Woah, We’re Half Way There

I’ve always loved music. I played the violin in the middle school orchestra and I played the flute in the Parowan high school band. I still play the piano for a few minutes in between classes while I wait for my kids to show up. Though I love the classical scene, I was meant to be a rockstar.

When I was a sophomore in high school I gathered enough courage to get a pixie haircut. My mom cut off my 17” pony tail and we donated it to Locks of Love.

I remember Jake complimented me on the new haircut when I got to school the next day. He was a junior. I was wearing my leather jacket. I felt like a rockstar.

Jake and I had a class together that year: band. I was one of the few flutes and I was still learning. Jake played the drums and he played them well. He was always the most talented guy in the room. It turns out we both wanted to be rockstars.

We still have Jake’s drums set up in the house. He gives me lessons every once in a while. One of my favorite sounds is him tapping on the steering wheel of our car as we listen to music together. We pretend to be rockstars.

Yesterday was another chemo day! His numbers looked great and treatment went well. Yesterday was our sixth dose out of twelve. We’re half way there!

In honor of this occasion Jake wore his Bon Jovi concert t-shirt we got from his last tour and I wore my new “Slippery When Wet” denim jacket from Shelbey. Our nurses, other patients, and strangers complimented our Bon Jovi merchandise all day. As we sat at treatment we sang quietly to each other,

Woah, we're half way there
Woah, livin' on a prayer
Take my hand, we'll make it I swear
Woah, livin' on a prayer

Half way there.

If you’ve seen Jake lately, you probably noticed he looks great! He has been feeling good, and things really are going well. He hasn’t lost his hair. Treatment has thinned it out a little, but chemotherapy hasn’t taken it completely.

A few weeks ago I gathered the courage again to get another pixie cut. Jake cut off my pony tail this time. Donating my hair felt different this round. When my mom fixed it up she spun the chair around and asked Jake what he thought. He said, “I feel 18 again. You look just like you did when I fell in love with you.” I felt like a rockstar.

Jake got up to use the restroom during chemo yesterday. When he came back he told me he overheard another patient talking with the nurse. He said it was his last treatment and he would get to ring the bell when he was finished. After we were done with treatment, instead of going towards the exit, Jake motioned me to follow him to the patient in the back. He shook his hand and congratulated him and his wife on finishing his cancer treatment. Jake left with a big smile on his face.

Half way there. We are definitely “livin’ on a prayer”, and as long as I’m holding Jake’s hand, we’ll make it. He is talented, tough, has a full head of hair, and is a real life rockstar. I guess that’s why I’m so happy.