FUNNY PICS OF JO AND MIA!

These were taken back when we referred to Mia as "Mina-Mina" and when I would joke about having 2 kids... ha haha ....! This was taken just before Mia moved to Hawai'i in Feb 2005!



As I was looking through these pics, the below one of Joli shows her with the retinoblastoma tumor already there. (you can clearly see the white glow in her right eye). Honestly, we've been pouring over pictures since Jo was diagnosed, and this is the first one I've found from this far back. When she was first diagnosed, we kept trying to figure out just how long it had been there. This was taken in Feb '05 and the tumor is already very large -- large enough for us to see it in this picture really well. I was debating whether or not to put this in the blog. This pic was taken in February 2005 -- a full 6 months before Joli was actually diagnosed.

Urgh... I'm having a very sick feeling in my stomach right now.... I guess I'll never quite get over the real gut wrenching feeling of the whole retinoblastoma deal. Mother's guilt? While I know my brain says "it's not your fault", I'm not sure I'll ever lose this sick-to-my-stomach feeling whenever I see an old picture with the tumor. This"sick" feeling is my anger at the tumor. I see the tumor ... and I hate it. I almost never use the word "hate" -- except for this.

This upcoming week is World Retinoblastoma Awareness Week. Also, news just broke out about Derek Fisher's (Utah Jazz NBA player) little girl who was just diagnosed. Prayers are with their family, too.


Well, in the end, of course, we all turned out just fine - and Joli is stronger than I could ever hope her to be in her life. Look at these gals -- they couldn't be happier! Gotta love these little buggers! Peace and love!