Archive for February, 2009
2/28 Midday Update
Well, despite our precautions, Ryan still ended up with an infection. He has Antibiotic Associated Clostridium Difficile Colitis (C-Diff). This is a fairly common bacteria in the stomach of adults as well as children. The healthy bacteria in the stomach keep the C-Diff in check and it is not an issue for most people. For patients with low immunization systems and on antibiotics (yep, that’s Ryan) the good bacteria is not there so the C-Diff grows out of control. It can take weeks to get the bacteria in check or gone completely. So, what does this mean for Ryan? A different type of antibiotics, isolation from other patients on the floor, and the nurses have to suit up in yellow gowns and gloves when entering our room. Strangely enough, this alone doesn’t prevent visitors or prevent him from going home at some point (as he is only infectious to patients on strong antibiotics.) Continual hand washing is key to preventing the spread. I thought we were doing that enough and encouraging everyone else that came in to do the same!!! Can’t help but blame myself.
This is frustrating to say the least. I understand it is common for patients with extended stays in the hospital (10% of patients after 2 days in the hospital according to some studies) but that doesn’t make it easier. Please pray for the antibiotics to work and for Ryan to be able to interact with others as he is just beginning to feel like doing so.
I did end up getting a video camera to record some things for Ryan and to capture some video of him. While I was testing out the settings, Bryce and Deanna wanted to be on the web too, so here you go!
Oh well, enough of a brain dump for now. Thanks everyone. God Bless!
Morning report for Feb. 28
Well… in 2 more days, Ryan will have been in a hospital for one month, and in 3 days, he will have been at the Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children. It just doesn’t seem possible that a month ago Ryan was throwing baseball in the backyard with Troy and feeling great before we found out he had cancer. This morning he is feeling a little better. He wanted to play his gameboy, which means he wants to do something this morning. Ryan really didn’t each much yesterday, but he did eat and that made his doctor happy. I’m hoping that he eats more today and continues to get better. I am ready for my whole family to be under one roof for a change.
For some reason, I have been very emotional this week, and I don’t know why. Maybe everything that has happened has finally caught up with me, and that is what has me down. I know that I have been taking things wrong when they are spoken to me, and I don’t like it! Oh well… another hurdle to get over this next week. :)
Superhero party
Today US96.3, 101.7, and 98.1 are doing broadcasts from the hospital, and at 2PM today, the hospital hosted a “Superhero” party. Troy took off from work to go with us to the party. Ryan had to wear a mask because his immune system is not the strongest right now. We were off the cancer floor for about 45 minutes, and I think Ryan had a great time. It did wear him out considering he had not been outside since February 3. Troy took some pictures and I’ve included some for the post. Enjoy!
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- Ryan with his superhero costume
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- Ryan letting the wind blow the bubbles
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- Ryan enjoying some Bops ice cream
Midday post – Feb. 27
Well, Ryan was been sick at his stomach, but that was the chemo. He has been drinking some chocolate milk and has eaten a couple of bites of a pancake. His doctor said he looked good today, and now he wants Ryan to eat.
His teacher came by as well, and Ryan was able to do some of his work that he behind on. It wasn’t something he wanted to do, but he was a trooper and did some.
Tonight Ryan and I have a date planned. The Clone Wars will be on the Cartoon Network, and since we both like Star Wars, we’re going to watch it together.
Stethoscope
Someone shared this with us and I thought it was cute, so I thought I would post here. Ryan enjoyed it too even with the nausea.
Enjoy!
CHEMO IS DONE!!!!
For now at least. The past 72 hours were tough and it will take a while to get the meds completely out of his system. Next round is scheduled to start on 3/17. There are still lots of recovery medications and recovery to be done, but the nurse just removed his chemo bag. We’re dealing with nausea and tiredness now. At least he is enjoying my reading Tom Sawyer to him.
Stay tuned, more to come.
