A Message From Duvall Performing Arts

This past weekend we had the privledge to finally introduce our dancers to Sofie! Our students have been working hard all year to put on our end of the year production called "I Hope You Dance" for Sofie. Thoughout the year they heard about Sofie through pictures and messages and this weekend they finally got to meet her. She came into the studio on Thursday night, and the all the little dancers acted as if they had seen a movie star. They all surrounded her with hugs and looked up to her with such a sparkle in their eyes. It was so amazing to see all of the people who attended this production. Bonnie, Sofie, Sydnie, & Hallie all drove out on Thursday and Daddy G and his brother Jason came out on Saturday to see the show.

The performance told the story of Sofie's journey over the past year and also showed different paths Sofie could follow in the future such as performing on Broadway, being a judge on So You Think You Can Dance, or becoming a choreographer. In the final scene, Sofie got to go up on stage! All of our students came out and we performed our finalle to the Leann Womack song, "I Hope You Dance". There was not a dry eye in the room...including Sofie's. (we even had some of our little dancers crying) After the show, audience members came up to Sofie and told stories of family members, friends, etc who had also fought a battle with cancer. The little dancers even came up and got autographs from Sofie. It was so amazing to watch.

We want Sofie to know that no matter what, she will forever be in our hearts as we dance at Duvall Performing Arts. We cannot thank her enough for the impact she has put on our community. She has taught all of us to have faith, be postive and to never give up on anything. Our students have learned so much from her and have seen how Sofie has not let this bump in the road keep her from being the person she wants to be.

Thank you Sofie for changing so many of our students and so many other peoples lives by just being who you are. You are always welcome in our community and studio. We love you.

Love,
Megan Maxwell & Duvall Performing Arts

May 17th

Well I couldnt let too much time slip by before I blogged about the prom. Sofie went with damon smith and 3 other couples, brooke and bridger, gus and michaela, and bert and nick. All the parents were there at Ellingsons for the photo shoot and big send off. They went to osteria for dinner and were at the dance til about 12:30 am. I received a text at midnight from sof telling me that sof was crowned prom queen. What a moment of elation and celebration! And what a culminating event for Sofie as she knew 7 months ago that prom night would mean no more cancer!! She had a blast.

Bonnie

May 13th

Sofie has been sick since her last chemo but today she was feeling some relief. She was able to go with the school to the dance performance at the center for the arts this morning, then go out to lunch with the dancers. Afterward, she had a blood draw, a couple of hours of tutoring and aquatic PT. Thats a pretty big day! She was laughing again today. Thats always a good corner to turn. She is super excited for prom on saturday! Also the regional track meet here in Jackson. Tomorrow night is the big dance performance.. New Dances New Choreography. We are really excited to see what the girls have come up with this year!

Next week we'll find out what Sofie needs to accomplish to be able to graduate next year! Forward ho!

Bonnie

"No More" by Sydnie Wilcox

She let out a tear
It was no tear of fear
Not like that special boy
It was a tear of relief
A tear of belief
She was done
No more, drip, drip
No more
No more

I let out a tear
It was no tear of fear
No one would care
That i just sat on that chair
It was a tear of relief
A tear of belief
She was done
No more, drip, drip
No more
No more

IT IS OVER!

6:35pm May 9, 2010

This is to announce that Sofie just finished her final treatment, is cancer free, and is now leaving the hospital never to return again for chemotherapy, god willing!

-geoff

Last chemo drip

Chemo ended at 12:37 am. Im pretty sure I'll regret for the rest of my life that I left the hospital at 11pm. This was written to me today by Sofie's nurse who was there at that moment, Jami John Newman:
As I took down the last bag of chemo, she started sobbing. When I asked her if they were tears of joy, she nodded yes. "I did it. I beat cancer," she said. "Cancer wanted me to die but I beat it." Then she thanked me for taking care of her from the very beginning. Tears, I tell you... tears. Thank-you for sharing your amazing daughter with me.
Talking just a little with Sofie about it this morning, (it's 4:30pm now and she's been asleep all day) she described the experience as an almost supernatural feeling, like a type of joy she'd had never felt. (Tricia- am nurse, told me that intense tears lasted almost an hour last night) Then Sof said.... "and I know I will experience many more times like that again." I'm really glad she knows that because rehabilitating her leg will be the next challenge. Having gone through so much chemo though, I think it is a challenge she would take over chemo any day. Her PT said, there will be days that will be dark and despairing, when she will miss the old leg, the old life, and all of her old abilities. But the triumphs in re-teaching her new leg will be super ripe with joy. I think that's the type of joy Sofie experienced last night... while her mom slept.

Bonnie

SOFIE'S CHEMO TREATMENTS OVER AND DONE!!!

the posting of this entry at 12:35am, may 7, 2010, marks exactly the end of sofie's chemo treatments. the final bag of chemo was administered and taken down by jami, sofie's favorite nurse, who, as irony would have it, also administered sofie's first round clear back in october. and here we are now.

right before the final IV came down sofie said, "the cancer wanted me to die; i BEAT IT!" and then, "i'm going to feel better now. i haven't felt good since september."

-geoff

Last Treatment!!

We are in Pod D on the ISC unit, room 4423. I want to remember that because its my favorite pod and its actaully on ICS instead of the 3rd floor, overflow. Its cold and gray outside. Sofie is in good spirits today. Lots of joking around and laughter. She has been the sickest Ive seen her the last couple of days. Lots of secondary infections and side effects going on, on top of leg pain and loud ringing in her ears. She received a blessing from her Grandpa Turner yesterday after exclaiming she was fed up. So she is going out with a bang. She's now being treated for a secondary infection through her IV. (Random sidenote: She now has an enormous labradoodle (75 lbs) on her bed with her...) On her 2 day break, when she was her sickest, she refused to stay in bed. Unlike me, who would prefer to be sick in bed, Sofie prefers to be sick at the mall. So we headed out, did a little prom shopping, got lunch and headed to Dillards for a Lancome facial and makeover. It turned out to be the funnest (not a word, I know) day EVER. We ended the day at the movies and made it back to my folks home by 10 pm. We are hoping for a less intense treatment this time. For some odd reason, the pattern has been that the first 5 day treatment is the worst and the 2nd is considerably better. We will be driving home on Mothers Day! We expect Sofie to be sick for awhile before she starts feeling better, but the meds will continue to help.

Bonnie

PS Im going to continue her blog. Its become a journal of sorts and a record she wants to be able to pass down her her children someday. We will be chronicling her rehab on the leg and other progression she makes as she begins her recovery.
PSS Also, stay tuned.... Sofie is actually going to write on this blog HERSELF, very soon!