“Childhood is the world of miracle and wonder.”
Life is a funny, funny riddle with Calvin’s bike path pedaling through an absurd maze these past few years. Family and friends have travelled close behind.. As a result, it’s been three years since my last blog. An Alaskan and South African adventure have not been sketched in Oldognewtrek. Nor for that mater Strawberries and cream at Wimbledon (pics below).
I did produce a page entry when Biden was inaugurated. But I haven’t written about my travels with Gnomeboy these past few years because of Calvin’s health. Let me explain.
In December of 2019 Chris and Ramon bought a home in Bloomingdale, a neighborhood one mile north of the Capital Building that needed remolding (pics above). Judy and I visited Chris’s and Bill’s respective families over Christmas (pic above). On January 10, 2020, I participated in Calvin’s adoption ceremony. My 69th birthday was spent at Disney World with Bill’s gang. After a week in the Keys. I traveled to Vail on 2/7/20 to ski with Bill and friends (pics below).
On 2/19/20, as I was driving back to DC to help with the remolding, Chris called and explained with disbelief, that Calvin was admitted to Children’s National PICU. Multiple organ systems were failing secondarily to renal failure. Calvin had a very rare syndrome called Denys-Drash.
Calvin endured dialysis, nephrectomies, renal transplant, episodes of systemic sepsis, seizures, DIC, separation anxiety, and personality changes secondary to his prolonged hospitalization. Calvin survived this theatre of the absurd for three tortuous years. What a survivor!!!!
A devoted nursing staff nurtured my little buddy in the PICU and Renal Unit. With hospital Covid restrictions at their peak and both dads working, Calvin and I spent months bonding. I am “POP.” His journey can be summarized as two steps forward and one backward. Eventually the dads switched doctors and hospital system to Northern Virginia.
I’m restarting this blog because in November he enjoyed his first day of preschool. Chris enrolled Calvin for a half day, but the morning was so successful Calvin enjoyed the entire day. On Thanksgiving he won the annual Sewell Pumpkin toss (pics above). On Dec.10 Calvin went to his first birthday party. Last weekend Calvin met Santa (pic below).
The Gosewells are trending skyward as Calvin’s path appears to level off. I hear a chorus of “AMEN” from all family and friends.
I can now resume my blog OLDOGNEWTREK because I have witnessed, “childhood is a world of miracles and wonder.”
As Gnomeboy often repeats … ” Hold on to the light… life is a funny, funny riddle.”
So it goes.