November 10th!
November 10th- a day I will NEVER forget.
This post is turning out to be much harder than I had planned.
Exactly one year ago today we were sitting in an ER with our 3 year old and 6 week old, when 7 doctors walked into our room to tell us Sofia had Leukemia. We had woken up that day just as any other, except for the sick feeling in my stomach. Sofia's coloring just wasn't right and I had been praying all day that I was over reacting. Our lives changed at that moment and we can never go back to life before Cancer.
Over the past year Sofia has been through so much! Those first couple of months were the hardest, especially because of the emotions!
We still have a long way to go but we are so lucky to see our little girl smile every day!
We talked to Sofia about why today was important and that we wanted to celebrate how well she's doing and how brave she has been. So even though I was very emotional coming into today, Sofia was excited for her "celebration day!" She, of course wanted a gift for celebration day, too!
Our day was planned! Playing games in the morning, crafts in the afternoon, dance class and out for dinner. We had a great morning with a quick visit and a gift from grandma, then headed off to the craft store. We even made a quick stop so Noni could get a haircut for celebration day! When we came home this afternoon I was devastated to find that our dog Padrino had passed away while we were out. Luckily he was in the garage on his bed so only I saw him when I went to get him. I was in total shock and devastated. I just can't believe that after almost 9 years he passed today, November 10th. He wasn't sick, and we have since found out there was nothing we could have done as his stomach had flipped.
Like I've done all year, I wiped away my tears and went back in to play with my kids. I quickly called Mike and my neighbor who both were here within minutes. Mike took him to the vet and said goodbye for us all. Sofia knows Padrino went to the doctor but we will not be telling her that he's gone.
As much as we wanted to just be sad, celebration day needed to continue.
Sofia did amazing at dance and loved going out for dinner. While at dinner she told us that she thinks Padrino is sad and that he really wants to take care of puppies. So that is exactly what he is going to do. I told her we will call his doctor tomorrow at make that happen. She asked if we could visit him and the puppies, and I said we will see. She's wise beyond her years!
November 10th is not a good day! But it is a day that will remind me how lucky we were to have 9 great years with Padrino and how amazing, strong, resilient and brave our daughter is!!!!
Thank you to everyone for supporting and praying for us over this last year! We could not have done it all without the love and support. #teamsofia #oneyeardown
Comments (5)
Congratulations on one year down - so much love for you guys! So sorry about the loss of padrino xoxo!! Love the connection between him and Sophia! Thank you Gina for keeping us updated. Please know we keep you and your family in our prayers each and every day. 💗💕❤️️
I'm so very sorry for your lose. Gina it's amazing how brave and strong you and Mike have been through all that has transpired over the last year and to compound events with this family tragedy today your hearts must be broken and very heavy but have Noni shoot some more baskets for you and that should brighten things up for you guys. I will include a prayer for Padrino tonight. Rest well tonight Rodriguez family.
Every post you make Gina is touching and so meaningful. Your family inspires me and countless others with your courage, love, and devotion. The grace and beauty with which you guys are embracing your difficult journey makes all of us better people. Better friends, better parents, just better people. As crazy as it sounds, thanks for sharing your journey, both the highs and the lows. You are making us all better people. You guys are all doing an amazing job of inspiring everyone you cross paths with.
What an unreal year of downs and ups for your tremendous family. Gina, your posts inspire me to live each day to the fullest and appreciate all the great gifts that God has put into my life (especially the fabulous Rodriguez family). As with my friend Mike Koblis, I to will say a prayer for Padrino along with my prayers for your family and our Supergirl Sofia. I hope you can have a good weekend in spite of everything that has just happened.
Gina, Mike, I cannot even believe it has been a year already, and to think everything your family has been through. I will say it is more than most of us will go through and it is not a strength you had to fine within, it is a strength of being a mom and dad to an incredible little girl and boy. A celebration for Sofia for her strength, wisdom, and determination to be better. A celebration for her little brother who doesn't know any different but will when he is older. A celebration for you both for coming this far and never seeing anything but the positive future. I am deeply sorry about your dog. They as well are part of the family and you handled the situation well. I am just so sorry and so happy for you at the same time. Prayers to you all.... The Greenwood's