Meet Grandma Jude

I am Jude, mother of these three amazing and beautiful sisters (I may be slightly biased). Not sure how I got so lucky but I am so proud of the women they have become, and I know I have not expressed this enough. The love and support they have shown each other melts my heart.    

Our family is somewhat private by nature, so I know that venturing into this blog and sharing life’s ups and downs had to be challenging. By doing this they have gotten positive feedback and support for their journeys. Yes, other people deal with infertility,  the challenges of raising three young children, and the impact on the entire family when a young innocent child is diagnosed with a deadly cancer.

To make a conscious choice to choose joy is certainly easier said than done. It makes me think of a pillow Casey gave to me after I’d had some surgery several years ago. On the pillow are the words, “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.” Good words to live by.

As a mother (and I know all you moms out there can identify with this), when any of my children are hurting, I want to be able to fix it, no matter what their age. It’s a harsh realization when you discover that there are times when there is simply no Band-Aid big enough.    

With Dylan’s illness, our family has grown closer, circling the wagons so to speak. The strength and determination Casey and Jeff have exhibited has been over the top, a testament to the fierce and protective love parents have for their children. They have left no stone unturned. It’s beyond heartbreaking to see what DIPG has robbed Dylan of, not to mention the impact on her brother Mason.

When Casey was pregnant with Dylan, she and Jeff chose to not find out the sex. It almost killed them not knowing! Casey wanted a girl SO much, so much that she totally convinced herself that she’d be giving birth to Grant Thomas (their chosen boy name). I was fortunate to witness Dylan’s birth, and I can tell you it was sheer joy that filled the room. Not only that, they named her Dylan Jude!    

Throughout all this, I feel the need to express gratitude and appreciation for all the love and support that has been showered on our family. Our family has been so touched and humbled by this. So, so many prayers have been sent Dylan’s way- thank you all!  We continue to keep hope alive.

Oh, and lastly, did I mention my alter ego!