He is in the USA!

Hello!
I was never sure if I would ever return to this blog again. But here I am!
We are 2 years now to the day that our world crashed down on us, however things have been great for us.  When things are great for one, someone else struggles.  I am sorry for you .
When you miss 173 days of school because of treatment, how do you catch up?
When you haven't been part of a football team, because you can't breath when you run.  How do you integrate?
Well.. you do.  You totally do?
Things returned to normal pretty fast.  We got home from America on the Saturday and Ben went back to school on Monday.  Am I harsh? Oh yes! But it is necessary.  You have to be "normal"
It was odd seeing the skinny bald kid going to school.  What happens if?
Well most "ifs" happened!
"Mrs carter, hi....Ben has trapped his gastrostomy tube.  It was caught in the vice in DT"
"Mrs carter, hi....Ben jumped off the shoulders of another boy.  He has landed on his umbilical cord!"
OMG!!
So falling is bad enough, but his umbilical cord??
After he gained weight and got a fab head of hair life became like everyone else's.......except
We go for scans and bloods, we check things out.  And, I am just realising the seriousness of what happened!??
Totally bonkers, we are 2 years since diagnosis.  Life is great.  Ben is great.  Well as great as any other 13 year old , draining teenager!
When Ben was poorly I didn't get it!  Your mind works in a crazy way.  You can't think of what the worst might be.  No way.  You stay strong.  He goes for his scans every 4 months now.... then we wait....then we get the results.
Every cancer Mummy,Daddy or Carer call this period scanxiety.  That is what it is. 
Always hoping,  fingers crossed harder than you could believe ..
Then, the results........,.
Since we got back, they have been "stable"
That is great, isn't it?
What I have learnt is it won't be gone.  It is like a dormant volcano.! Stay dormant....
So, anyway, Ben is now in the US.  Not for treatment now, but on a holiday of a lifetime.  Please look at Dreamflight.  It is an amazing charity that take children on a holiday of a lifetime.  You could not believe it until you see it.  He got nominated from his amazing community nurse.  We adore her.  For everything.
So, what's happened to us? Are we ok?
We weren't
It was very tough coming home.  We had to go back to"normal" and quick.
We tried, but did it too quick.
Life will never be the same again.   We nearly lost our child and we carry on our journey.
For many, their journey is right now.  I think of you every day.
What we have learnt though, is, that, life is for living.  Be strong, be happy .
What's round the corner?
In recent weeks we received sad news about our friend.

I won't do detail.

Every day.  Look at you.  Look at everthing you have.

Amazing



We are strong.  We are together and Of course, Ben is amazing.

Every day, I look at him. Strong. Brave.  Our Champ! Xx

From the Carters, Goodnight xx