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The Imprint June Left On Me

Read more of Taryn’s work at https://carryingjune.com/

I first noticed the tattoo on my arm during June’s treatment for neuroblastoma. I don’t remember if she was receiving chemotherapy. We were in the hospital, but which one? I can’t remember. Was it Portland or Boston? Once detailed memories are slipping away. Bleeding like an unrecognizable tattoo. Fading away into an unrecoverable abyss that is my mind.

The word tattoo is not the appropriate term for what it is I am referring to on my arm, but I like the implied permanence of the word. Tatuaje in Spanish. This is a mark. The word mark can be used to refer to a tattoo. I’ll stick with tattoo.

I don’t have any professional ink tattoos, and this is as close to one as they come for me. I’ve wanted a tattoo for as long as I can remember, but I’m as indecisive as the next person as to what I would get and where I’d place it. Indecisiveness stops me from getting a tattoo.

I fear the permanence of the ink. What’s worse is I fear the permanent ink starting to become dull and bleed into something I can no longer make out, and yet, still very much inked below my skin. No longer the crisp image it once was. I imagine touching up the tattoo one day, but then it would no longer be in its original form. For some reason, this terrifies me.

It’s the same reason a memory terrifies me. What is the original form of a memory? It’s the event. Doesn’t have to be an event. Could be a nuance, a sniffle, a look, a smile. A snapshot of any one thing that was a part of our lives. Now part of the past. A memory is made up of factors we can replay, but ultimately, details get left out. Unless we write them down, paint, draw, or photograph them, we may lose the memory. Similarly to how the tattoo will never be the same after its creation.

The details which make up a memory might linger with us for years. A scent associated with the event. The color of the sky the day she died. How smooth our favorite mug felt in our hands as we sipped morning coffee. When it comes to June, I didn’t think my memory would allow for details to drop off. What I have learned since she died is that some memories are not more loyal than others. A memory is not a moment in time we can presently return to without unintentional alteration’s regardless of who the memory is about.

The memory is of utmost importance to me because for a while I believed it was all I had left of June. However recently, I am discovering there is more.

The tattoo that I am referring to I discovered on my body several years ago is in its original form. It will grow into its potential with time. It will never disappear and the lines won’t blur. They will deepen as wrinkles do with age. The thought of this makes my body feel warm. An imprint of June that will never die.

A tattoo denoting what my body cannot forget because although time is unforgiving on the mind, it’s very giving to the body. Time gives us wrinkles. Time takes away from us too, but I prefer to focus on what time has given me. Disease took June, time did not. I look forward to what more life has to offer. I am perfecting the balance on the scale of life.

The tattoo represents what my body has endured. What I’ve survived. I am not discussing the black circles under my eyes from years of crying, although those too, I’m afraid, are now permanent.

I’ve learned in these last few years that the body moves forward with time but it is nothing without its past. Our bodies represent the culmination of life’s experiences. Individual markings on individuals. I see the tattoos all over my body when I step I out of the shower. I’m practicing noticing the marks my children have left me with gratitude and not distaste.

Caring for June was an experience that reverted me to my original form. June’s diagnosis stripped me of the outer layers I had padded myself with over the years based on who I thought I had wanted to be. When June became sick, I was reduced to my only my body and my motherhood. Everything else in life was cut away. Nothing else mattered. I became a one-dimensional snapshot of a human. A cardboard cutout. It was as if my body had forgotten my past. As if there was no future for my body. As if I became a memory of myself. Does a memory have a memory? Does a memory have a future?

When June died, she was far from her original form. The perfect baby I had given birth to only a year and a half earlier, had been altered by the toxicity of medications, chemotherapy, and surgery. Like a memory, like a tattoo, June would never again be in her original form. Still perfect, yet altered. The distance between June after chemotherapy from June before chemotherapy was obvious. The distance did not only grow between June and herself, but it was most obvious between June and her peers. The tumor robbed June of her potential to be healthy and grow like other children. The chemo robbed June of the healthy parts she had left like her hearing and fertility.

The tattoo I refer to is in the shape of lines. They can be found just above my left wrist on the inside of my arm. This skin is still some what supple because it’s the underside of my arm. There are no white spots where the melanin has died. The lines themselves look like I took a tiny X-Acto knife and made shallow cuts diagonally from the outer edge of my inner wrist up my arm. It’s a spectacular thing because I’ve never cut my arm as one would need to do to create this design. It evolved with June and with time.

I look for the symmetry on my other arm, but there is none. There are no fine lines and the skin on my right arm is bland. There is no symmetry to this tattoo. Symmetry is something a mother of a child with cancer often looks for in tiny lumps and bumps. Something a mother of a child who died of cancer looks for in herself and her living children. Symmetry doesn’t set off internal alarms. Symmetry is to be embraced. I can let go of the notion of symmetry here because I’ve finally realized the origin of this tattoo.

If you look closely, the skin on my left inner arm just above my wrist, under my watch band, looks like the skin on a snake that is about to shed. The veins give the skin a bluish hue just as a snake’s skin has before it sloughs off. The lines are connected by scales. The scales slightly less apparent than the lines. At times during June’s treatment, the mark of lines on scaly skin were bright red. It was a reflection of the time. The time I carried June.

Unlike the snake, I will not outgrow my skin. I cannot escape it although I’ve wished to. I do not need new skin to continue living. My skin may become worn out like a snake’s, but it’s the only skin I was given for this lifetime. The new me is learning to appreciate my old skin. The tattoo makes it a bit easier.

Today, a stranger may not see the tattoo from a distance. It’s not angry as it once was. I notice it in the light of the sun that shines through the window at the kitchen sink while I wash dishes. In the sunlight, it looks as if it was created with white ink. The scales become obvious. With time, this tattoo will not fade. If I had to guess, it originated when my first daughter was born. June solidified it’s existence when she was born and more so, after she became sick.

