We spent the last 5 days in Rancho Palos Verdes, our first change of scenery since June 28, 2022. We have gathered with this large group of friends for December 28-January 1 for many of the last 15 years. It started as a gathering of adult friends and over following years, many of us chose to have and/or adopt kids and now they are all friends. We haven’t seen them in 3 years though so this reunion was especially awesome.

Sam’s friend Jake met him in the lobby of our hotel and swept him away into teen world (many of his friends in this group have also been through significant life challenges, though none with cancer thankfully, so they are grounded and real and supportive). It was so good to watch them walk away down the labyrinthian halls of this hotel, just like no time had past (Jake had also come from LA to visit Sam at the house in July ❤️).

There was a ropes course on day 1 and Sam climbed up a 25 foot telephone pole and walked across another telephone pole that was about 7 inches wide! *with* his blina bag (immunotherapy that is continuously infusing into his port with a portable pump and some tubing) — wowowowowowowow!  So grateful for all the research and testing that allowed both the medicine development, as well as the portability (he carries his pump in a small bag cross body :). 
On their way back from the ropes course, they stopped by In N Out, always a great idea for teens. 

Happy New Year!  Make sure to live your best life too.

#FULeukemia

#Team Sam