Category: hockey

Out of Body Experience

You know when you are usually the driver and then one day, someone else drives and you get to ride shotgun and watch out the window and see the world from a whole new perspective? That’s where I’m at right now. Riding shotgun, looking at the same landscape through a foreign filter. 

I’m at Children’s Hospital Colorado, sitting in the sports medicine clinic, watching Campbell march through her physical therapy program. Jumping up, over, left, right – one leg and then both legs. All the people here know me as Campbell’s mom. Yet 100 feet to the east, I’m Cooper’s mom. Coop and I have been overnight guests down the hall for sleep studies. 200 feet to the south, I’m again Cooper’s mom. We are here twice a year visiting audiology to adjust his hearing aides. Down one level I’m an infusion mom. Cooper and I checked in at the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders one day every week for six years. On the first floor, I am the breakfast burrito order in the kitchen and again Cooper’s mom in Radiology. I’ve watched storms roll in from this fabulous viewpoint and taken timelapse videos similar to what you see during the weather update on the local news.  I have a favorite spot in this parking lot, but I am not parked there today, because the handicap permit stays in the car door pocket when I’m here with Campbell. 

I’m beyond grateful for being BOTH moms. It struck me as crazy this morning when I looked around and thought, THIS is what the sports medicine folks know about me – they know Campbell, and her hockey. They don’t know the volumes of medical records, infusions, surgeries and recoveries my other mom role has seen. They don’t know Cooper, his dog Velocity and our rare disease journey. I’m OK with that. The rare disease journey often defines me (and us as a family), so as I looked in on my life from what seemed to be somewhere else, it was hard to believe it was MY life. Sometimes it’s good to be someone else for a while. But just a short while, because this evening it’s back to parenting both kids as it’s High School Freshman orientation night for Cooper!

Blown Away

Cooper is the subject of the new children’s book, Super Cooper Wins the Stanley Cup, written by Jack Gates. Proceeds from the book support Triumph Together, a non-profit program that works to connect collegiate and professional athletes with kids at Children’s Hospitals by getting them tickets to games, meet and greets with players, signed gear, videos of encouragement before surgeries, etc. Jack and his work have already created a lifetime of unforgettable memories for Cooper.

Jack, a San Diego resident, joined Cooper in Colorado to promote the book. But first, they spent time at Children’s Hospital South Campus, handing out the book and the Coloring and Activity Book to kids who share the same hallways Cooper so often visits.

Cooper’s post about handing out books at Children’s Hospital Colorado

Seeing our hospital family was a heartfelt homecoming. We were at the hospital for Cooper’s infusion 6 – 8 hours one day a week for 7 years. We did COVID with these ladies, they hugged me as I cried and prepared for Cooper’s surgeries. They welcomed us with open arms and every comfort possible when we came back after surgery. We celebrated and decorated for holidays and birthdays together in those sterile rooms. They found the best toys and activities for Cooper to pass the time. They helped Cooper with homework. We shared parenting trials and tribulations with them. They brought extra pillows and blankets for Velocity. They celebrated 5 years of treatment with Cooper in a day he called “The best day ever”. They fix his hearing. They cooked him his favorite chocolate chip pancakes. They welcome him at the front door.

It was in one of those sterile infusion rooms during COVID that Cooper first met Jack and some of the Colorado College hockey team on a ZOOM, playing a simple game. From that ZOOM, Jack easily recognized Cooper was a big hockey fan. Next came an autographed goalie stick from the Colorado College team. Then tickets to Colorado College hockey games, a VIP tour with the players, speaking to the team in the locker room after a win. Then Jack wowed Cooper with a pre-game ride on the Zamboni, and an autographed stick from Trevor Zegras when we were in Anaheim to watch the Colorado Avalanche play the Anaheim Ducks. Now Jack makes it a point to hang with Cooper when he’s in town – Dave and Busters, ice skating or Top Golf – any 11 year old’s dream.

On the way to Cooper’s book singing on Wednesday, I told him, “Cooper, this may be a weird comparison, but this is like a wedding. People from every part of your life are coming to support you. It is rare that this happens – that people from all parts your life – teachers from 6 years ago, family, friends, your dentist, neighbors, past nurses, all physically show up to celebrate you at a certain time and date.” It was definitely like my wedding – I stood and talked and hugged everyone for hours. We sold out of books (54)! Many people brought the books they bought on Amazon for Coop and Jack to sign. Velocity even had a paw print stamp for her own signature. Cooper and his quick wit had a good line for everyone. “To the mustard family” “Keep my mom busy” and even “I need food”.

A MASSIVE thank you for coming out to be with us at the book signing. Thank you for purchasing the book on Amazon, and leaving reviews. I’ve always believed that there is power and purpose in sharing Cooper’s journey and this book is the next step – funding Triumph Together to help other kids.

This summer is a blessing. No surgeries! Beach vacation! Cooper’s first time participating in the Dwarf Athletic Games where he got to play basketball, soccer, football and swim with kids his age and SIZE. He made new friends, and played his heart out for a week.

I finally have time to reflect, process and write this weekend while I’m in Massachusetts with Campbell for her hockey tournament. So now I need to go watch the other half of my heart live her best life.

Having all cylinders firing on good summer vibes has me Blown Away.