June progressed from a newborn to an infant and in that time she clung to me like an infant primate does to its mother. Initially, I was baffled, irritated, and confused by this behavior. Constantly holding June prevented me from completing daily chores and making meals. It became worrisome when I had to leave her with someone else and go to work. I’d peel her away from my body. My eldest daughter never attached to me in such a way.

June’s attachment became the natural process. I’d read articles and heard strangers whisper about how one should never constantly carry a baby around. A baby should develop independence, learn to crawl, and one day, learn to walk. June never met these milestones, but it wasn’t because I carried her.

June and I became one. She wouldn’t have it any other way. I had no choice, but to rise to the occasion. I picked her up because she needed me. Then I found out she was sick. It felt natural to continue to carry her for the rest of her life.

That is what I did.

My body will never regret not setting her down.

The tattoo on my left arm just above my wrist is the mark of June. It is made of lines created by pinched and twisted skin compressed by June’s body. For every day I carried her, the lines grew a little deeper. It’s a mark of proof that she did exist. She was right here. The mark of a memory. This arm lives to tell the story. It’s an imprint that will never be forgotten because as I age, so will my skin, so will the lines. I run my fingers over them and remember.

To remember

not that

June is no longer here.

To remember

instead that,

June,

is never gone.

The Jarboe family at our Ferry Beach Retreat in 2022

Seeking Solace in California

Last week, our family was lucky enough to be able to travel to California over Rett’s anniversary. The last two years, we’ve taken ourselves to warmer, sunnier, greener places—an attempt to create a tradition to ease the disconcerting days that lead up to the day he died.

If you know trauma, you know it can be buried deep. And there are dates and events, songs and scents, that bring up the most painful time of your life like it is fresh and raw in your face. Although this winter in Maine has been mild, with plenty of days above freezing to frolic outdoors, it’s still a marathon to get through, especially since it’s always jaded by grief for us.

The winter Rett was sick with cancer, 2014-15, was the snowiest I can remember. Storm after storm, it was nonstop inches and frozen tundra. We watched from the hospital windows, wondering when this “storm” of our life would recede. Each time the doctors asked, “Would you like to take him home and enjoy his last days or continue with treatment?” we just pushed forward with the latter holding hope that a spring would have to come eventually. It’s what all parents would do and we have no regrets for believing that we could save him.

It wasn’t until we were turned away by both Boston Children’s and St. Jude’s—two of the very best—that we knew it was time to bring Rett home. And after he was held and kissed by every grandparent and aunt and uncle, three days after a heroic Med-flight home from Memphis, during a glorious watercolor sunset, Rett let go of this life for something spiritually superior, something we can only begin to understand as humans on Earth.

Life without Rett is hard, as anyone with a heart would expect. Each year winter comes around and the waves of emotion of these four formidable months from November to February pummel us with grief. Sadly, the holidays are riddled with painful memories and the dark days of January fill us with dread. But we push through, knowing that we’re needed by Rett’s sister, Evie, who deserves more than anything to have joyful, positive childhood experiences unencumbered by the loss of her brother.

When 2/22 finally arrives, the sense of being buried by cold and darkness starts to lift. The days are brighter, and a family trip is exactly what we need to reset our aching hearts. This year we visited with friends and then took off on our own down the central coast of California. The sadness was there, but the beauty and expansiveness of the landscape gave us space to breathe through it. The soft, green rolling hills dotted with cows and shrubs led to massive rocky cliffs with turquoise waters crashing below in a froth of intense feeling. Extreme winds blew in the day before, a sign of Rett’s natural power. And the sun kept shining for us between quick bursts of rain on the morning of his anniversary; and of course, we saw a rainbow as we drove back up the coast.

The enormity and openness of this place was the perfect container for our grief. We poured our sorrows out to make room for the beauty & peace all around us. Our work as a bereaved person is to replace grief with gratitude. And it’s not an easy practice, especially after witnessing a child die from cancer. Hope can be lost entirely, as a black cloud continues to follow you around like a shroud of grief. We wanted more than anything for Rett’s life to be significant and not just a tragedy. Rett’s Roost is the torch that carries his light.

Back in Maine, the upcoming Behold the Cold polar plunge gives us something to look forward to. I love how our community rallies every time we ask for help. It is truly a remarkable thing that I will never take for granted. It’s this power of community that can only be found here, in Rett’s home, that is the foundation of what we do. With all of you, we’re able to bring together families navigating a path towards healing and re-creating joy in their lives. And that, right there, is what keeps us moving forward year after year without our baby boy.

If Rett and all the kids fighting cancer inspire you, you can donate to my dip in the ocean this Sunday by clicking the donate button below or here: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/rett-s-roost/behold-the-cold-2023-polar-plunge/deana-cavan

Our Beautiful Birthday Boy

Dear Rett,

Today you would be 7 years old–Lucky 7. Seven is the number of completeness and perfection (both physical and spiritual). It is directly tied to God’s creation of all things, and is associated with a deep inward knowing–like what we saw in your eyes and your owl-like persona. In our world, you are one of the Seven Wonders and always will be.

Although you are no longer here, we’ll still take the time to celebrate you, even though it isn’t the same. Each year your birthday comes around and each year we’re blown away by how quickly time passes without you. As we watch your sister grow, you stay the same size in our hearts. We can only imagine what you would look like, how your voice would sound, how proud you’d be making us.

Please know we are ok. That we cherish and trust the signs you send us. Like last week, when I drove down to meet with our friends the Austins for an afternoon hike, the sun poured into the moon roof heading south on I-95. I felt warm and content–lucky even. Suddenly I noticed the license plate of the car in front of me… 4RT 222. I literally almost drove off the road. 4RT=For Rett, 222=the day you left this earth. Clearly you were telling us, “I’m watching over Evan Austin, I will protect him for as long as I can from that DIPG monster.” Or that’s what I like to believe.

