Dancing Career

Seven years ago our little girl took the stage for the first time as Snow White

She was not nervous in fact it energized her to be on the stage. She smiled and loved every minute of it. 

In a few days we will be watching her dance in what might be her last recital. She still loves the stage and gets so excited to perform. 

I feel like Addy learned a lot through dance. She learned some discipline. She learned music and beats. She learned steps and styles of dance. She gained confidence. She learned that you aren't always given the front row, center stage spot - that doesn't mean you are bad or other girls are 'lucky' - it means we all have strengths and girls are needed in all spots. 

Most importantly she made friends. Gabi was one of her first dance friends. We have been blessed by our friendship with the Torlones for years and I'm confident that though we'll continue to go in different directions - we'll always be friends. 

Tari Jo and the other teachers will always hold a special spot in our hearts. 

Keep the music alive inside you Addy no matter where your heart leads you!!  You make people smile - you light up a room. People want to be your friend - use that wisely - think about others. Don't ever think you are better than someone else - we are all different - that's what makes this crazy world so cool and colorful. 

We'll spend this weekend together making memories. It's late nights. It's stressful moments. It's busy times but we will enjoy it and embrace it and remember it fondly. 

Friends for life!!

Addy's signature photo pose

Addy and Bella Sergent

Pap's Transplant

So a year ago in May of 2015 Pap Hite was diagnosed with Lymphoma. He did a summer and fall of chemo and thought in November he had reached remission. 

Remission didn't last long and within weeks the tumors were back and worse than ever so we needed a new plan of action. In January we went to Johns Hopkins to see what they could do for us. 

At JH we met with Dr Jones who said Pap was a candidate for a bone marrow transplant that has a 95% cure rate. We were very happy with this news - before this we thought our best option was a few months of remission. 

And the process started. Lots of chemo to get Pap ready. Aunt Jodi, Aunt Jesse and I were tested for a match. We were equal matches and it was a tough decision but we decided that I would be the donor. Lots of blood tests and visits later and one month delay (cause the tumors weren't shrinking like they needed to) we were all set for transplant on May 24th. 

The process was easy. I had four entry points into my hips to collect bone marrow. Pap sat in his hospital room and the bone marrow went into his vein. Addy and Dad were there to support us. Cade had 'step up day' at the high school and it was important that he go to that. 

The morning of the transplant 

Pap getting prepped

Me before harvest

Pap stayed in the hospital for 3 weeks and then moved into a small apartment with grandma. He is there now. He is doing well. His numbers are rising!!

Thank you both for being awesome kids. I missed some things this spring that you wanted me to attend because I had to be with pap and gram. You understood and smiled through it all. 

Addy, me and pap during a hospital visit

Addy taking pap for one of his walks. 

This just got real

So your Pappy Hite has been battling Lymphoma for the past year now (after an 8 year remission).  He is the strongest man I know and has battled it while having VERY few restrictions.  He still came to football games, volleyball games, raised his cows, worked on rebuilding his cars, built a few buildings around the farmette, fixed up Grandma and Pappy Koontz's house for Aunt Jesse and family to move in among many other things.  But some things didn't go as planned.  Last year (2015) you were scheduled to go out west with Grandma and Pappy in June but due to treatments that needed to be postponed.  You two were awesome - you were disappointed but so encouraging to Pap and making sure he knew that you were not upset with him and that he needed to focus on getting better first!

In December of 2015 we thought things were better and the trip was being planned for this spring/summer.  He completed his treatment in November and was told he was in remission.  That didn't last long, by Christmas he had tumors growing on his neck.  We started looking at treatment options which led us to a visit to John Hopkins in Baltimore where we felt had the best doctors and research to make Pap better.  We met with Dr Jones (Director of Bone Marrow Transplant) who said that Pap was a candidate and that he only needed to find a partial match for a donor.  Aunt Jodi and I were there so we gave blood right away to begin the match process and Aunt Jesse was tested soon after.  We were happy to hear that we were all matches and good candidates.  After a little debate and some tough decisions (because we each wanted to be the donor) I was selected to be the donor.  It would be harder for Aunt Jodi and Aunt Jesse given the physical jobs that they have verses mine which can be done on a laptop from a bed if needed and ALSO they would be needed on the farm to help Pap with cows, house, mowing, garden, etc while I don't live as close to be as helpful.

When Pap was told about this he was NOT happy about the fact that he would need to spend TWO months in the city (not Pap's favorite place).  I told him that for most people when they need to dig deep and work hard it's get out and do physical labor.  For him, that's what he loves - his dig deep is to sit still and let his body work to kill the cancer and build himself back up.  It's not easy but it's worth it.  After we finished meeting with all the doctors and nurses Pap was real quiet.  I asked him what was bothering him the most about this - the pain, the city stay, the way his body was going to be VERY tired, what?  He said (with tears in his eyes) -'I'm going to let Cade and Addy down again because our trip is once again postponed'.  You two being the troopers that you are may have been disappointed but you didn't let that show to Pap, you simply encouraged him to work hard and get better.

So now we have dates - it's about to get real.  May 24th is transplant day.  We have lots of appointments leading up to that.  It's exciting, a little nerve racking and encouraging to know we are headed into what has a 95% cure rate for Pap.

Thanks for being awesome!  Thanks for supporting me and Pap!  He is our cheerleader always (even if he doesn't use pompoms) - let's be the biggest support team he can imagine so that he is back in the stands this fall with his cowbell watching his first grandson play freshman football and able head back to PSU to watch one of his favorite sports with his favorite volleyball player!!

Ok guys - let's do this - let's KICK CANCER!!

Pap with no hair - last time I saw him with no beard I was 3. 

Still out playing (they say working)