Monday, October 27, 2014

Life Can Change in a Moment

On Thursday, October 16th, at about 6:00 pm, we took our 11 year old into the Instacare.  He had been pale and fatigued.  They took blood work and sent us in a big hurry up to Primary Children's Hospital; which is, so thankfully, just a 20 minute drive for us.  There they did more blood work and had the Oncologist on call come in.  She looked at his blood right there and gave us the diagnosis we were devastated was coming.  Our baby had Leukemia.  Life can change in a moment.

We left our other 4 children in the charge of my parents and aunts, and both my husband and I spent the next 5 days with him in the care of the wonderful doctors and nursing staff at Primary's.  He had Surgery on Friday to instal a port, do a bone marrow aspirate, and do a spinal tap to check for lymphoblasts in his spinal fluid and give him a dose of chemo in his spine.  We got to come home on Wednesday, and life with leukemia has started to settle in a bit.  We have weekly visits to the Cancer and Bone Marrow Clinic for chemo treatments, at least until the 2nd week in November.  We do not know what his road map will be after that yet.  It is an emotional and sometimes very difficult beginning.  He is very tired and his knees and stomach are starting to hurt from the medicines.  He is a champ!  He told me that having courage means that he is sometimes pretty scared of what he needs to do, but that he does it anyway.  Andon is certainly right.  His prognosis is good, we are so grateful for that.  We wait to hear back about the bone marrow aspirate and the chromosomal markers that will help to determine more of what his future course of treatment will be.

We have seen an outpouring of love and concern from everywhere.  On Saturday they told us that he had broken the record for the number of visitors in one day, 25!  His favorite things on earth are probably hugs.  While he was going into surgery, my sister called from California.  At the end of the conversation she told me to give a hug for him.  I said that it would be great if she and her husband were to take a picture hugging each other and email it to me so I could show it to them.  They posted it on Facebook and pretty soon a hashtag -which I don't really get- was set up for him on instagram.  That had so many visits that My sister suggested setting up a community page for him on Facebook.  It is called Hugs for Andon.  He has been getting picture hugs from all over the world and they make a yucky day better for sure.  This has become a real big deal for his oldest sister who has become an administrator on the page.  She had told me about 2 months ago that she felt her future lay in charity and service work.  She said she never feels as complete as when she is doing things that are really meaningful for others.  She has stepped up in an incredible way around the house and with the other members of the family.  Our other children are all reacting in a different way to their lives changing so quickly.

We have had meals brought in, laundry done by members of our ward and family, cleaning helpers (since the house has to be made and kept super clean), gifts, prayers of many faiths, fasting, and letters of encouragement.  It has lifted us and helped to carry us through the beginning of difficult times.

13 comments:

  1. I'm so very sorry for your son and your family having to deal with one of a parent's worst fears. How wonderful that you have loving, supportive people coming alongside of you. Will say a prayer for Andon and you all. Bless you, Laura

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  2. Your words leave me speechless... I want to send you espoir, courage, foi et amour from France, and many many many hugs for Andon!

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  3. I'm so sad to read this. I fell that anything I might say it won't be enough... as I usually do in cases like this... So much to say, and yet no way of saying it...
    Sending love and courage for all your family!

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  4. I am sorry to hear about your little one. I don't know you, but can just imagine what an amazing person you are; your kindness in making your files available free of charge, is wonderful. My family and I will be praying for your family. You've done so much for us, please let us know we can help you. Stay encouraged and may God's grace and peace be with you as you go through this experience.

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  5. Thank you for sharing this. In these hard moment you find courage hope and family support. Sending all our hope.

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  6. Hello Cathy, je te lis depuis la Belgique et maintenant depui le Maroc, j'aime beaucoup ton blog!
    Mon fils a aussi eu la leucémie quand il avait 19 mois, c'est une période difficile mais je te souhaite beaucoup de courage et à ton fils. Avec l'amour et le soutien de sa famille, il va guérir!
    Je t'embrasse
    Mireille

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  7. Praying for you and your family.

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  8. I don't know you but was terrible sad by the news you shared. I hope you and your family find strength, courage, hope.

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  9. Cathie your heart beats daily upon the shelves of my classroom. You have given so very much to the children of the world through your work. Please feel our love and gratitude as your precious boy heals. I believe in the power of love.

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  10. Thank you so much for the notes of love and concern. We appreciate the support that we have had in these last weeks of change and trial.

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  11. Hi Cathy. One of our teachers just told me about this post and I thought I'd add our voices to all the others here. Our thoughts are with you during these challenging times and we wish you and your family the very best of all things.

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  12. Sending love and saying prayers for you and your family.

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  13. Cathie,
    No sé ni que decir. Pero estoy pensando en ti, tu hijo y el resto de tu familia. Los incluiré a todos en mis oraciones.

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