Or yesterday, when your sister was outwardly expressing the eternal void of a bereaved sibling. Her sweet, social-emotional nature intuitively shines through during these days around your birthday and death anniversary. She cries over silly things, wants extra cuddles, and says “I love you” at least 70 times upon waking. Getting dressed after her tubby turned into spontaneous tears. As I hugged her tightly, acknowledging her grief, the fire detector nearby suddenly started blaring for absolutely no reason. “Hi Rett,” I thought. “Yes we see you. Yes we hear you.”

Last night, the eve of your birthday, was the brightest night so far this year as a Pink Super Moon filled the sky after sunset and into the early morning of April 27. You were born at 6am seven years ago and I feel the downward pull in my abdomen. The phantom limb of giving birth that any mother knows well. I know your cells are still within me–that an infinitesimal part of you lives on. And I feel utterly blessed to have carried you in my womb, nursed you at my breast, and held you for your last breath.

Your birthday buddy, your dad, feels this loss as deeply as Evie and I do. Each night he tirelessly lucubrates over his memoir of you–(he’ll love the big word, but I probably used it incorrectly)–a shrine to you his third eye’s focus, the ambient sounds of Brian Eno to pacify the intensity of this work. His discipline and determination an honorable expression of his fatherly love. He fills the chasm of your demise with words and sentences that ascend and blossom like morning glory, like the glory we felt the morning you arrived.

I will always remember fondly your first birthday–how is it we never even spent one together!?–at the monastery of Sant Benet de Montserrat in Barcelona, Spain. But I can do this sacred day no justice and prefer to share the beauty of what your dad wrote instead.

Montserrat steals our hearts more slowly, endearment swelled with every step and gaze around its sprawling crag-embedded grounds. It cuts an otherworldly stance even from afar, the mile-long tram from the mountain base bringing the monastery into ever-grander focus. An April Monday crowd makes for near-solitary walks along the trails surrounding the Abbey of Santa Maria, along which stands a series of modest shrines erected to regard the Virgin Mother, one every fifty or so yards. Beneath each are tiny trinkets or tokens of remembrance, candles melted to nubs and wax cascading off the makeshift altars. We time our hike to coincide with 12:22, the trio of threes marking the day of his death, at which point we’ll visit the closest shrine and honor his first birthday. Many have said the first will be the hardest, a warning we’ve internalized well enough to plan this cross-pond whirlwind. Though no amount of movement or views can fully thin the venom forever coursing forth: the fury we feel that he never knew the sound of people singing solely for him.     –Jim Cavan, When You Rise

We will forever know and love you, son, no matter how old we grow and how far from you we feel. Or should we instead trust the old adage, “we will meet again one day?” So that in essence, each passing day brings us not further but closer to you.

Love to eternity and back,

Your Family

Staying positive during scary, uncertain times

When our son, Everett, was diagnosed with cancer in 2014, it was a shock beyond most people’s comprehension–kids don’t actually get cancer do they? And my child? How? We held onto hope like it was all we had ever known. And although there were times of complete despair, we never let that hope dwindle during those scary months of uncertainty. That’s what you do. That’s all you CAN do.

During the current global pandemic of COVID-19, our whole world is reaching for some inkling of hope. When will this end? How bad will it get? Will someone I know become dangerously ill? Or god-forbid, die? What will happen to the economy, to my savings, to my job? It’s very scary and uncertain, and I wanted to draw some parallels to what we went through as a family that experienced childhood cancer and child loss.

The first seed to plant in your mind is, “This too shall pass.” It’s a mantra that you can repeat throughout the day as you struggle to homeschool your kids, as you worry about your stock of toilet paper (or more importantly, food), as you question your sanity without social interactions. We have to nurture that seed of intention because it will grow, and bloom into gratitude…

And while “This too shall pass” doesn’t technically apply to a family that lost a child–that grief will never end–the feelings of grief do come and go, and we don’t take for granted our surviving child, this extra time with family, and the beauty of the world around us. Speaking of which, have you been outside?

If I were to give my #1 piece of advice on how to stay happy during this time, it’s just that, get outside, stay 6′ away from others, and breathe in the gorgeous spring air. Walk swiftly or slowly and just be in nature, which is actually healing during this time of lower productivity. See dolphins, swans and satellite images.

Not only that, but it will also help to…

Limit your news intake. It’s everywhere, we are bombarded with fear and questionable facts online. Find a trustworthy source (preferably one based on science) and just check it once or twice a day to stay in the loop.

Laugh. During stressful and serious situations, comedy helps. All the coronovirus memes going around are certainly good for a chuckle, although too much of a good thing isn’t good, so watch your time on social media too.

Look after your neighbors. The act of checking in on them (keeping six feet apart, of course) will not only make them feel good, it will make you feel good and remind you that there are others for whom this predicament may be even more stressful.

Support your favorite local businesses. You can buy a gift card to help the business owner now, and many restaurants are offering food pick-up options. Sign up for a paid online yoga or exercise class–most studios and gyms are doing this.

♥ Practice random acts of kindness. Send gifts & cards in the mail. Unexpected treats can be a huge pick-me-up-in times of stress. This is especially valuable to the elderly who are now in isolation in nursing homes. If you are worried about receiving germs through the mail, grab your chlorox wipes or sanitizing spray and clean it off first! Think of those who could benefit from your thoughtfulness and generosity. Then act.

Take advantage of extra time. Canceled activities give us an opportunity to focus on the things we haven’t had time for. Marie Kondo your house! If you are working from home, use that commuting time to start a meditation practice.

♥ Practice gratitude. Close your day, every day, with a positive acknowledgement of something you accomplished, learned or are grateful for. It will help dilute some of the negativity you’ve absorbed and remind you that not everything that’s happening right now is bad or depressing.

