Chronicles From the Suite

I am going to share a story from the Pink Suite, one of many that changed the mission and values in my life. It is June 24, 1993, my son had been sick for several weeks and I had taken him from one doctor to another, hoping to get an answer to his mounting pain and illness.

Finally, on June 26th, I receive a diagnosis. He had cancer, leukemia, not the traditional childhood cancer, but adult leukemia (T-cell ALL), that is rare in children of his age. But there was hope, we were at Children's Hospital in Minneapolis, finally a place where a cure could be found.

After the shock of the diagnosis my husband and I stayed in the hospital with Sam, holding him, grateful for the care he was about to receive, but we were unprepared for what was ahead. The next morning the doctors came in and explained that Sam would be put into a drug induced coma for 7 days wherein they would administer a lethal dose of chemo therapy the eradicate the cancer from his body. Would he survive? What to do? Argue? Question? Or just get it over with?

I can still see that day, carrying him to the operating room where they would put him under and implant his port. Reluctantly I handed him to the surgeon and Sam began to whimper, he was very weak. As the doctor took him from my arms Sam said "Mommy, nooo..." To this day I can see his little body draped over the doctor's shoulder, his scratchy voice calling to me. This is where I entered the place many mother's travel, this lonely zone where nothing else is relevant, nothing else matters, except my son.

While I took my place by his side something was happening outside the hospital walls, outside the drugs, the strain and the tears. The company, my company, that resided in the Pink Suite, carried on without me, without a question or a call. All carried on with consideration and respect for what was happening to Sam and our family. This was because I had employees who knew that nothing was more important, this coupled with my friends and my family who came together to insure that nothing would interrupt the important work that had to be done to save Sam.

This wasn't because there was a continuity program in place, I had no agenda, policy or plan that was designed ahead of time. This was a simple matter of trust and transparency, my dear coworkers would do what needed to be done so I could do what needed to be done. This defines the Pink Suite, this is where the difference comes between Work and Life. I know there are many, many women who can share a similar story. A story about a workplace they created, or participated in, that included everyone they worked with, that knew the priorities of life:

Faith
Family
Friends

It's these memories that keep me strong, knowing that those I work with are so much more than employees or clients or partners. They are my heart and soul who will not let me down, people I can trust without question when I need them and who I will not let down when and if the situation is reversed. And that is why I live here, in the Pink Suite, leaving behind what does not matter.

You can see from the picture that Sam is very well and a Junior at Mankato State University, majoring in IT Security.