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Settling in to the School Year
By Margot | October 4, 2011
We are settling in to the school year. The boys are busy with soccer and basketball. Andy is running for safety officer (one of the two positions you can run for as a third grader). Maybe his nickname of “The Mayor” will come true some day. He’s so excited and nervous about it and we worked on his speech last night and will start on posters this weekend. Seems like a lot of work for Mom 😉 I told him this morning that if he doesn’t win (since he’s so nervous about it) at least we can console ourselves with the fact that we can still be a little late on assembly days instead of having to get there early for student council. Andy loves his new teacher Mrs. Brauch and I like her a lot too. I can tell she “gets” Andy. He made it through his tonsil surgery fine, though it was a lot more painful for him than I expected and it took a full week for him to recover. Being in Children’s Hospital sitting next to him with the pole and the pump and the works was a “return to Vietnam-like” experience. I almost physically pushed the orderly out of the way who was trying to say that he had to push the pole so Andrew could go to the bathroom. I felt like telling him, “Do you have any idea how many times I’ve pushed this pole and how many crazy machinations I’ve done with it to get places and do things with Sam?” But I didn’t.
Charlie boy has had some drama this year. He was happily ensconced in kindergarten and doing very well and happy and then because of the large class sizes, they pulled him out the second week and put him in a K-1 combination class. He had a hard time the first few days and there were a lot of tears and I got all in an uproar and met with everyone to try and move him back and then he came home and said he wanted to stay in the K-1 class. Last week Neil was calling him Ferris Buehler because he gave himself a couple of days off with a phantom stomach ache that mysteriously dissappeared when he walked out of the school office doors. Neil said when he went to check on him every teacher in the school and parents kept asking, “How is Charlie?” and he felt like Ferris’s sister as he answered, “He’s fine!” He is settling in this week and seems to be happy. I’m trying to volunteer in the early morning at least one day a week to keep tabs on him as he’s in class with some seven year olds. He’s made good friends at recess though and likes his Monday after school mad science.
Halloween is approaching and it will bring our second holiday season without Sam. Halloween was his favorite and we would start getting ready for it really early. We will carve a pumpkin for him of course and put up his favorite decorations if I can stomach it.Andrew wants to be Messi (the soccer player) like Sam was Beckham and Charlie is going to be a Ninja again.
Neil and I are staying afloat, staying busy working and parenting. I ran the Max’s Lemon Run a couple of weeks ago and got to meet Jay Scott of Alex’s Lemonade Stand. A great and funny guy.
Please keep remembering Sam. I’ve been getting a bit panicky lately that as time goes by it will just be us who remember our amazing, funny boy.
Margot
Topics: Progress Reports | 24 Comments »
October 4th, 2011 at 9:20 pm
No one will ever forget Sam. You don’t know me – I don’t know how even found this blog, but I’ve been reading for a while. I’m a stranger living halfway across the country from you guys, and I still think about him all the time! Your story makes me appreciate my life and my health. I’ll think of him when I have my own children. I’ll think of him when I lose loved ones. I’ll think of him when I see a cute kid with red hair. And I’m sure there are lots of people like me all over the place. More than you know!
October 4th, 2011 at 10:11 pm
Last night Joe had to write a letter to a famous person or someone he admired. He wrote his letter to Sam. Joe will educate a new school and teachers on who Sam was and why he’ll always be remembered!
October 4th, 2011 at 10:17 pm
I agree with Sophie…. no one will ever forget Sam. You don’t know me either. I found this blog through another CB site. I live all the way across the country from you guys (in NC) and I too think of Sam all of the time. I check your blog regularly and I am always excited to hear the updates. You guys are an inspiration to me as awesome parents and Sam is my hero. I have a disease that causes reoccuring aneurysms (brain, kidney, aorta) and I think of Sam everytime I have to have a MRI, test or a surgery. He faced all he went through with a smile and if he can do it – surely I can too.
I’m glad to hear that Andy is feeling better. Tonsil surgery is no fun. I hope he wins as safety officer!
October 4th, 2011 at 10:29 pm
I have red heads and when I see a red headed boy I only – and always – think of Sam. And I always will.
October 4th, 2011 at 10:30 pm
Margot: I am with Sophie here. I never met Sam, never shook his hand, never was lucky enough to hear him tell a joke — but I think of him so often. I check in sometimes even if there hasn’t been a new post, just for the pleasure of the smiling Sam picture at the top. I think of Sam when I see athletic, enthusiastic boys with red hair — or hearing aids, when I read Harry Potter to my kids (or myself), when I see 8 year olds playing soccer, or clumps of boy siblings who obviously idolize their oldest brother. And if total strangers think of Sam so often, just imagine what his presence is like in the minds of those lucky enough to have actually known him.
October 4th, 2011 at 11:03 pm
Margot, I came to your site by way of Pat Lacey’s blog. Sophie and Jan expressed everything that I feel each time I have the privilege of reading about your brave children and families. Thank you for letting us into your lives. I will never forget.
October 4th, 2011 at 11:31 pm
Another stranger from across the country who will NEVER forget your son or your family. You inspire me to be a better mother to my own girls. And I too think of Sam when I see a spunky little red head running around here in D.C. 🙂
October 4th, 2011 at 11:46 pm
I only met you and Sam a handful of times crossing paths at the hospital while my son was getting treatment. I think of him very often and anxiously await your updates. I will never forget Sam I will always think of your family. you are going through my worst fear as a cancer mom with such dignity and grace Sam is so proud of you I am sure.
