OCTOBER 10, 2019

Annalise,

For 6 1/2 weeks we watched you get on that proton table, ask for your Bob Marley and get into your zone. 33 total treatments. You didn’t cry. You didn’t complain. Not once. Sure, you said you didn’t like it. But you never showed an ounce of weakness. Not even when your mask didn’t go on right, or when it didn’t fit because the steroids gave you chipmunk cheeks (you looked adorable btw). You’d joke about the “lizard scales” it left on your face. And today you rang the bell symbolizing the end of this part of your road to recovery. It’s just unbelievable that you did this thing, that’s so unnatural, with such grace. It reminds me of when you were in 2nd grade (shout out to Mary E. Roberts Elementary) and you received the school award for GRIT. Boy, did they get that one right. You’re one tough gluten-free cookie, my Dear. A true warrior and a true hero. We love you.

#AmazingAnnalise rings the bell!