♥ Remember to breathe. Put gratitude front and center. Put care into everything you do. Excess fear, stress, and worry cause harm to your system. Stay home if you can and support those in your community that can’t stay home because of their job doesn’t allow it. Stay in touch with your loved ones, stay as relaxed as possible, stay in joy whenever and for however long you can.

In closing, believe in the hope of this…

A year farther gone, yet closer in Spirit

It’s been a year since we’ve posted in these Musings–which doesn’t mean that we don’t muse over our son on a daily basis. Honestly, it’s just hard to continue to write about a boy who is no longer here, and hearts that continue to be broken. Another New Year is upon us, which is just another hard day for bereaved parents (there’s at least 6 of them a year). A year farther from our child on Earth, but a year closer to being reunited after death. Morbid? Maybe. But it’s how the mind works when you’re missing one. Below is an adaptation of the letter we sent to many of our major supporters this holiday (note: it’s not all heavy-hearted)…

As time passes by, our grief continues to morph and evolve and enlighten. We are approaching year three without sweet, pensive, perfect Everett, and while we still and always will miss him beyond belief, we continue to find gratitude for the amazing people that create our Circle. Our community is what has made this a journey rather than a devolution… there are so people that genuinely care for and continue to encourage us. While the loss is tragic, the story is not a tragedy.

The start of 2017 was quite rocky for our little family. After an unfruitful move to Chicago for a couple months, we came home to southern Maine feeling discouraged and hopeless again. After that door shut, another one slammed on an opportunity in North Carolina. We felt cursed. Something about being back in New England seemed right though, and we were mindful to Rett sending us clear signs that we were meant to stay put. The roots of Rett’s Roost are in the Seacoast area of New Hampshire and Maine. No doubt, our return has been extremely positive.

This year’s summer retreats were invaluably worthwhile, once again. We started at Shilo Farm in Eliot, ME in June with three sweet families of children with cancer. It was a busy weekend that started off in the pouring rain and ended in the bright sun at Fort Foster. For us and the owners of the Eco B&B, Jonas and Amylyn, the vibe felt joyful and supportive. Fourth of July brought us back to Leyden, MA at Angels’ Rest. Here, six bereaved families gathered. The sharing circle at the opening was really strong, and each night parents stayed up late talking. Everyone opened up so much. It was truly beautiful. Two weekends later we held our first retreat with Momcology, an amazing national organization. Twelve grieving mothers connected deeply. Our last retreat took place in Waldoboro, ME at a new glamping campground called Tops’l Farm. This time, downpours made things pretty tricky… but we kept the fire burning and the spirit felt so powerful around us. At one point the last day, during our music therapy session as the sun finally emerged, a group of dragonflies descended upon us!

The Superhero 5K in October was also a huge success, raising over $20,000. We eagerly returned for a second year to Throwback Brewery, and are so thankful for all the runners and sponsors and volunteers that joined us. The summer-like day brought smiles to all the participants. Our greatest support comes from people that opt to donate monthly or annually. Even a continuous $5 donation sustains us so much over time. And to those that have raised money for us on their own—teaching yoga, running a race, selling products—that is incredibly valued too. It’s all the little things, and sometimes the big effort, from our constituents that has kept us burning bright.

What happened in between those retreats and the gathering of superheroes has not officially been announced until now. As a family, and with a lot of help and sacrifice from Deana’s parents, we were able to acquire a permanent home for Rett’s Roost in Ogunquit, ME. Over the past three years, Rett’s Roost has rented retreat spaces in various locations around Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine. Most locations have not been ideal sites, either extremely remote, or when in a more desirable location, extremely expensive, especially during summer months. Securing optimal weekends (when many places rent by the week) has also been difficult.

Rett’s Roost’s mission is to create a sanctuary where families feel cared for in a peaceful, comfortable environment after often living in a hospital room for months on end on a shoestring budget while overcome by medical bills. The intention with the purchase of 22 (yes, #22, thanks Rett) Autumn River Lane in Ogunquit is to offer a cost-effective retreat space to Rett’s Roost, where we can choose any weekend we like for a retreat. A single “headquarters” also allows for retreat programming to be streamlined and optimized. The location is ideal because of its proximity to Rett’s Roost’s volunteer and donor base and because Ogunquit is an appealing and accessible town. When the opportunity rose, it became crystal clear why Rett kept shutting those doors when we tried to move. We plan to pilot three retreats in the new location next summer. Dates will be announced in January.

IMG_4712 copy2 copy

The last few years on the whole have been a whirlwind for us. Since Rett came into our life, we’ve been moving in all sorts of directions, trying to stay afloat raging waters. In general, it feels like the entire universe is moving very quickly. Towards what? Who knows. But almost everyone we know is witnessing intense struggles and transitions in their own life or through the life of a beloved. Not only that, but politics, technology, gun violence, ideologies, social media, and of course cancer—it keeps accelerating! Probably Facebook’s fault–LOL.

Staying grounded, present, accepting, and forgiving is the only way in this life. Evie, now more than twice the age of Rett, is our rock. She has helped us get through another tough year with her joyful soul and sweet disposition. We are so blessed to have been gifted another child. Everything feels like it’s falling into place, finally. Jim has a new job in Portland that fills him up professionally. He’s also working on a very important project—one you’ll all be very excited about—and yes, it involves words, purposeful, melodious, delicate words. For Deana, it’s all Rett’s Roost all the time. Her passion is unwavering. Sometimes grief turns into productivity and helping others. For both of us, that has been the case. It is one way of living after loss. It is our way of keeping Rett’s spirit close.

We wish you peace and good tidings this holiday season–a heartfelt wish for a happy close to your 2017. Winter has arrived with a bitter cold snap in New England, so we’ll be taking time to hibernate and be with our closest companions, and plan for next summer’s retreats. We hope you also have time to get cozy around a fire and reflect on the big picture, set intentions, just be. Celebrate and recreate traditions. Look past the all the material things and see what truly sparkles in your life. This is what we plan to do in our new home this year, watching our little Everly Jane as she absorbs and exudes all the magic that she is. Always looking for signs of her brother through her eyes.

