This weekend was the annual Ride for Kids event in Columbia, MD.  I’m proud to say that the event raised $200,000 for pediatric brain tumor research, $13K of which came from all of you: Team Ethan’s contributors!  We were named as the #1 fundraising club and have the honor of leading the parade of motorcyclists next year. 

As always, Ethan enjoyed himself very much and for the first time was able to stay awake through the whole ride.  He talked my ears off and never tired of playing rock/paper/scissors with me in the sidecar.  A few of our favorite Ride for Kids friends were absent, including Mike and Dianne Traynor who founded the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, as well as Bob Henig from Bob’s BMW, who for the past two years has escorted Ethan.  Ethan was sad to not see them, but hopes to see them next year.  Ethan rode in the sidecar of a big black Goldwing that was appointed nicer then my first car...  He really enjoyed turning the air vents on and off.  I hope he didn’t break anything, but I’m not real sure.  A special thanks to Skip Hutson who left his house at 5:00 am with his 12-year-old daughter and made the trip all the way from Delaware … just to escort one of these special kids!    

The other big news to come out of the ride is that my brother, Kevin, and his wife Chris have agreed to co-chair the Columbia Task Force.  They’ll be joined by two other very dedicated Task Force members who are more central to the Columbia area.  I’m in awe of their dedication to the Ride, and to these kids.  I’m sure that by default, our whole family will become more active in the Task Force activities, so please feel free to throw your hat in there with us if you’re interested in helping in any way. 

In other news, Ethan started kindergarten 2 weeks ago and LOVES it ~ especially riding the school bus.  He was off to a slow start the first week and didn’t earn too many “quiet” stickers… but for those of you know Ethan, I’m sure this comes as no surprise.  He seems to be getting better and some days proudly arrives home with two.  Now if only they offered “sitting still” stickers. 

We’re scheduled for Ethan’s follow-up MRI this Thursday, 9/23.  I’ve got a tad more anxiety then usual, as he’s had some headaches, dizziness and a few random nosebleeds that make the hair on the back of my neck stand up.  I’m of course hoping for a sinus infection, ear infection, or (even better) just a fluke string of weird, unrelated events, but we just need to know.  We’ll get most of the results back on the following Wednesday, 9/29 and I will be sure to pass them along. 

In the meantime, he’s deep into planning his “Date with Mom” day for Thursday after he wakes up from the MRI.  He always makes big plans for our post-MRI ‘dates’, but the day usually unfolds with him semi-conscious and me cleaning up vomit.  Brings back fond memories of my college days ~ sort of.

Thanks for all of you who continue to keep him in your thoughts and prayers ~ and for those of you who continue to ready my babbling emails.

Warm Regards,

Kim.