-port terms of what is happening with his body, he certainly understands the love and care he is receiving in the midst of a bump in the tracks.

Time to get on board.  We have 64 Days to go.