Wishing you love, light, and a meaningful life,

The Cavans

301 Days & A New Year

While I wouldn’t say I’m completely in tune with the spirit world, Rett continues to knock us over the head with his signs. I find it fascinating that his angelversary last year was on the full moon and his sister was born on the new moon two weeks later. Full moons are all about letting go, new moons represent new beginnings. Rett lived exactly 301 days. Today, January 2nd, 2017** is the exact day Everly turns older than Rett ever was. While I am so grateful to have a healthy child now, it just doesn’t feel like this should be an accomplishment or a day to celebrate. Instead, I look at it as another sign from above. An evolution of sorts. Time to begin again at the start of a new year. Time to resolve to change focus, change paths—and feel good about it.

His birthday, the anniversary of his death, and Christmas will come each year, but this single moment in time is one that holds a lot of power. From now on we can’t really compare Evie to Rett. The approach of this imminent day affected me a lot, as I watched my daughter grow to her brother’s last age—becoming more and more mobile  and eating all kinds of food, two things Rett never got to experience. I remember just days before Rett passed giving him a fruit smoothie, and he loved it. That made me so happy. At least he got to taste something deliciously sweet once in his life. And while he could never explore from his tower of tubes and machines and medicines, he did learn to be a pro-bouncer.

As many bereaved parents will attest, year two can be even harder than year one. I have found this to be definitively true. Despite the bundle of joyousness that is Evie Jane, and the consistent success of Rett’s Roost, the last few months have been more difficult than we ever could have expected.

Let me explain…

Last summer at our first bereavement retreat, Jim made the difficult decision to accept a job in Chicago. It was a big deal to move our family out to the Midwest, but we took the challenge in our life as a leap of hope and necessity. It seemed this was the change we needed to move forward in our grief. Jim was hired by Time, Inc/Fansided because of his edgy, eccentric style of writing, as well as his attention to detail (ie., grammar policing). We know that they were happy with his work from the beginning–writers liked him as their editor-in-chief, his officemates enjoyed his presence, and the website was getting more traffic than before.

Suddenly, however, hope all came tumbling down, after he published a piece that received a miniscule amount of troller backlash on Twitter. Without any warning, someone high up a Time Inc pulled the plug on Jim’s position. We’ll never understand why this happened, since no one at Fansided reached out to speak to Jim about why he lost the job we moved halfway across the country for after two months of honest, dedicated effort.

So as the anniversary of Rett’s diagnosis and major surgery passed for the second time, and the holidays came and went without our two year old son, we faced another major decision and transition to leave Chicago. It’s been so hard to pack up (again) and leave a city that we were really excited about making our home. The fall in Chicago was beautiful, the Cubs won the World Series, we loved our neighborhood and exploring all the other pockets of culture and delicious food. Evie, and even Lulu our dog, seemed to fit right in to an urban lifestyle.

wrigley

It’s tough to look past the stream of bad luck that has cursed us ever since Rett’s cancer. Sadly, it feels like we are still living in its haze of suffering. We really don’t want to reach out to our community for more sympathy, since you’ve all given us so much of your love already. But our story must be told. Jim has stayed quiet about this loss but the pain that this huge corporation caused our family is immeasurable. And I just wish that whoever made this impulsive decision from their corner office in NYC could feel themselves the stress we have felt.

After losing Rett, I picked up my shattered heart and kept going. I started Rett’s Roost and brought another child into the world. I’ve heard so many times, “You are so strong.” While I do take that as a compliment, I know in my heart it’s not always true. This fall has been a true test of my strength and faith in goodness; I still feel beaten and bitter. I’m not any stronger than any of you. You would all have taken care of your child like we took care of Rett and you would all have carried on if you lost your child like we did. I live in a world of bereaved parents who did exactly what we have done. Sadly, we are not a rare breed (7 children die of cancer each day in the US).

I want to believe that we can create a better reality just by focusing our mindset on what we want. But, in these last two years, I’ve met so many people that are also living through tragedy and bad luck. Many of these people already live a life of good deeds and positive thinking. So, in my mind, I oscillate back and forth–observing how unfair life is and adjusting my negative reaction in the present moment to focus on a brighter future.

I’ve seen many people commenting on social media about how difficult 2016 has been. All the influential people we’ve lost and the surprising election result are universal examples; but I even feel on a personal level that the cosmos have been misaligned for most. Even though Jim has to remind me again and again, I know we are all in this together and that he and I aren’t suffering alone.

Our wonderful Rett’s Roost photographer, Caitlin, posted a Rumi quote the other day, “You have seen my descent. Now watch my rising.” I can’t say when that rising will occur, but all I can do is envision it happening now, as we embark on 2017, as our daughter continues to thrive. This significant day when Evie outlives Rett is hopefully a turning point for us. I’m trying to look at it that way. It’s also a new year, where my intention will be to create the life I want to have by shifting my perspective to what could be rather than what is not.

Our little detour in Chicago was not easy, but it was an adventure. Hopefully we can look back on it in a few years and realize that this suffering we endured was only a glitch in achieving the life we deserve. And that our efforts to be good people, with open hearts, close friends, and a modest life will eventually create an easier path forward. I am certain our family will get through this time and emerge in a place of solitude, for a while at least. Please, hold us in your hearts until we are there.

