Holy cow! Our friends have really stepped up to help on the project I mentioned last week. So many volunteers and such opportunities to make the day awesome for Jordan. Thank you to everyone. My good friend Sallie Green suggested that I post our project creative briefto the blog so that she could forward the material on to some others who might want to participate.

It was a good week for the girl. She was extremely anxious about starting radiation, but after her first treatment she realized it wasn’t so hard and it took less time than chemo. She’s holding up well. She asked me to take her to her photography class today. It was great to watch her play with photos. She has a genuine interest in the subject and she’s taking some beautiful shots.

She’s a bit self-conscious. It’s an unusual state of being for her. In preparation for radiation therapy, the technicians have drawn several alignment guides on her face, neck and abdomen … in permanent ink. She is not allowed to wash them off. In fact, the marks are covered by clear adhesive tape to prevent fading. And when they fade on their own during the next six weeks, they’ll be redrawn again because they provide critical information to ensure that the beam of radiation hits the right spot.

Jordan begins radiation therapy this Tuesday. She was fitted on Friday and proud of herself because she didn’t need sedation (some patients find it difficult to control the gag reflex when the mold is created for the mouth-guard). She called me to tell me that she received a new blanket from the CHLA team (her third). –Sweetheart, I’m glad it went well … but you already have two blankets. –Well, they told me I could have another one.

“I made this for you.” She handed me a piece of gray construction paper cut into the shape of an elephant. “Are you trying to tell me something?” She didn’t get the joke. Instead, she smiled and pointed out the lovely purple border she’d hand drawn, and the glittering stars she had affixed to its back. “I made it for you, my lovely, Daddy … but one of its eyes fell off.