I couldn’t help remembering this and other hurricane memories as I watched the weather channel last night. Today I am sending up so many prayers for many friends and family and medical staff who are hunkering down or helping others during this brutal hurricane. I learned firsthand just how many people keep on serving and giving even while storms rage around them and often while their own kids need snuggling at home. I am so grateful.

Just today, the clerk in Publix saw my “Childhood cancer awareness” t-shirt and said, “My sister is a nurse in Ft. Myers. She will work right on through this thing.” “Bless her,” I said.

Then, I saw a news clip of an ICU nearly underwater as the roof ripped away. The nurse manager was smiling, and said most patients were in good spirits as they were being moved…grateful.

I remember another year when my son and I stayed with a good friend during a hurricane night. I am grateful for the man who delivered an oxygen tank at 11pm to her home for Marshal. Or various friends and agencies who called to see if we needed help or shelter of some kind. Or the time Marshal crawled in beside me to sleep during a hurricane…he somehow did, me not so much.

I can just imagine right now, during Ian, the parent who isn’t sure whether to cancel a check up, or reschedule, or risk travel. Or the dedicated nurse who stayed late to call those very families a few days ahead to help them think it all through. I know them, and I have been that parent.

As this month of September and Childhood cancer awareness comes to a close, I remember so many of these friends reaching out to help, and these fears and decisions and uncertainties of kids and families. It’s a lot. It’s a lot and there are many out there making these hard decisions this week — — stay home, evacuate, remember prescriptions, what if we can’t get the car out, what if we need oxygen or a hospital,.. and on and on. Decisions that matter. Decisions that are hard. Like the storms around us, there is so much waiting, changing plans, preparation, uncertainty, fear, and assessing impacts. Always. That’s also the way with childhood cancer.

Again, I send support and prayers to those in harm's way this week. With a special nod to the families of sick kids just trying to make it all work and those that help make it all better somehow.

“Going Gold” all the way through September,…and beyond.