Back in the Saddle

I wrote a post in September 2025 just after Erica’s trike accident. In that post, our children contributed two points of advice. When you fail, get back in the saddle and go back to the point where you were last comfortable. After learning how severe Erica’s shoulder break was and seeing how painful the recovery has been, I had assumed we would never see her on the trike again. To be honest, I was not sure I would ever be comfortable with her riding again. She had trusted me to provide a safe riding environment and I failed. The memory of watching her fall is still fresh in my mind. That moment when neither of us were in control is haunting. But as I said in my previous blog, these points of advice were not just for Erica, but for all of us. Healing is of body and mind. And failure is not a set back, but a ‘good try’.

So whether consciously taking her son’s advice or simply out of boredom—or perhaps even the strong will that drives Erica (I believe it was mostly the later), Erica insisted that she try the trike again. So going back to our last comfortable moment from 10 months ago, I programmed the bike for a very slow walking mode and started Erica in the safety of our neighborhood. The ride was brief, but the joy and pride of accomplishment was immeasurable.

One of the most considerable points with this accomplishment is the timing. If you read my last blog, you will know that Erica has just been diagnosed with having new tumor developments in the brain. We’ve been waiting for her doctor team to advise on whether she should go back on treatment or try radiation again. Erica took this bike adventure while a greater fear was present. Not letting worry overwhelm or allowing fear steal her joy, Erica got back in the saddle.

We’ve since heard from the doctors. Erica will be starting maintenance chemotherapy treatments again next week. The radiation option may have been low risk, but the long term results are unknown. The conclusion being that we have a history of what we can expect from the treatment. The good news is that Erica had been taking two different medicines, Enhertu and Avastin. She will only be going back on the Enhertu, the drug specifically targeting her type of cancer. Eliminating the second drug may mitigate some of her previous extreme side effects. The doctor is confident that Enhertu is the treatment that has kept her cancer under control for over a year. So, just like the bike-riding experience, we will be starting back where we were last successful.

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Appendix

I promised a recap of our summer so far. As many of you know, I was between jobs for the entire month of June, simultaneous to our youngest son graduating college. This was a transition month, marking a new chapter in life. We intentionally did not plan any travel or scheduled commitments. Instead, took time to enjoy old friends, appreciate what Pittsburgh has to offer, and even purge the attic and garage. Enjoy.

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Jennifer (and Britten) Martin, college roommate/maid of honor

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Phipps Conservatory, Toy Story 5, Pittsburgh Zoo

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Attic clean out. Can you find Erica?

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