Michael Brian Luzader, 7, of Center Valley, lost his gallant three-year battle against neuroblastoma on Sunday, June 22 in Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township. Born in Salisbury Township, Lehigh County, he was a son of Michael “Mike” and Kelly (Bender) Luzader. He was a student in the first grade at Hopewell Elementary School, and a member of Cub Scout Troop 333, both in Center Valley. Survivors: Surviving with his parents are brother, Evan, and sister, Dakota, both at home; maternal grandparents, Virginia and Bruce Bender of Center Valley; maternal great-grandparents, Marian and Theodore Sheppleman of Warminster; paternal grandparents, Wilbur and Linda Luzader of Center Valley.

Services: will be 11 a.m. Saturday, June 28 in Ebenezer New Reformed Church, Bingen. Interment in Bingen Sunrise Cemetery. Family and friends may call 7-9 p.m. Friday in Jeffrey A. Naugle Funeral Home, 20 N. Ambler St., Quakertown, and 10-11 a.m. Saturday in the church.

Contributions: In an effort to assist children with challenges similar to Michaels, the family requests memorial contributions in his name to Pediatric Oncology, Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg Campus, 2545 Schoenersville Road, Bethlehem, PA 18017-7384.
Published in the Morning Call on 6/25/2008.

Today, Victoria and Abigail had their dance recitals. They were beautiful in their costumes!

Victoria’s group was in the first program, a program of almost 30 separate dance routines. She wasn’t in all 30 dances; only one. Her group was number 27 in the order, which was nine or 10 after the intermission.

Abigail’s group was in the second program, and there were, again, almost 30 separate dance routines in that program, too! Abigail was number 12 in the order, before intermission.

As is always the case with this dance school, the Saturday before the program is their “dress rehearsal,” and that is the only place you can take pictures. There is no video taping or flash photography during the program (the latter for the safety of the children on the stage, and the former because they try to sell you a DVD of the entire program, taped at the actual recital), so the pictures you see here are from the dress rehearsal last week.

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Today was the last day of school for Victoria and James. Spring-Ford is out for the summer!

Yeah, that’s pretty much it. Just wanted to announce that the kids are probably going to be “bored” by next Tuesday…

Tonight was the little ceremony for the latest in our series of graduates. If you didn’t guess already, Abigail graduated from pre-school at Zion Lutheran Church where she’s been attending for the last two years.

It was hot, and we were wondering how bad the sanctuary was going to be, but they have installed air conditioning, and while it wasn’t on high, it was at least more comfortable than previous graduations have been.

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I was walking out of Abigail’s pre-school when my phone rang. It was Kelly and Michael requesting our presence at the Hospital. I said as soon as Abba was done School - we would be on our way.

We stocked up on edible goodies that might tempt Michael to eat and headed off. When we first arrived, Michael was a little cranky (I like him that way). He had been sleeping earlier and was still waking up. Michael was also sporting his new hair cut - ridding him of all the annoying loose hairs stuck in his tapes and making him itchy.

Abigail was being a bit odd herself. She was very hesitant about coming into Michael’s hospital room. Of course, it didn’t help that Kelly & I kept telling her they were going to hook her up to a pole too and that the crib cage in the hallway was for her.

Eventually, Abba crawled into Michael’s bed and settled in. We occupied ourselves with paper & scissors and made a paper chain - so Michael could rip one off a day (which meant he had to be out in seven days cause we only made seven links).

We met one of Michael’s Nurses from clinic. She was taking care of him for the day. At two o’clock we headed to the playroom for a project with ChildLife. Vanessa reminded me a little bit of our Stephanie at CHOP. Abigail & Michael were the only ones to show up - so they each got two little flower pots to paint. Abigail went wild (as usual). Michael is a man with a mission and knew exactly what he wanted: dinosaurs with trees on one and a rainbow with clouds for the other. Luckily for Vanessa, she was able to comply and free handed - made it so. Michael then painted them in.

Michael walked all the way to the playroom & back by himself. We even detoured to the fish tank to see it’s new arrival. Michael is amazing. Kelly is amazing. I hate leaving them there.

Oh! They also decided that Michael did not have pneumonia. He had an x-ray and they believe it is just his asthma. But, he still needs the antibiotics for the two infections he had brewing.

We left around four. They are hoping to have Michael home around Monday. Abba & I will sit & wait for our next phone call. WE LOVE YOU MICHAEL!