October 5th, 2011 at 2:16 am
I have read you website for around 4 years. I love your son. He has changed me, because of Sam I appreciate every moment of life both the good and bad. Forget him not a chance!
October 5th, 2011 at 3:09 am
I hjave to say that Savannah cals you “Sam’s Mom” even though Charlie is in her class 🙂 Always remeber that sweet boy!
October 5th, 2011 at 11:55 am
Yet another person from across the country who has never met Sam, but will never forget him. I continue to keep all of you in my thoughts and prayers. And I too, cannot look at a red head without thinking of Sam! He will never be forgotten.
October 5th, 2011 at 4:36 pm
I’m another person who never got to met Sam. I found your blog through Deb Schwedhelm’s photography blog a little over a year ago and was hooked. I read from the very beginning and felt like I knew not only Sam, but Andy and Charlie as well. Your family has been such an inspiration to me and the way I think about life, I’ve passed this blog on to many people who all agree that Sam touched our lives in some way or another. I still check back, often multiple times a week, just to see if you’ve posted anything new, so you need not worry…Sam will never be forgotten, even by those of us living across the country who weren’t fortunate enough to meet him!
October 5th, 2011 at 5:30 pm
So glad Andy’s recovered from the tonsil surgery. It surprises me how rough that can be on the kids. Give him hugs from the Michigan family. I know Charlie Boy can hold his own with any 7 year old, so I wouldn’t worry too much. I was looking through some old photo albums the other day and came across a couple from Sam’s first visit back here. I think I’ve sent them to you before. Anyway it gave me a moment to think about him and smile.
October 5th, 2011 at 7:10 pm
Sam will not be forgotton, even by perfect strangers like me. His smile and that adorable frecked face endures!!! Good luck to Andy and Get Well Ferris…
October 5th, 2011 at 10:36 pm
the people have spoken. What more could we hear? Sam is always with us, and will not be forgotten. I shared my bad grandma story at work today — the time we walked to the grocery store, and he looked under every rock and grass blade, and how I enticed him to walk faster home by offering him a hershey kiss as I walked backwards urging him on!! three blocks and it took two hours, but we made it. And I will never forget how much fun it was just to be with him. Love you all, Grandma Joan
October 6th, 2011 at 3:53 am
Sammy is never forgotten…. all 6 of us Kuhn’s think of him so often…. and always with a smile!!! Sam= smiles= love
Our love for the Hutchison’s and Sam is always here…. even when it has been too long and you don’t hear from your Pittsburgh friends!
Glad the tonsil surgery is behind Andy and happy to know Charlie boy is holding his own! Much love,
colleen, nick and kids
October 6th, 2011 at 2:59 pm
Margot, Sam’s journey is one of the reasons why I’m in grad school now to be a child life specialist. I will never forget that beautiful boy I never met and the love that screams off every word you write about him.
October 7th, 2011 at 12:36 am
Miss you, love you guys! Sam will never ever for one minute be forgotten. Natalie wore my teamSam shirt to school on sports day. She said he “did every sport & we were a part of his team so it it was perfect!”
Xoxoxox
October 7th, 2011 at 1:29 am
I too have been reading your blog for quite some time as I found it through another website when my then 3 year old son was having major surgery in Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh (PA) Sam truly was a remarkable child and I for one will never forget him. ((hugs)) to your amazing family and God bless you all. Your entire family and most of all Sam, has been an inspiration to us all. We probably will never meet in this lifetime but I feel as though Sam was an angel on this earth and we will meet him someday in heaven.
October 16th, 2011 at 10:02 am
NO ONE WILL EVER FORGET SAM….When my niece Morgan was first diagnosed and I emailed you Magot…Your email back to me was one that I will never forget…Sam was so lucky to have your family through his journey…So many life lessons learned. Sam was a gift on this Earth and he did so much for the human spirit and he still does……..PEACE ALWAYS………
October 18th, 2011 at 7:16 pm
I am thinking of Sam, too.
October 20th, 2011 at 1:08 am
Sam won’t be forgotten. This is the only non-tech blog among about 50 in my RSS Reader. Just treasure the family you have, as you treasured Sam, and he you guys. Take care.
October 21st, 2011 at 3:59 am
Oh Margot, I will never forget Sam. He was my special little buddy. I think of him almost daily. I have cried rivers. I still miss him so much. Everytime I think of him, my heart breaks all over again. I can’t even imagine what you feel. I wish I could reach out and hug you. Give Neil, Andy and Charlie a hug for me. Please know that I love you, I’m praying for you and I will never forget.
Love, Angel Mary
October 27th, 2011 at 2:17 am
No worries… Sam will always be remembered. There is not a smiley red head that passes by who fails to yeild… “Sam….” in my mind!
Please know we continue to send positive Karma your way… prayers to go with it!
P.S. That goes for Chargers Uniforms too… we are always looking for ways and teams to help us root against the Cowboys… although they don’t make it too difficult these days… (psst….we know that Neil is a Lions fan at heart…)…