Last Christmas
We never thought Christmas 2021 was going to be our last one together. We spent it at the Rimrock Resort in Banff and it was absolutely magical. The snow. The view of the mountains. Ice skating for the first time. The decor around the resort. Paige and Penn dancing with their cousins. Playing games and watching the Christmas Paw Patrol episode.
They were all so happy. We were relieved 2021 was drawing to a close and to put that stressful year behind us. Penn had a great scan in November 2021, and we truly believed she was on the road to being cancer free. That we beat ependymoma.
Penn: “Hey! Polar Bear’s pants fell down!”
Last Christmas, we were at the Rimrock on December 21. This year, we spent it again at the Rimrock Resort, grieving Penn’s six months since her passing. The words hard, difficult, heartbreaking, don’t even justify what your body, your mind and your soul feel. The emptiness of not having your five year old with you during the holidays. Paige not having her sister with her. But I always have to remind myself that Penn wants us to be happy, and not to be sad.
I have been filled with sadness, that 2021 was our last Christmas as a family of four. And then, I remembered, our family did spend Christmas 2022 together. And it was an incredible surprise.
When we were chosen as a Make-a-Wish family to stay at Give Kids the World Village, they host a weekly Christmas event. Mr. and Mrs. Clause travel early to Florida to meet kids staying at the village. When we were there, it also landed on Paige’s birthday - after a fun filled day at Magic Kingdom.
When we got back to the resort, their town hall was full of Christmas decorations, waiting for Santa to arrive. I immediately broke down crying. Many of the kids staying at the resort may not make it to Christmas. And that was very much the reality for our family. It was an incredible gift for our girls to have a family photo with Mr. and Mrs. Clause. The volunteers also heard it was Paige’s birthday so we got to see Mr. and Mrs. Clause first before anyone else. We even sang Paige happy birthday while she sat on Mrs. Clause’s lap. After our family photo, the girls got to choose one toy from Santa’s workshop. Paige picked out Penn’s toy - a plush Little Pony dressed up as a pirate. And Paige picked Rapunzel and her horse Maximus.
I am so thankful as I reminisce and reflect on how our last Christmas together was celebrated in 2022. It took place in Florida, at Give Kids the World Village, and landed on Paige’s seventh birthday. The Village had an incredible dinner set up with all the food items you would eat on Christmas Eve.
We experienced a lot of firsts and lasts during our Christmas 2022 together and those moments, and memories will carry our family through.
A huge thank you to the Rimrock Resort in Banff for taking such good care of us, making us feel so safe while Penn was immune comprised while navigating COVID for our Christmas party.
And a big thank you to Make-A-Wish Canada and Give Kids the World Village for allowing us to celebrate Christmas 2022 together in Florida.