Dante's Inferno: June 2005 Archives


I remember when Dante was around maybe ten years old or so. Not too long after his father moved out. He had this thing where he started falling asleep in my bed and would even if i sent him to his bed at some point during the night he would wake up and get into my bed. It was kind of an unspoken thing that he just would do it..because he was either scared or missed me...I am reminded of this because today he came up this evening and I didn't think he would since hes taking all this crazy medication to clear out his system in preparation for the surgery tomorrow. He's taking six pills every four hours - antibiotics to "disinfect" his lower bowels..fleet soda that he has had to take twice today that in and of itself is so incredibly horrible tasting they had to give him something to take for the nausea that is usually caused by taking it. ..and he is as of right now on a clear diet but cannot have anything more to eat after 12 tonight.

Which for those of you that don't know he's been running to the bathroom all afternoon and evening...


He came up and he went and sat on my bed and i was so much reminded of the times he would fall asleep on my bed. Tonight's a difficult evening by anyone's standards...I doubt i will get any sleep...

see..

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Six in the morning I get a call from my mother who completely forgot our conversation the night before where i told her dante had to go in for pre testing this morning at eight and when i reminded her about it she wanted to know how I was going to go pick up dante's diploma and awards today and to make sure her mother got breakfast before i left..

This again is why i feel alone...not even my mother helps

Breathe...

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i don't get time to bask in the afterglow of Dante's accomplishments. Tomorrow morning bright and early we have to be at the hospital for pre-testing prior to his admission for the surgery that is scheduled for wednesday.

When I should be jubillant and exhillarated over today's events, i have never felt so completely alone..

The Graduate

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Dante Da'Vaughn Angerville
Age: 17

Grade: High School Senior - Valedictorian Graduating Class of 2005
GPA: 3.8
Awards and Honors: Who's Who American High School Students, A.J. Drexel Scholar(scholarship awarded to top 15% of applicants to school), Challenger Award, Gold Medal in Social Studies and Science, The Michael Wallace Award - for outstanding achievement in Computer Science
Community Service Award-Brooklyn District Attorney's office/New York Police Department
Advanced Regents Diploma

Last week Dante was really not feeling well and was having bouts of pain and bleeding. So much so that he wound up going to the hospital twice and having a ct scan done. They didnt see anything of note and he is already scheduled for surgery on Wednesday of next week...nothing was done except give him some pain medication.

Unfortunately one of the days that he was out was a day that he was supposed to take a Vocational-Comp Regents....long way of saying a regents exam in your specialty that adds an endorsement to your diploma. In this case Dante' would have had an Advanced Regents Diploma if he passed it.

The Regents board however apparently does not allow for make up exams. Even though the assistant principal did try to arrange for him to take a make up exam, it wound up not happening. That friday that week He was told to come in and take the Spanish regents..which he had the spanish regents class but for some reason was never sent a notification about taking that regents and actually from what I was told was not on the schedule to take it.

However he did go in and take the exam. He later told me that he really didn't feel he did well at all on the test. A lot of the questions were on things that he said were not covered in class. The oral part of the exam he really felt like he botched up badly and so I just told him look you passed several regents exams your work and your record already speak for itself don't get all bent out of shape over this.

Well after having that conversation and pretty much figuring that he would deal with a regular diploma, I got a call today from the assistant principal letting me know that Dante had passed his Spanish Regents with a 73 and that his standing with regards to his diploma would be Advanced Regents ....and i found out on the way home on the train and wound up crying most of the way home...

Go figures

Up and At 'Em

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This morning was a challenge to get up and get moving. Seemed like I just couldn't get into gear. I actually thought about not going in for a moment, but then I thought about the paltry pay check that I already am going to get from having to take off next week and decided to find some way to get my azz in gear.

Dante has to be at the hospital today at 1pm for his injection for the mibg scan on wednesday. I was going to try and meet up with him If i can I need to call him though i think he plans on being here at 1 thirty and its actually at one...

Night Falls

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Another weekend comes to a close and as night falls so do the tears. Slowly and in singular fashion. No relief in numbers as the pain that caused them also refuses to let them flow freely.

As I contemplate my son and his battle, literally for his life right now..My mind can't even conceive the enormity of what is going on now and what will go on in the next few days. It is too much. I see what others don't. The determination on his part not to succumb to his circumstances, the refusal to accept anything other than what he has put before himself. His fight to keep it together in order to finish out his school year and to attend his graduation. My God how it just cuts me so deeply to see this child keeping this brave face, knowing that he's facing surgery yet again. Each time he gets a pain or sneezes or anything you get a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach. Which you cannot give voice to. AT this time in his life when he should be rejoicing and celebrating his accomplishments and his successes, he is instead fighting to stay alive and to beat the cancer that somehow came back and now is causing him to have to undergo another round of surgery. Ironically two days after his graduation.

The last week or so has been incredibly difficult as he has had bouts of pain and bleeding and has had to rush to the hospital on two occaisions, each time wondering if they were going to admit him and do the surgery on the spot.

For the record there has not been any medical indication so far that they need to do surgery sooner than the June 29th date they already have on tap for him. CT scans and soon another MIBG scan aside they are just pinpointing what they already know. That the small area left behind in the last surgery needs to be removed. The cells are starting to grow again and they need to take out as much as possible and this time, treat him afterwards.

No one understands what I would give to have my son healthy and whole and not have to go through all this. My life I would hand over without so much as a murmur if I could take all this from him I would. But life is not so simple and this is nowhere near that simple. A sacrifice while noble, would make no difference at all in his circumstances. AS a parent, one who is looked to for answers and for guidance, all i can do is pray...and keep my tears to myself.


The ache that I have in my heart has no words that can explain it. The pain that I feel for this child....is unbearable and yet I have no choice but to bear it. The hurt in my heart is so deep and yet I know that come the dawn I have to get up, get showered, get dressed, and face another day. Minus the tears that only come at night...when I am alone and allow myself for a moment to think and feel. There is no greater hurt or pain than to see your own child suffer and know that there is not one damn thing that you can do about it.

Mo' Stress

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Been out of my mind with worry ....Dante was in the hospital two days this past week, because of these bouts of pain and some bleeding...they did a ct scan and didnt see anything of note..they did give him a prescription for percocets...which im not real happy about either..but now I feel like we are in "is he going to make it to graduation day" mode.

I have been feeling like I need to cry for a good hour or two but never can find the time/opportunity to do it...so i feel like im overstressed...similar to the feeling when you stay up way too long and you are so tired you can't fall asleep easily.

About this Archive

This page is a archive of entries in the Dante's Inferno category from June 2005.

Dante's Inferno: July 2005 is the next archive.

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