Hope this update finds everyone doing well! It is hard to believe it is already November! Where did summer and fall go? Overall, we had a good summer & fall! Brax stayed healthy and was able to stay outpatient for treatments, so we are very thankful for that. Her treatment is set to end on November 15th, and we are starting to finally see the finish line after 2 years of relapse therapy. Brax decided she wanted to start High School with everyone else even though she will have a lot of absences during the first trimester. She has needed to move to online one week a month for labs, infusions, treatments, not feeling well, medication side effects, etc. We are happy to report that Freshman year at Spring Lake Park High School is off to a great start.
One of the highlights this summer for both girls was getting to attend Olympic Trials in person at Target Center. It was four fun filled days of gymnastics and we are very thankful that it was hosted in Minnesota so our family could attend. The girls were so excited to get photos & autographs with the entire 2024 Men’s Paris Olympic Team and watch all the amazing gymnasts.
We had a great 4th of July with the Battaglia side of the family. Joe & Alaina hosted the family for grilling, cousin time, sparklers, fireworks, etc. Other fun things over the weekend of the 4th include pool party at the Browns, Despicable Me 4, Great Wolf Lodge staycation, and lots of cousins time (we missed baby Emmitt).
Summer Sounds was one of the best weekends of the summer for our family. We had nice weather, two nights of awesome music, spending time with family & friends, and of course raising money for TB1Fund and Brown Boys Benefit. Brax’s team moved up her treatment in July so she could feel good for the concert and for family from Arizona that would be in town visiting.
July did not slow down at all after Summer Sounds since we had Taste Fore the Tour, Give 16 Dinner, and 3m Open all the following week.
A few other highlights from the summer of 2024 include Brax completing the classroom portion of Drivers Education. She will turn 15 at the end of November and will be able to take her permit test and start behind the wheel. Attending a cupcake decorating class with Paige from Kids Baking Championship. TB1F always appreciates the time Paige and her family put into the cupcake decorating experience from the Champions Cup auction, dinner at the Melting Mot, attending the Row the Boat BBQ with the Trettin Family, seeing the movie Twisters on the big screen … twice, golfing and time with her grandparents up north, weekend in Duluth with grandparents and cousins, horseback riding with her aunt & uncle, and the Gopher football home opener.
We were sad to see summer end but were thankful to have a good summer with family and friends that overall felt much more normal. With the start of fall comes football and that is Brax’s favorite time of the year. She has been healthy enough to attend Gophers, Vikings, and Spring Lake Park football games. Homecoming was one of her highlights this fall. It was a “Neon” theme, and she went with a large group of friends. Other highlights from the fall include Attending the Cub Gala and being part of the kid’s panel, Vikings vs 49ers game, Gophers vs USC win, UMD vs Gopher Hockey in Duluth over MEA, and TB1F’s Go Gold party for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month at the hospital.
TB1F celebrated our 5-year anniversary with a blowout lobby party at Masonic that included: our friend Noah Hicks flying in from Nashville to sing in the Zucker Studio, sign autographs, and take pictures with patients and families. Henry Lake helped us host Sebastian Joes “Henry by the Lake” ice cream and T-Rex Cookies, Red Savoy served up pizza and mac-n-cheese, and former Gopher gymnast Katie Horak gave away her hand crochet stuffed animals that patients adored. We were also able to give away tons of awesome prizes, TB1F swag, and gold snack bags. It was a super fun event that brightened days for patients & families.
Halloween was celebrated twice for us this year. The Stusynski Family generously decided to throw a fun Boo Bash for TB1F on the Sunday before Halloween. They had elite decorations, the Red Savoy food truck serving pizza, other food & beverages, a great turnout, games, so much candy, beautiful weather, and lots of generous guests. Thanks so much for hosting this Sunday Funday! On actual Halloween the girls took their little cousins trick or treating and passed out candy to the neighborhood ghouls & goblins.
In November Brax is looking forward to getting her permit, Thanksgiving, her birthday, visit from Arizona family, and most importantly getting her port out and ending her 2 years of relapse therapy treatment.
Give to Max is back this November. We have a $10K Match in effect and if anyone is looking for charitable opportunities this fall/winter, please check out TB1 Fund and see what Brax has happening. A lot of good has come out of this cancer journey.
Wishing everyone a great end of 2024!
GREAT neon-orange homecoming dress, Brax! I have followed your blog since you were featured in a Masonic Children’s Hospital online newsletter during your first round of treatment, and am very grateful that you’re almost near your (second) finish line. It’s wonderful to see Brylee recovered from her bars fractures and back in competition; many thanks for being part of Brax’s support system! Also, congratulations to the entire Battaglia family for starting TB1F during active therapy. . .not many families have the energy and will for such ventures until remission! Sending everyone best wishes and prayers from St. Paul. . .