**Also, a little numerology fun on this day, 1/2/2017 = 1 + 2 + 2 + 0 + 17 = 22!

The Families that Keep Blowing our Hearts Wide Open

I started Rett’s Roost because I heard a calling—from Rett or God or both—to heal myself through healing others. I believed that surrounding myself with families that had faced pediatric cancer like we had would somehow ease the sadness of losing Rett. And it has done just that—with each retreat my heart explodes with love. Our first retreats last summer for survivors were surprisingly joyful for Jim and me. We fed off of their hope. I’m happy and relieved to say that all nine of those kids are still thriving against cancer. Each time I hear they’re going in for a scan, my stomach tightens, my heart fills my throat—I can’t even imagine the fear (referred to as scanxiety in the cancer world) their own parents feel—because I know cancer, and I know it often rears its frightful fangs again, or if not cancer, a side effect from treatment shortens or degrades an innocent life.

After the success of our survivor retreats last summer, we felt ready to invite the families whose hope and joy was stolen from them—the ones that watched their children fight incredible battles and still had to say goodbye. One out of five will not survive five years after diagnosis—that’s the statistic. Nearly 15,000 kids diagnosed a year, and 20% of them are not cured in time. The antiquated, under-funded treatments continue to fail us time and time again.

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So we headed to Peru, Maine to our first bereavement retreat in early July, not sure what to expect. Will the families show up? Will they think the retreat was worth their time and effort to get there? Might some of them be so sad that our attempts to bring joy back will only hurt them more? Will differences in our grieving clash? And seriously, what am I thinking running a retreat with a 4 month old?

To start the weekend off, one of our farthest flung families arrived after 16 hours of travel to voice messages calling them immediately back to Ohio—recent bloodwork indicated that their daughter had the same blood disorder as their son that died… and her counts were very low. The entire group was in shock. Aside from a joyful birthday celebration for one teen sibling, it seemed impossible to bring everyone together in any semblance of a therapeutic activity that night.

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So we were five somber families left on a peaceful pond in a slightly cramped house. I went to bed wondering if the entire weekend would be a string of disasters. I cried and asked Rett for help, and to not let my sniffles wake up his slumbering sister.

As if our children’s spirits took charge, the next day everything started to fall into place. All the therapists and volunteers showed up with their hearts on their sleeves—ready and willing to help make this retreat a success. Despite a cloudy day, the rain held off for a little outdoor yoga and counseling. We used the big barn for meetings with the medium. And with that infusion of spiritual energy, we chose to gather there later in the day for our sharing circle—by far my favorite part of the weekend.

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The first day of our August retreat on Cape Cod was also frazzled, if not nearly as heartbreaking. One family’s flight was delayed and they ended up on a red eye instead of flying in a day early like they intended, two of our moms traveling together were not able to rent a car at the airport, one of our massage therapists was in a horrible car accident which shattered her wrist, and our social worker’s car kept stalling out in traffic on Rte 3. Rett must have been up there giggling, as I frantically arranged logistics for them all. Children’s spirits are so mischievous!

The house on the Cape was spacious and sunny and looked out to a gorgeous view of the marsh and ocean. This was the first retreat Jim and I didn’t have to cook, and although the retreat center’s food was somewhat mediocre compared to what we usually prepare, it allowed for us to really immerse in the retreat with these families, which was a huge gift. I’m still buzzing from last weekend with these families. After day one’s logistical nightmare, the time together flowed with grace.

At both retreats, deep connections—much deeper than what you might expect to be forged in three short days—emerged. After Rett passed, as most grieving people do, I read a lot about what it might be like in the spirit world. It was something I needed to believe in now—so as not to think Rett was lost into nothingness. What I learned about were soul families. That in each lifetime we connect with the same souls… to learn our lessons in earth school… to expand our consciousness. Feeling so comfortable after such a short time with these people, I immediately understood—we were brought together for a reason—we are part of the same soul family. Unfortunately, our lesson in this lifetime is to all experience child loss.

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As always, the therapists and volunteers make each retreat incredibly healing. I took a picture of Amanda, Kate, and Caitlin, who offered massage, reiki, and portrait sessions to the families. These three glowing, light haired, energetic beings each had their own enlightening experience that day that they shared with me. Amanda arrived at the retreat center early and so she spent some time meditating by one of the ponds. The moment she opened her eyes she noticed in front of her a cluster of swirling white feathers. At that point she knew our children’s spirits were guiding her. Kate and Caitlin, both drove home separately Saturday night. It was humid and rainy and both of them were fighting with the defroster to keep their windshields clear. Kate looked back in her rearview mirror at one point to see two handprint images, and Caitlin saw angel wings that wouldn’t seem to fade.

Maybe signs aren’t your thing. But we love (and need) them. Even my mother received one. On the last day as I drove back to NH, I was telling her all about the retreat on the phone. She stepped outside on her porch, and at that moment, this red butterfly wing fluttered down in front of her. Thanks Rett for showing us your love!

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Some of the families ask me how I created Rett’s Roost just months after Rett passed. I feel a little guilty because I know they all want to honor their kids in some similar way. I don’t exactly know what came over me. I sometimes hide my grief with my busy-ness. I don’t cry as much as other moms—another source of guilt. I’ve never been a person that holds on to the past. I have one of those “anxious about the future” personalities. I just keep pushing forward recognizing that I’m one of the unlucky parents in this world that has to get through life without one of their children, but trying not to let my broken heart stop me from living this life fully.

I wonder how the waves of grief will wash over me as the years past. As Evie nears the age of Rett’s diagnosis, I am starting to worry about how I’ll get through all those milestones that Rett never met. But her smiles and squeals and zest for life are a gift from her brother. And so we hold on to moments like this…

What’s more, Evie’s approach to Rett’s diagnosis age is all happening during a tumultuous transition in our life. Some of you may already know but Jim and I are making a big move to Chicago. We haven’t left our Seacoast home in nearly 20 years but this change was almost inevitable—Jim’s success as a writer and editor would only be stunted in NH. His talent and productivity has finally been recognized, and we could not pass up the opportunity to create a better life for our family. While saying goodbye to our friends and especially Rett and Evie’s east coast grandparents is agonizing, we know that it’s a quick flight to Boston and that our community will not be lost. Rett’s Roost will continue to run retreats and fundraisers in New England each summer and we intend to see it grow a mid-western following as well.