Morning report for Feb. 26
Last night was rough. It seems that every hour on the hour Ryan was up in the bathroom or sick. It makes for a long night. He is still in the bed, wiped out from the chemo that will end today. Please pray that he won’t be sick anymore. He needs to eat as he hasn’t had anything since lunch yesterday. If Ryan doesn’t eat, then they’ll give him a feeding tube, and he doesn’t like them.
Troy is going to work from the hospital this morning so I can have the morning away from here. He knows I’m doing the best I can, but I think he just wants to spend some time with Ryan considering that I get most of it now. :D
Have a blessed day, everyone!
Evening post – Feb. 25
Today has not been a good day all around. The chemo is doing its thing – making Ryan sick. I don’t like it, but it’s all part of it and something we are going to have to get over to get him better. But it stinks! I don’t like my baby to be sick. On a good note, this is the last treatment of this round. As of 12:40PM tomorrow, Ryan will have received 72 hours of chemo straight. That’s right, 72 hours! No wonder he is sick.
I’m hanging in there – I don’t like see any of my children sick, and that makes today even harder on me. Ryan did have a couple of visitors today, but he really didn’t feel like talking to them. They were just happy to see him though and that is a good thing.
I know that we have been talking about people coming to visit and all, but now that he is almost done with this round of chemo, I must ask that visitors consider the fact that Ryan’s immune system is being torn down again. I’m not sure how long it will take to build it back up, but remember that he will be able to catch more colds and germs and such easier with his immune system down.
God bless each and everyone that reads this blog, and everyone have a blessed night!
2/25 midday report
The chemo nurse just started the last bag for Round B. It will run for 24 hours and then he will be done for awhile. It’s great news as I can see that the chemo is starting to make Ryan weak again. Pray that he won’t be sick from this one and his numbers will rebound quickly. He really wants to go home!
Musings by Vic
So much has happened since February 2, and I don’t know how to describe everything that has happened. Surreal? Shock? Disbelief? Horror? How can one really describe it? If anyone had told me on New Year’s Day that my oldest child, my first-born, would be battling cancer before the year was up, I would have thought they were crazy. It just doesn’t seem possible to sit at the hospital everyday watching Ryan suffer through chemo and doctors/nurses coming in to do vitals and blood work and give medicines. I know it’s getting old; I can only image what he thinks about all this. Depending on how he is feeling, you know that he doesn’t want any more blood drawn or medicines or vital checking. But there are those rare times where he is smiling and kidding around with everyone. It’s something I look forward to.
As Troy mentioned, in Sunday School we are covering the book “Don’t Waste Your Life” by John Piper. I will admit that I’m behind and trying to catch up in it. But the title alone makes me wonder how much of my life have I wasted. Have I truly spent enough time with my kids during these past years? Have I lived the way God wants me to? Have I shown what God and His love has done in my life so others may know His glory and grace? Yes, they are tough questions, and no, I don’t know the answers. But now I’m thinking and praying about them, and it’s my hope that I become a better mother not only to Ryan but to Bryce and Deanna.
I guess today is just an emotional dump day for me. About 30 minutes after I got to the hospital this morning, Ryan got sick. I can’t stand to see any of my children sick, but I know that it is a part of Ryan’s life right now, but it doesn’t make it any easier to see. And seeing the Cub Scout Pack last night was great, but it reminded me of what Ryan is missing because of this. Don’t get me wrong, I was so glad to see everyone and to deliver Ryan’s message, but Scouts is something he really enjoyed, and for now, he has had to give it up. (On a side note: I have his Bear book here at the hospital and he only needs a couple of requirements to complete his rank. We’ll work on it some.) Trust me when I say he is really missing being there with his buddies. :D
I know I have never been one to get thank you notes out, and quite frankly I wouldn’t know who to send them to. So many have stepped up and helped us out during this trial, so I’m sending a heart-felt thank you out to everyone. It eases the mind and the heart knowing that there are so many friends out there that have stepped up and helped. I don’t know who all has helped, but I truly appreciate everything that has been done.