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Monday, August 23, 2010
Monday
Brody is getting his vincristine chemo now. His red blood cell count is low so he is getting blood transfusion again... i think this is 8th one not counting the blood he got during his surgery. Geordi and jaden aren't likely starting school today as it takes 3 to 4 hours to infuse the blood after it gets up here. He is looking and acting normal so we are once again surprised he needs blood this week.
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Sunday, August 22, 2010
Sunday
Brody has had an ok week. He has had ups and downs (nausea and some diarhea) but overall been feeling pretty good and has been eating more. If our scale is right he has gained back a pound.
He has been kind of stubborn taking his oral meds (likes to stress mom and dad) but gives in eventually if you stay on him. He likes to show off to others and his latest thing is taking meds without his chaser (usually milk or water)... his zofran he takes for nausea doesn't taste bad so this is no big deal... last night he impressed me by taking his bactrim without a chaser... he drank the whole 1 1/2 teaspoons right down... the bactrim isn't bad to drink. Ut has a bad aftertaste.... i was very impressed and of course proud of him for doing this however i was scared he was going to vomit it up... but he kept it down.
Geordi and Jaden start their home school tomorrow. Hopefully that will go smoothly.
Not much else to report.
Brody goes in for his labs and outpatient chemo tomorrow also and hopefully he won't need blood so we can get back home for school in a timely manner.
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Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Tuesday morning
Brody got his chemo yesterday and is waiting to be discharged. His diarhea has returned probably from all the hydration via iv he gets. The chemo drugs cause constipation so i hope it resolves quickly... we thought we were done with it.
We had a good night other then the iv making him need to pee every 90 minutes or so...
Brody is watching spongebob squarepants right now and we are hanging out waiting for our discharge orders. We should be out of here before lunch.
Not alot left to report.... more later
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Friday, August 13, 2010
Done with radiation therapy
Brody had a rough time the last 3 days of radiation.therapy.. on Monday the verced didn't help in the morning, he was scared and couldn't stop crying so could not lay still in enough to get his treatment... he came back in the afternoon and did fine.
Tuesday he did great and it went without a hitch.
Wednesday he got scared again but he settled down eventually and got his last session done.
The side effects will persist a week to 10 days but he is much happier getting a good nights sleep... he stayed up late last night and slept in with mommy til almost noon today.
He starts another chemo round monday and we will be spending the night in the hospital again.
Not much else to report.. his weight has dropped a bit with the radiation therapy but his appetite seems to be getting better. He had 4 slices of french toast (no crusts) for breakfast and a 6" subway turkey sub for lunch today.
His weight is back down to about 33 pounds... hoping he gains some back quick.
More later... hard to type from my phone
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Sunday, August 8, 2010
Sunday
Brody ended up not needing more blood on Thursday so we were in and out of Toledo children's hospital relatively fast on Thursday. We played some wii while waiting for blood results.
Three more radiation therapy sessions left. The verced he has been taking is having less and less effect on him so we will be bumping the dose up a bit for the last few sessions. He has been a trooper through all this..... we will be happy to put the early morning appts behind us.
He goes back for labs tomorrow (Monday) after his radiation but his levels should all be coming up.... he has been eating somewhat better the last few days.... his weight had dropped a bit with the radiation therapy.... he has been craving subway subs lately and luckily there is one about a mile from our house.
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Thursday, August 5, 2010
Pic of monitors we watch Brody on during his radiation therapy treatments
We can't be in the room with Brody during his radiation treatments nor can anyone else but we can watch him on the monitors and talk to him through an intercom.
THE TRANSFORMER
Pic of radiation therapy machine which Brody thinks of as a friendly Transformer that rotates around him and kills his cancer
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Brody needing blood again
Yesterday Brody went into Flower hospital at 6:45am for his radiation therapy and then we went to Toledo Children's Hospital to get his once a week labs done. Brody's hemoglobin came back at 5.6 which is extremely low. His doctor had the nurse do another blood draw and send it to the lab again to be sure it was correct. The result came back the same so Brody had to stay the rest of the day to receive blood. He goes back again on Thur for repeat labs and most likely more blood. We were really surprised he needed blood again this time since he just didn't look as pale as usually does when he needs it and he seemed pretty energetic yesterday morning too. Brody woke up and started walking first thing yesterday. Usually he has to be up for awhile before he's willing to walk on his bad leg. But not yesterday. Today he has been walking much better than he has been too. Maybe his leg is finally getting better (not hurting so much) and he's just so excited about it that he seems more energetic than he would be otherwise. Anyhow, I'm excited that his leg is bothering him less.
The radiation therapy has been causing some significant diarrhea for Brody. He has had some pretty painful cramping and gas pains and his bottom is really sore. He has been handling it all way better than I could. The pains have also made Brody not feel like eating very much at times as well. Fortunately though, the diarrhea isn't constant (but frequent and sudden) and he has some times when he feels ok and he eats and plays. Fortunate also that he has just 6 more radiation treatments to go now.
The last few weeks have been very hard at times but we are greatful that they are behind us and we are nearing the end of radiation therapy.
Brody is one tough, brave little boy.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Sunday August 1st
Once again, sorry for the lack of updates. We have all been very busy and seem to be tired alot-- we aren't used to the early schedule.
Brody has done well with the Verced for his radiation therapy-- it makes him a bit loopy but very co-operative... He has now completed 15 sessions and has 8 to go.
He had his 3 drug round of chemo last monday and did well again managing his nausea... especially since his radiation therapy causes it too. We were in a bit of a conundrum this past week... the Vincristine for his chemo causes constipation while the radiation therapy causes diarhea... for Brody at least, the radiation therapy wins in this head to head battle... although the vincristine helped lessen the severity of it.
He hasn't had much of an appetite lately-- but has been good about taking all his meds (after a bit of a fight for every one to stress out mom and dad).
We have been managing some dips in the pool and a few trips out to Maumee Bay State park among other things-- so it hasn't been all treatment.
Geordi and Jaden are getting ready to start their home schooling-- we signed them up with TRECA digital academy... and it is done online with the aid of a printer and scanner-- they were provided with loaner computers (Macs) and each a printer and scanner... they are both excited to start but I'm sure that will wear off soon... waiting for a few ethernet cables to arrive--- they have taken over our office for now.
Really, thats about it for now... we are patiently waiting for the radiation therapy to be over
Brody has done well with the Verced for his radiation therapy-- it makes him a bit loopy but very co-operative... He has now completed 15 sessions and has 8 to go.
He had his 3 drug round of chemo last monday and did well again managing his nausea... especially since his radiation therapy causes it too. We were in a bit of a conundrum this past week... the Vincristine for his chemo causes constipation while the radiation therapy causes diarhea... for Brody at least, the radiation therapy wins in this head to head battle... although the vincristine helped lessen the severity of it.
He hasn't had much of an appetite lately-- but has been good about taking all his meds (after a bit of a fight for every one to stress out mom and dad).
We have been managing some dips in the pool and a few trips out to Maumee Bay State park among other things-- so it hasn't been all treatment.
Geordi and Jaden are getting ready to start their home schooling-- we signed them up with TRECA digital academy... and it is done online with the aid of a printer and scanner-- they were provided with loaner computers (Macs) and each a printer and scanner... they are both excited to start but I'm sure that will wear off soon... waiting for a few ethernet cables to arrive--- they have taken over our office for now.
Really, thats about it for now... we are patiently waiting for the radiation therapy to be over
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