Happy Holidays

 

We knew the year 2020 was going to be a major ‘mile marker’ for our family but we really had no idea what 2020 had planned for us - I don’t think anyone did!  We started 2020, with a move to Horgen Switzerland.  AJ was on sabbatical and was going to do research at the University of Zurich.  Myron was going to continue working from afar and little Myron was going to learn German at the local bilingual school.  It was a plan/trip of a lifetime.  We arrived in Switzerland without issue, Myron started school (and loved it), AJ felt welcome and excited for her new lab experience, and Myron was all set to work form our rented flat.  We started snowboard/ski lessons and little Myron joined the local swim team.  We were exhausted but happy (we planned way too much for our first month).  We then found out Myron could not work due to international laws but he was going to use the time to help run our household, enjoy some long walks along the lake, and a few extra mountain hikes.  We were excited to welcome Nana and Stephanie for a whirlwind tour of Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Austria, and Germany.

Then our series of unfortunate events started… We did some mountain sledding (definitely a very fun but extreme sport) and Dada Myron injured his knee – ending his ski season.  This resulted in us canceling our ski vacation and instead heading to the Italian Riviera (Cinque Terre) to let him recover with a view. On our way back, we hopped off the train at the wrong city and then raced to the next train station to catch a train to Milano but when we arrived the Milano-bound train was canceled.  We finally made our way to Milano and when we arrived it looked like a bio-hazard war had broken out!  Unbeknownst to us we just walked into the first COVID outbreak in Europe.  Our train back to Switzerland was standing room only but we made it. That week Myron had his school ski trip and he broke his arm on a trick-run called the ‘fun slope’.  At this same time, COVID had marched into Switzerland and everything was shutting down, Myron school, AJ’s work … everything.  

Myron continued to recover but he kept having pain in his arm.  At his checkup, even AJ could tell from across the room that his arm had changed considerably from the last x-ray.  His break was not stable and we were instructed to go directly to the Kinderspital (Children’s Hospital) in Zurich.  Myron had surgery that same day.  While Myron recovered in the hospital the boarders around Switzerland were shutting down and the US called back all citizens.  We prepared to leave but because of his arm Myron was not approved for travel.  Therefore, we hunkered down in our little flat waiting for him to heal and hoping that the US would not close their boarders too.  Myron was approve to travel on a Thursday and we flew out on Friday. At that time, only select cities were accepting international flights and lucky for us Chicago was one of them. We had a direct flight and flew in and out of ghost-town airports.  We made it home but the Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis would not see Myron because we flew from a COVID hotspot and his post-operative care was rough! In total Myron had 4 casts, 2 pins, and 14 weeks of minimal mobility – 2020 was not his year! 

We are happy to report Myron’s arm has healed completely and now he has a ‘cool scar’ as a souvenir of Switzerland and 2020.  Our ‘quarantine crisis’ purchase was a sailboat – it filled our Summer and Fall with water adventures and lots of boat-related projects. 

All in all, 2020, was a memorable year but not for the reasons we expected.  Today we are grateful to have our health and loved ones close by – it has made all the difference during our months of lock-down/quarantine. 

With Love and Hugs,

Myron, AJ, and Myron