Sam Conquered A.L.L.: Night 13

Hi to all our bloggers and commenters,

Our afternoon outing to Grandma and Grandpas went well. Sam sat and had a game of chess with grandpa and checked out the neighbors barbque that was cooking his beloved flank steak. After those two activities he was ready to lie down and wait for dinner. We didn't stay long as Sam started to feel woozy again. I took pictures and had full intentions on following the 37 steps it takes to put them on the site, but I just don't have the mental energy to work at it. Sorry! I need my hubby buddy to do those things for me.

Okay, okay already, enough with the food details. I was just joking and you are driving my son nuts with all those food ideas. I already spend much of my day preparing and cleaning up after his meals and snacking. It was pretty funny though! Thanks for being such good sports. I think it best to hold off on your the food details unless you are prepared to bring them here and share them with hiim!

Great to talk with Uncle Dennis, Holly and skype with the Andrews Family. We are looking forward to visiting with Holly and Rowena who are coming for lunch tomorrow. It's great to have something to look forward to each day.

Good night, time to tuck in foody boy and give him his nightly pills...only 10 tonight! Lucky for me he's great at swallowing them!

Sweet dreams, Debbie

Three more things from Ger tonight:

1. We received a sum of money (the equivalent of about 40 hours worth of babysitting!) to help with Sam's medical expenses (gas, travel, parking, meds, food etc) from a student at Cedars. I went to find her today and give her a hug and thank her from our family. She turned to me and said, "Mr. Goertzen, that wasn't *my* money... that was God's money, and he just told me who to give it to." And, it is because of students like this that I am so passionate about working in a Christian school.

2. A lady named Tara phoned from the "Make a Wish Foundation". They had heard about Sam's Leukemia and are considering giving him something big to look forward to. This foundation grants a wish to children who are fighting a life-threatening illness. It was an amazing thing to have them phone us out of the blue. It would make a big difference for Sam to have something like that to look forward to once he gains his health back. Another wonderful gift from God, through people who care about Sam.

3. Here's an email I received from my Dad yesterday...

"Dear Ger,

Sam is quite the guy; yesterday while waiting for his blood to be drawn I sat with him in the hospital hallway and he sat there with his head in a bucket and just wretched away, his stomach was empty. He never complained. Great son you have there. I'm so proud to be his grandfather.

Love,

Dad"

Goodnight...

- Ger

Raining

The flower with all the petals and leaves on it is the healthy flower. It has a sad face because it is raining. The wilted, bald flower is the cancerous flower. It may be a little wilted and have no petals or leaves but it is happy to be alive even if it is raining. The healthy flower doesn't know how lucky it is to be alive and have all its petals. All it's worried about is the rain. This is true in real life as well. When I was getting my chemo in the hospital I would listen to what people were complaining about and I would think "If that's all you have to worry about then you are doing pretty well." People would act like it were the end of the world if the fan was blowing too hard on them or if they would get home in time for dinner but I was worrying about whether I would get better or would I die?
Melinda, age 13

Consolidation "Summer"

Day 1: (June 25) - LP- IT Methotrexate, IV - AraC, Mercaptopurine, Septra
Day 2-4: IV Ara-C, Mercaptopurine
Day 5-7: PO - Mercaptopurine
Day 8: LP- IT Methotrexate, IV - AraC, Mercaptopurine, Septra
Day 9-11: IV Ara-C, Mercaptopurine
Day 12 - 14: Mercaptopurine
Day 15: LP- IT Methotrexate, IM - PEG-Asparaginase, IV - Vincristine, Septra
Day 22: LP- IT Methotrexate, IV - Vincristine, Septra
Day 29 - 60: Repeat Day 1-29 except without the IT Methotrexate
Day 61: Recover and Wait for Counts to Improve to start Interim Maintenance Stage - Probably 1 week, maybe 2

Prayer

We have all enjoyed having a yard. We have played many games of croquet with friends and family.
We are really enjoying our second "home " here in Vancouver. It is close to the hospital, lots of trails to walk, run, and bike in, and just a few minutes from the beach.
We are thankful for the exceptional people we are surrounded with who are supporting us in prayer and in so many practical ways...you have blessed us tremendously.
Pray that Sam will not get an allergic reaction to the Asparaginase injections on August 13.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...: Hi Deb and Sam,

Glad to hear you had a good day and an outing to Grandma and Grandpas. Hope you got you IPOD all loaded!! haha - I can totally relate Deb.

Talked with the Parker family in Tennessee today (Troy and Daniel etc). They are praying for you all the way in Mountain City Tennessee!!

Talk about a small world - I talk fairly frequently at work to a lady named Colleen in Vanderhoof who works in the medical clinic there. I love talkign to her because I always know that things will be done right when she is doing them...anyways as you've probably guessed she knows you quite well. We were talking about the big fire here and the fact that I was worried about the fire jumping the river to our little street...She said her friends use to live on Essex!

I'm off to bed now too after all that rambling but just wanted to let you know we are thinking of you often. Hoping you have more good days then bad ones Sam - keep up the GREAT attitude.

Terry, Todd, Mike and Kayla; May 28, 2008 at 9:32 PM
Anonymous said...: Sam,

I couldn't find a good "food" joke - so I'm glad we are on to a new topic :)

Here's a brain teaser for you. I found it in this month's PITA (Provincial Intermed. Teachers' Assoc.) magazine. Oops - guess that's a food word too! Don't think about PITA's!

When you are bored, see if you or your mom can do this: (brain teaser from an orthopaedic surgeon)

1. While sitting where you are, lift your RIGHT FOOT off the floor and make clockwise circles.

2. Now, while doing this, draw the number "6" in the air with your RIGHT HAND.

Did you notice that your foot changed direction!?! And there's nothing you can do about it. Even if you try it over and over again, you won't be able to outsmart your right foot. It's pre-programmed in your brain!!

[It's driving Janene nuts now because she can't stop trying it!]

I hope each day is better than the last!

Janice Giesbrecht; May 28, 2008 at 10:00 PM
Anonymous said...: Hi SAm,
My Name is Marlene & I am your dad,s cousin in Manitoba. My Mom is your grandpa's sister. We are all thinking & praying for your strenghth for this battle. You sound like such a great guy. I wish my sons could meet you!
Marlene; May 29, 2008 at 5:37 PM