Three days ago, I blogged about how easy Hayden's PDU appointments are now. Well, today Dr. Stoffman suggested that we should skip a trip to the Children's Hospital and just do the lumbar puncture in the clinic...today....awake! I almost swallowed my tongue trying to keep my mouth shut. Hayden responded by ducking his chin into his chest and quietly shaking his head. I'm pretty sure he thought we were going to do it anyway because he had tears in his eyes. The doctor immediately retracted his suggestion and I did not flip out (so close). I simply told Hayden later, when we had a chance to talk, that I think he made the right decision.
Yeah, I really do think...
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Survivor Pool - Get in on the action
The new season starts on Feb. 16 and it promises to be a good one. Hayden and I are big fans so I'm taking over the pool to keep it going and you can get in on it. For $5 you get a cast member from a random draw. There are 18 players so the winner takes home a cool $90.
There's an interesting twist this year...players who get voted off go to 'redemption island' where they go head to head with the next/last loser - the winner from that battle gets back in the game. hehehehe This will be interesting.
Email me if you want a piece of the action: cindyanne07@yahoo.ca. There are 13 spots left.
There's an interesting twist this year...players who get voted off go to 'redemption island' where they go head to head with the next/last loser - the winner from that battle gets back in the game. hehehehe This will be interesting.
Email me if you want a piece of the action: cindyanne07@yahoo.ca. There are 13 spots left.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
He shoots....
...and, woo hoo, he scored!! Hayden got his first goal last weekend, and an assist too. He is definitely coming into his own, with a little help from his very supportive teammates. But they're not just great kids, they are great hockey players too. The Falcons are currently ranked in the #1 spot for 9A3. Can you believe it?
Hayden's blood counts are still going strong. His neutrophils were at 2.06 nearly 2 weeks ago but we're holding steady on the chemo doses so far. He sees his pediatric oncologist, Dr. Stoffman, on Tuesday so we'll see if he wants to try an increase. While at the CancerCare Clinic, Hayden will also get a shot of vincristine via his Iron Man port and start another 5-day round of steroids. Then on Wednesday, we head back (this time to the Children's Hospital - pediatric day unit) for a spinal injection of methotrexate. Everybody cringes when I say that but, really, it's no big deal for Hayden. He's totally asleep for the procedure and he doesn't mind missing school to play DS and watch cartoons. Plus, he gets a little gift from the cart and all the nurses love him. You might even say that he looks forward to the quarterly (used to be monthly) PDU visits. Once again, I so wish that I had some idea 2 years ago that this would get easier. Or maybe someone told me and I just couldn't believe it...who knows.
I have been told though, by more than one person, that today's procedures are a far cry from the way they were done a few years ago - with the child awake. ugh. We've been through some pretty ugly stuff but that procedure would be absolute hell under those conditions. I'm so thankful that treatment for childhood leukemia has progressed to the point we are at today. There's still a long way to go but the advances are very encouraging. I hope we can do the same for all cancer treatments. Even though we are more than a year out from our last hospital stay, our hearts are with all of the brave kids battling on ward CK5...and, of course, all of our friends at the clinic.
Hayden's blood counts are still going strong. His neutrophils were at 2.06 nearly 2 weeks ago but we're holding steady on the chemo doses so far. He sees his pediatric oncologist, Dr. Stoffman, on Tuesday so we'll see if he wants to try an increase. While at the CancerCare Clinic, Hayden will also get a shot of vincristine via his Iron Man port and start another 5-day round of steroids. Then on Wednesday, we head back (this time to the Children's Hospital - pediatric day unit) for a spinal injection of methotrexate. Everybody cringes when I say that but, really, it's no big deal for Hayden. He's totally asleep for the procedure and he doesn't mind missing school to play DS and watch cartoons. Plus, he gets a little gift from the cart and all the nurses love him. You might even say that he looks forward to the quarterly (used to be monthly) PDU visits. Once again, I so wish that I had some idea 2 years ago that this would get easier. Or maybe someone told me and I just couldn't believe it...who knows.
I have been told though, by more than one person, that today's procedures are a far cry from the way they were done a few years ago - with the child awake. ugh. We've been through some pretty ugly stuff but that procedure would be absolute hell under those conditions. I'm so thankful that treatment for childhood leukemia has progressed to the point we are at today. There's still a long way to go but the advances are very encouraging. I hope we can do the same for all cancer treatments. Even though we are more than a year out from our last hospital stay, our hearts are with all of the brave kids battling on ward CK5...and, of course, all of our friends at the clinic.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Happy New Year!
Benjamin Franklin said: Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man.
It's a nice idea but frankly, I think my vices are what got me through the last 2 years. Oh well, I suppose I get the point about neighbours...but I'm not in the market for a better man.
The sun is once again shining in the Bennett house. Hayden has finally rebounded from the flu and a 5-day stretch of steroids that felt more like 5 weeks. The flu hit on the 22nd and even though he stopped barthing shortly after, he lacked energy and an appetite until yesterday. The steroids didn't help either. As it turned out, we canceled most of our plans over the holidays but we still enjoyed it, and our boy back now so all's well.
Back to school on Thursday. Back to clinic next Tuesday. Back to our 'normal' routine. I'm ready...it's time.
Hope you enjoyed the very best of the holidays. Cheers to a happy 2011!
It's a nice idea but frankly, I think my vices are what got me through the last 2 years. Oh well, I suppose I get the point about neighbours...but I'm not in the market for a better man.
The sun is once again shining in the Bennett house. Hayden has finally rebounded from the flu and a 5-day stretch of steroids that felt more like 5 weeks. The flu hit on the 22nd and even though he stopped barthing shortly after, he lacked energy and an appetite until yesterday. The steroids didn't help either. As it turned out, we canceled most of our plans over the holidays but we still enjoyed it, and our boy back now so all's well.
Back to school on Thursday. Back to clinic next Tuesday. Back to our 'normal' routine. I'm ready...it's time.
Hope you enjoyed the very best of the holidays. Cheers to a happy 2011!
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