What I’ve learned through saying goodbye forever to Rett, and goodbye for now to our community is that life is unpredictable. My yoga studies have taught me that life is full of painful experiences, but we create our own suffering. We can choose to live in the suffering from our past or project it into our future. But truthfully, the present is all we really have control over. So I try my best to live day to day, the smiles of my living child my anchor to the moment. And when I feel the urge to plan a little for tomorrow, conjuring up those expectations that may or may not come true? I remind myself again and again, the only constant in life is change.

Love after Losing a Child

Last year on Valentine’s Day, we were preparing to leave for St. Jude—a final glimmer of hope for our son. Instead of going out on a date, my husband and I were at our local hospital getting a final dose of antibiotics infused into Rett hoping to protect him from a plane of germs.

I took a picture that day of him looking to heaven, and now I know he was asking his God, his ancestors, his spirit animal, for freedom from his suffering. It was one in a series of photos that would follow that week, all of which fracture my heart every time I look through them.

Rett would die eight days later after a whirlwind trip to Memphis, a torturous discovery of multiplied lesions covering a third of his lungs, a medevac flight home, and goodbye visits from all his family. As far as death goes, it couldn’t have gone better. As for our life, though, the nightmare that had started nearly 4 months before, had just cranked up another notch.

For Jim and I, and for every couple that loses a child, continuing to love each other with two broken hearts takes serious fortitude and attention. The statistics are not on our side—something like 75-80% of bereaved parents divorce (although in my experience, the percent is lower). It’s so very hard when you’re both in your own trenches of grief to support someone else. There are many ways to grieve, but if I were to categorize, what I’ve seen is that women wear it and men overcome it—neither approach being better than the other; either being healing or destructive.

So far, we have been pretty lucky at understanding each other’s methods of grieving, only encountering a few hiccups along the way. For me, I have about twenty new mom friends that I talk to regularly to keep from feeling alone in this painful world of child loss. And I purposely started Rett’s Roost so that I could continue to encounter the people and stories that make up my own journey. It is who I am—a bereaved mom willing to share, and by taking on this role, I feel as though I can continue to live a fulfilling life.

Jim, like most bereaved dads, hasn’t sought out new relationships. He has other helpful ways to work through his grief. Jim has a voice for Rett that he talks to me with daily. His bond with our dog Lucy has been taken to a whole new level. And he looks forward to making us delicious and skillful dinners most nights. He writes poetry in words and phrases that are beautifully elusive and private, while at the same time tender and expressive. His creativity extends into his work in sports-writing, where he has lost no passion or efficiency. And while we have both become somewhat more reclusive this year, he is always reminding me that we still need to go out sometimes and enjoy life.

Of course, like every couple, we argue. And while I find him to be completely irrational when the Knicks or Michigan State is losing, I could not ask for a more respectful, honest, and reasonable husband when it comes to our disagreements. One thing about being married to a writer, he knows how to communicate his thoughts; and maybe it’s his Midwestern nature, but he absolutely never holds a grudge or lets me go to bed angry.

There are waves of grief that hit us every few weeks but hopefully, not at the same time—when one of us is drowning, the other is there to rescue. He is there to hold my heart and I to hold his. Without him, I’d sink to a deeper level of loss that I cannot comprehend. We acknowledge each other’s pain as equal to our own, and that has sustained a love this year that could easily have shattered.

Today we profess our love for each other, next week we will offer that love to our son, and with that abundance of love, in early March we will welcome our daughter into this world. It is with our great loss that we continue to gain great love. To us, the only way forward is together.

The Gift of Grief

It’s been just about ten months since I held him in my arms–the same amount of time we got to spend with our son in this lifetime. And during this time, I’ve read a lot about grief and followed other people’s journeys through it, because I’d never really felt anything like it before, and I hoped to embrace this new life rather than fall victim to it.

Before Everett was sick, I was oblivious to this world where sadness is a normal, familiar emotion and grieving a daily ritual. I also realized that there are people out there that get it, and others that don’t. It really is that divided. And on 2/22/15, I was asked by my son to switch teams.

I don’t mean to stereotype the empathetic versus the non, but it’s almost as though my life has been in black and white this year. The important people have shifted or have been illuminated. Now when I meet or find out someone has felt great loss in their life, or even has the courage and compassion to talk about mine, I immediately feel connected to them. They get it.

Losing my only child was enlightening. I was suddenly awakened to the suffering experienced by so many, which I’ll reluctantly admit, was somewhat novel to me growing up in a white middle-class happy home.

So, I’ve accepted my new position in life. While I do have days when I break down and wish Rett was still here, I almost immediately catch myself accepting this path of grief as something valuable and meant for me.

My son gave me a gift and I really do want everyone to know what a powerful gift it is—to be content with my sadness.

I use the words content and enlightened lightly, because they are not typical for a grieving parent to say. They are big, powerful attainments in life. And I do not claim that I live this perfectly conscious life where I don’t nag my husband or wish for more money or judge a soul.

But I do want people to know that a person can live a contented, fulfilling life after an excruciating loss.

Grief is not something we should ignore or fear as a society, because it happens to almost all of us on some level. When we pin sadness against happiness, as though they are opposites, we alienate an entire population of people. We tell them that they are not normal, and that there are drugs for their “negative” feelings.

In my online support groups, I read about grieving people being told to move on. This blows my mind! We will never move on. To move on is just to mask your grief, with typically horrible implications.

But there are tools to live with grief, so that our sadness doesn’t sabotage our physical or mental health or our relationships. Instead of ignoring our pain, we can use our sadness as a catalyst to help others, to simply be a person with empathy and the willingness to experience a full spectrum of emotions.

