As you're aware Madison earned her angel wings: both a sad inevitability and a beautiful transition. After she'd passed and as the mortuary took her mortal body and drove away, her moms and I stood in the driveway and wept, a three-way hug exchanging our love and gratitude to one another. We gravitated back to Madison's bedroom and sat on the beds each silently wondering 'so what now'? Wanting to try and keep it light and seeing Madison's wallet sitting on the her dresser I grabbed it, pulled out the cash and said "heads or tails" as I flipped a coin. We laughed through our tears and mamabear Colleen said "your job was just eliminated... you need it more that I do". I put that $116 in my pocket but just couldn't put it in to my wallet... not even weeks later. If it was there it'd be way too easy to turn that in to a carton of cigarettes and a fine box of wine... which would have made Madison SO proud. So with that elephant still in my pocket, I just mailed a check for $116 to XMO Camps (at 3578 Claridge Court, Simi Valley, CA 93063 ; ) so off to the liquor store I go with a clean conscience!
So that covered the short term now-what. Moms and I need to redefine ourselves and our rituals as individuals and as couples... the what's-next? We've been the extremely proud, often terrified yet determined caregiver parents filled with faith and hope of a cancer patient since 2013 and that's been our primary role. We learned a secondary role very early in our journey together. After her first chemo regimen Madison was hospitalized with an infection... a compromised immune system and then bam... three days in the hospital which included Christmas eve 2013, that story here. We were so inspired to pay-it-forward by that act of kindness by complete strangers that we've been paying it forward since, Madison included in more ways than you probably know. In her legacy we'll carry that baton and invite you to do the same, to do good, to feel good... it can be as simple as donating blood regularly, throwing a few bucks towards a worthy non-profit regularly, donating your time serving homeless people a Thanksgiving meal, or even sitting at a Pet Smart helping organizations place stray cats and dogs. While the picture below reflects Madison's determination and playful character during treatment, stop and ponder where urgently needed blood comes from... walk-in's are often welcome. Don't think about it, let's simply do.
Love,
The Jones Family
So that covered the short term now-what. Moms and I need to redefine ourselves and our rituals as individuals and as couples... the what's-next? We've been the extremely proud, often terrified yet determined caregiver parents filled with faith and hope of a cancer patient since 2013 and that's been our primary role. We learned a secondary role very early in our journey together. After her first chemo regimen Madison was hospitalized with an infection... a compromised immune system and then bam... three days in the hospital which included Christmas eve 2013, that story here. We were so inspired to pay-it-forward by that act of kindness by complete strangers that we've been paying it forward since, Madison included in more ways than you probably know. In her legacy we'll carry that baton and invite you to do the same, to do good, to feel good... it can be as simple as donating blood regularly, throwing a few bucks towards a worthy non-profit regularly, donating your time serving homeless people a Thanksgiving meal, or even sitting at a Pet Smart helping organizations place stray cats and dogs. While the picture below reflects Madison's determination and playful character during treatment, stop and ponder where urgently needed blood comes from... walk-in's are often welcome. Don't think about it, let's simply do.
Love,
The Jones Family
