Charge the storm...

Oh what joy we had soaking up getting to celebrate our now TEN year old! Cooper's 9th year of life was a hard one. I wanted to say "SEE YA!" and turn the chapter hoping year 10 will be kinder and maybe forget some of the pain of year 9. However, I can't help but be so damn proud of that 9 year old boy. The things he endured, accomplished and pushed through this year has molded him into such a strong, courageous and wise boy. I am PROUD of that 9 year old and I don't want to just "forget" as painful as it was. I hope when he thinks back on his 9 year old self he has nothing but compassion, love and pride for that sweet boy. That 9 year old fought through moments no 9 year old should ever have to see.

The ugly truth is when this all started a year ago I wondered if we would be able to celebrate another birthday with him. I hate saying that out loud because I don't want to "jinx" anything. But it's there. Always looming. This past week has been so rich in many ways.

Getting to plan his birthday was so rewarding and fun for me. I LOVE when a good theme comes together ;) and boy did it come together!

Cooper's favorite football team is the Buffalo Bills. His favorite sport is football. We got to celebrate him all week long with lots of football!

We kicked it off getting to cheer on our local high school football team with some of his buddies...

Then, we received such a special gift and I got to take Cooper to a Denver Bronco game! It was a first for both of us. She even went a step further and arranged for us to be in the tunnel as the players arrived that morning to enter the stadium. I got Coop a football so he could try to get some signatures. That was quite the experience! The seats were amazing, the weather was absolutely perfect, the atmosphere was intense and the Bronco's put on quite the show and dominated the Cowboys! It. Was. PERFECT.

Alex Singleton with the Broncos has been so kind towards Cooper since the very beginning of Cooper's cancer journey! I have a good friend who is friends with Alex and got him to make Cooper a video week 1 of his diagnosis. Then he put on a football camp this summer that Alex came to as well! So, when Alex saw Cooper in the tunnel and came up to him and talked to him like a friend that made Cooper feel SO special. I mean, how cool is that?!

I told Cooper to remember these moments and how it feels so that when he gets to the NFL one day he will understand the impact he can make by making an effort to other young kids. Seemingly small gestures can make such huge impacts! We are dreaming big in this house!

To top it all off, on his actual birthday we surprised him and went as a family to the CU Buff's football game! Cooper's football theme came full circle...

Football... Buffalo Bills... Buffalo... CU Buff's....

Have you ever heard of the story of the buffalo?

"While cows run away from a storm and prolong their suffering, buffalo run directly into it to get through it faster. "Charging the storm" means confronting problems head-on rather than avoiding them, which can lead to quicker resolution and greater strength."

We can't control what storms come our way, but we can decide how we respond to them. Coop is currently charging quite the storm. "Be the BUFFALO."

Cooper,

Life has thrown quite the storm at you this last year. I see such strength and courage in you that has gotten you through so many hard moments. The strength of a buffalo reminds me 100% of you. When you think of the Buffalo remember the power within you that God has given you to charge it head on. There will be many more storms in life, instead of running away, turn and face them head on. Buffaloes are herd animals. That means they don't face the storm alone. And neither will you. We got your back buddy. We are all charging this nasty storm head on WITH you! You aren't alone. God's got you. We got you. We love you SO FREAKIN MUCH!!!

We love you, always and forever X infinity and beyond!

That night, tucking him in he looked at me with the sweetest smile on his face and said, "Mom, that was the best birthday ever."

Thank you Jesus for this week! It really was about as perfect as can be. 🧡🥹🧡 And thank you to everyone who helped make it extra special! You have no idea how much that meant to him and US!

🧡 Prayer Requests, THANK YOU prayer warriors! 🧡

-We've been in birthday bliss but now reality comes back with another surgery at the end of this week so please pray for protection as he goes under anesthesia again and that his body receives all the chemo well

-After his surgery we have to do another week of steroids which are the hardest on his body so prayers for protection over his blood sugar levels as he completes that week

-This surgery is the one where they test is spinal fluid for any cancer cells to make sure he is still clear, so please pray those results come back negative and that his body is still cancer free!

-SUPER excited about his integrative doc we are working with. Prayers for wisdom, clarity and that God leads us down the path to help support Cooper's body for strength, healing and to make his body a very unappealing place where cancer can't live even if it tries to come back. You are NOT welcome here cancer!

-Prayers for many blessings over his 10th year. It will be a full year of chemo still for him but praying that he gets ways to enjoy being a carefree little boy along the way.

-As always, that the cancer is gone forever and can never return

Much Love,

Cooper's Mama 🧡