Grief is something that accumulates in our bodies. If we don’t face it, it will materialize into other issues. Recently I found some nodules on my thyroid. These are pretty common and I am having them tested for something serious. But a friend mentioned to me that they are often found in those that are grieving. In a way, they are basically a metaphor for the lump in my throat I feel each time I want to cry.

Have I been holding back my tears? Maybe a little. I somehow read an entire eulogy to Rett at his memorial without breaking down.

I’ve read that tears are our emotional perspiration. The body has many methods of detoxing, and like sweat and elimination, weeping is one. If you are interested, here’s how. My hopefully benign, health issue has made me realize the importance of my tears and I’m trying to be better at letting them flow.

Just last night I picked up one of my favorite books I used to read Rett, “Little Owl’s Night.” Waterworks ensued, followed by a sweet, consoling husband. It was a necessary sad moment for both of us—an effective purification.

Some grievers hate this phrase, but we often say, “Rett wants us to be happy.” We can feel his smiling, playful spirit—all it takes is daily intention and attention. But he also wants us to miss and remember him too, because that is what makes us feel whole and human. Simply, another gift we treasure from our son.

Another consolation never to offer a bereaved person is, “There is a reason for their passing. God needed another angel.” Once again we stray from the norm, because we are the first to admit there is SO MUCH MEANING behind Rett’s passing. We may still question why this happened to him, but we do not question whether Rett is doing God’s work and guiding us from afar.

I am still so new at this journey. And I don’t want to make it seem like I’ve got it all figured out. Who knows what year two will be like? I’ll have Rett’s little sister to care for and be grateful about. I’ve promised myself not to let our loss affect her life negatively. But I do want her to grow up knowing that it’s ok to feel sadness. And how being an empathetic person will cultivate love and acceptance in a world that can so often be disguised in ambivalence.

Christmas will be hard. Like every parent who’s missing a child from the picture, I’ll admit that. But I recognize the gifts of empathy, acceptance, and contentment Rett has given us, to gratefully place alongside our gift of sadness. This holiday, which can be so full of magic, may you all find a few non-material, life altering presents under your tree. May the twinkle of lights, the sparkle of snowflakes, and a flickering fire remind you of the spirits that surround us with their astral energy. And finally, may you shed a few empathetic tears in revelation of grief as a ubiquitous human experience that should never be quelled.

When Suffering Empowers

About one year ago, we found Everett’s cancer in his liver. There were no signs of him having a health issue, until one day, I noticed his belly seemed hard and he was strangely inconsolable. We found out the type of cancer, a malignant rhabdoid tumor, is one of the rarer and most aggressive cancers found in a child under 18 months. Throughout his treatment, they kept reminding us, “You can stop treatment at any time; there probably isn’t much use.” After three cycles of chemo and a surprisingly successful liver surgery, his now-metastasized cancer had taken over one-third of his lungs and we were sent home on hospice. After just three days, it was time for him to let go of this life.

This may sound crazy, but we were one of the lucky families—only a total of 3.5 months in the hospital and just a handful of days of knowing there was no hope for him. Other cancer families with a terminal diagnosis spend a year or more in-patient watching their child suffer, and up to five years fighting off disease before they ultimately have to say goodbye to their little heroes. And while 80% of children with cancer do survive in this modern day and age of medical advancements, most of them are left with life-long chronic pain, weakened immune systems, and mental anxieties. We felt blessed our child would not endure that kind of life and his suffering did not last long.

The reality for us became trying to feel gratitude amidst our suffering. My husband, Jim, and I decided the best way to heal was to look for the light within the darkness (knowing one cannot exist without the other). When we look back, we were grateful Rett was comfortable and peaceful during his last hours. There was no medical emergency or rush to save him, we were home and got to hold him and talk him through his passing, just his mama and dada by his side. Throughout this unbearable time in our life, we were completely supported by our beautiful communities of family and friends. We didn’t have another sibling at home to help understand. And Jim and I could take time to heal after because of the financial support we received. For all those reasons, we were able to accept the loss of our child knowing it would change our lives forever—but for the better.

There was one thing I knew almost certainly after Rett was diagnosed—my career as an environmental researcher would become part of my past. But I also had taught yoga for years, and knew that I enjoyed helping people live healthier lives—both mentally and physically. Now I saw a much greater purpose to my yoga philosophy training. It’s what saved me while Rett was sick and dying. It taught me to see this time of suffering as a purposeful moment in my life, and I had the choice to let it bring me down or bring about a positive transition. I knew I wanted to share the tools that helped me stay strong and focused during this harrowing experience. And with that desire, Jim and I created a foundation in our son’s honor, Rett’s Roost.

Rett’s Roost is a new non-profit organization that supports families that have heard those heart-dropping, stomach-wrenching words, “Your child has cancer.” Or even worse, “There is nothing else we can do for your child.” Our mission is to provide a sanctuary (in the form of retreats) for entire families to live, love, and heal together. We offer therapeutic ways of healing with yoga, art, music, writing, and games that build confidence and acceptance and promote lovingkindness and mindfulness. Our first two retreats were for families in the post-treatment, recovery phase—meaning their children had stable or no evidence of disease. Our first bereavement retreat—for families that have lost a child like us—is coming in December.

It’s been nearly eight months since Rett passed and only three months since Rett’s Roost became my daily “work.” I’m proud and empowered by what Rett’s Roost is becoming. While it feels like a source of healing for me, sometimes I wonder if I’m avoiding my grief. But I simply cannot ignore the super-charged angelic force behind it all—our son Everett. He came into this life to create compassion and abundance for those who need it most. And I thank him daily for his heaven-sent support and guidance. As much as I’d prefer to have him here with us, I’m glad to be doing work that has true meaning and value. I often ask myself upon waking each morning, “What can I fill the emptiness in my heart with today?” Thankfully, with all the beautiful cancer families and generous supporters we’ve met, my heart is overflowing.