Paige was thrilled to be making her first trip to Kent since her injury. As we approached the town of Kent, she repeated at least twenty times how she was sooo excited.

We reviewed the warning signs that would alert Paige to too much stimulation: blurring vision, headache, increased emotions, decreased concentration, fatigue, personality change, interruption in memory, and shaking. Paige knew that she should withdraw if she felt any of these symptoms coming on.

Paige was mobbed in her dorm. Some of her friends were on the verge of tears when they saw her. If Paige said she had to go to the bathroom, someone would offer to go with her.

She walked over to see Ryan's last home hockey game, watched them play for awhile, then retreated to the warming room where her friends from Case Dorm were preparing for the breast cancer fundraiser at that evening's varsity hockey game against Trinity Pawling. 

Ryan's team won their game, and Paige hugged her sweaty and fatigued friends as they came off the ice. The entire team had sent her cards and flowers. She went to Case Dorm and was mobbed again, then returned to Middle Dorm for some more time with the girls before dinner in the school dining room. Two cups of tea made her more than hyper.

By evening, the hockey rink was full of pink balloons and decorations for breast cancer awareness. The Kent varsity hockey players wore pink jerseys (and one even taped his stick with pink tape), the spectators wore pink and had their cheeks marked with pink ribbons and the players' numbers, and the girls from Case sold baked goods and commemorative T-shirts.

The stands were packed. Paige moved constantly throughout the bleachers. She did not stop roaming. Teachers wanted to hug her. Her headmaster said she made his day. Friends would swoop in for a bear hug, then see the neck brace and handle her gently.

With five minutes remaining Paige figured it would take a long time to say her goodbyes. She went to the far end of bleachers and found her friends. 

The Kent hockey team played an exciting game and was victorious in pink. Paige was at rink-side as they came off the ice, congratulating every player. Saying her goodbyes, she was seen dancing and wiggling.

Paige did not stop talking on the way home, planning her return to Kent and saying how seeing everyone made her month. Her mother had baked her famous mac and cheese and left it out for a late dinner. Paige had no appetite because she had eaten half the bake sale. 

The Kent community has been so supportive of Paige and her family, from the visits on her first day in the intensive care unit just four weeks ago, to today's joyful homecoming. We marvel at the graciousness and maturity of the students, and at the warmth and concern from the faculty, staff and administration. While it may be something in the water, we think it comes from compassionate leadership and good, strong values reinforced in a beautiful setting.