The Necklace

For nearly four years, I've imagined sitting in an oncologist's office learning that Christi had miraculously achieved NED and asking for the scissors....I've imagined Christi becoming cancer-free by earning her Angel wings and slipping it inside her coffin.....What I never imagined was cuddling with Shayla and having her say, "Your necklace is so streched out it could just slip over your head now like this," yet that's exactly what has happened! So after approximately one thousand, two hundred and fifty straight days of wearing the necklace Christi beaded for me on the day of her diagnosis (9/11/02) in the playroom at Columbus Children's, I am now necklace free. The day Christi made it for me I made her a promise. "I will wear this until it breaks, or until you no longer have cancer," (assuming it'd be the standard 10 months of cancer treatment never thinking the disease would not respond) This morning Christi and I talked and she agreed it's time I'm free! For the first time I'm able to wear a different necklace so I wanted it to be special. Together we selected one of Christi's- an angel with her emerald green birthstone. I like my new look! I just wish I could have asked Dr. Maris for his scissors! Now we're off to the Lemonade Stand!

(PHOTO CAPTION: December 2002, Christi age 5, A dinner stop somewhere in Pennsylvania on our move to NYC so Christi could treat at the great MSKCC.)