Urban Onramps

My son Samuel was diagnosed with leukemia on Monday, July 12, 2004. He was first treated at Children’s Hospital in Hollywood. Sometime in the first few days we were there, a representative from the Make-A-Wish Foundation came by our room. Make-A-Wish provides event experiences for children fighting life-threatening illnesses, and not just for those who are terminal. But I didn’t know that. I thought Make-A-Wish was for terminal patients only. When I saw the rep at the door, I got angry, and I moved toward him to get him away from us. He was like the Angel of Death to me at that moment. He read my face immediately, however, and calmed me down. “We help all children, not just terminal.” That calmed me down, but I still didn’t want to talk to him.

I’ve mellowed out, Sam has received great treatment, he’s in remission, and Sam is still taking chemo drugs to fight the leukemia (to guard against re-occurence, or relapse). Sam still has at least a year and a half to go. But the Make-A-Wish Foundation has stepped in and is providing a wonderful family trip, a cruise, for the Carrasco nuclear family. The second week in July we’ll be going around the Caribbean, Sam, Micah, Kafi, and myself. Some family and friends have chosen to join with us, too. It has finally dawned on us that this is all happening - that we are going on a vacation, that these generous people are covering our costs, but also that my son Samuel was really really sick and is still in maintenance chemotherapy. It’s a bunch of joy and pain, but also a lot of hope, and not a little excitement about jet-skiing through the Mayan Ruins (what? that’s not an option for Port Excursion Fun?) and bungee-jumping into an active volcano (wait, that was an episode of Rescue Heroes or a dream I had). Well, I may have the options screwy in my head, but I’m just glad that we can all get away together. I’m really happy for Kafi. My woman works really hard. I love the life I have with her. I love our children. I want Kafi to be at rest and happy. I’m grateful to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and its donors for making our trip possible. I’m also thankful for our family and friends who have been a support to our whole family during Sam’s illness and treatment. The cruise doesn’t leave til another ten days or so, but I’m just sayin.