I went away, up North to Chicago to hang with Lily and Blaise. I knew the timing wasn’t ideal, but Blaise in particular will be affected by my absence as he grows older. He feels more than he lets on, as many 11 year-old boys do. Lily is better with expressing herself, and for that … [Read more…]
NASOGASTRIC TUBE: A tube that is passed through the nose and down through the nasopharynx and esophagus into the stomach. It is a flexible tube made of rubber or plastic, and it has bidirectional potential. It can be used to remove the contents of the stomach, including air, to decompress the stomach, or to remove … [Read more…]
When Ashton was first diagnosed I tried to make contact with Bruce, the man Penny made me with. Bruce kinda said, hey, that sucks. Bruce has never met Ashton. He has not seen Lily or Blaise since they were…?7 and 4? They don’t even remember him. Heck, I barely remember him. It was a lot … [Read more…]
1. Almost everything that was paramount before diagnosis barely registers on the relevancy scale. 2. Being a bald child is not weird. It’s proof that you are stronger than most adults. 3. There is very little I, personally, can do for my son. I, personally, cannot cure CANCER. 4. I CAN, however, hold a barf … [Read more…]
2011 Mischief. I used to have to get him up to take him to work with me(winter in Chicago) at 5 am. He worked a full day until we got home at 7pm. He showed up in pajamas and he went home in pajamas. It’s one of my favorite photos of him. While the kids slept, … [Read more…]
Focusing on the positive. Trying, still, to ascertain which doctors are painting a pretty picture and which ones are just so used to their jobs they don’t mind being straight with you. Dr. Grimley came in yesterday (and I love his name). He was the one who diagnosed Ashton in the ER months ago and … [Read more…]
I feel so uplifted, which, in turn helps me to uplift others, not just Ashton. When He starts to feel better, I can start to find a way to give back. To everyone. To both hospitals. To the people and friends who have stood by us. To those who have contributed. Some days I just … [Read more…]
And Flexing his muscles. Engraftment is most definitely underway. Still have a long road, but the grade is much less steep. Let’s go, Little Man! It won’t be long til you see the sun! Love, Mommy
CINCINNATI — Devon Still won’t have an opportunity to record a sack this weekend, but he’s rooting for his teammates to bring down Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco often. Here’s why. In an effort to help raise money and awareness about pediatric cancer, the Cincinnati Bengals‘ practice-squad defensive tackle coordinated a fundraising drive that correlates … [Read more…]
Underneath all these terrible fevers ’round the clock, sleeping ’round the clock, being on oxygen, cooling blanket, morphine pump,high BP, high heart rate, vomiting every half hour due to Mucositis ( ulceration of the mucous membranes lining his esophagus/ digestive tract, as a result of round 4 chemotherapy) as well as the plethora of medications he is on. There is a LIGHT … [Read more…]