Another Update

This update from my mother is long and thankfully detailed so I won't write anything other than my girls had a really great time at Emily's birthday and can't wait to get their bowls.

"Hello! We have been in the hospital for 36 days now and still no ANC. :-( However, his hematocrit is starting to go up on it's own. His platelets are down to 6 so he will get another transfusion today. Since I explained to Caden what an NG tube is (a feeding tube that is inserted through the nose down to the stomach) he has been eating. He had lost 4 pounds but has put 2 back on and seems to be eating pretty good. He nibbles all day long. So, no NG tube! I really thought I would see his ANC start coming up this weekend because of several things that are happening. His hematocrit coming up, the sores on his feet and body are healing, no fever for several days now. Maybe tomorrow it will come up! Child Life is a department in the hospital. Its purpose is to help the children learn to cope with this experience. When Caden was refusing to get out of bed at all and wasn't eating we asked if we could use the Wii. As you have heard throughout my updates Caden loves to play video games. They brought it in and we told him the only way it would work is if he got out of bed to play. He did it! He likes to be the pitcher for baseball and I got to be the batter! He did the bowling and a little boxing when I was here too. Then he told me he was tired and asked me to do the boxing. Wow, using this thing is exercise, my arms were sore! Anyway that was the beginning of him getting better. He got exercise which made him hungry.....etc! Again, with all the test that were run they have no idea why he was running fevers and no idea what the sores were on his feet. I am so thankful that he has not been as sick this round as he was last round. I was really scared last round! This whole adventure is taking longer than anticipated. It has been scary, we have been sleep deprived, I miss my home, the rest of my family and wasn't able to be with my dog Jacques of 15 years when he passed away. But, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else but where I am right now. I am so close to Caden and we have had some wonderful fun times full of laughter during these past 7 months! It has been fun being silly for no reason other than to make him smile and laugh. I have been blessed by my employer letting me work remotely for so long, my husband who has been keeping busy getting things done around our home, my friends Tom and Sandy who have helped me keep my sanity, my sister coming up for a month, my son Ronny who as come and will be bring Cameron back on August 3rd. Family, friends and people we have never met who have sent cards, gifts and get well / hang in there messages. But most of all, all of you prayer warriors! Your prayers have helped give us all strength, hope, patience and healing. There were times I wasn't sure I could cope with this situation but someone would call or send a note of encouragement and I would remember all will be well. Thank you. You have touched all of our lives in ways you may not even realise. My cousin Rick told me a story about sharing my updates with his co-workers and some of their reactions. By sharing this with me he showed me how we have also touched so many other lives. We don't know why this beautiful little boy has had to go through this experience except perhaps to change some of our lives. I know mine is, Denise (my co-worker) has told me how this has changed hers (she did a cancer climb to the top of Half Dome in Yosemite - you go girl!), Schelly's and Camerons too! Attached are Caden approved pictures from some gifts he received from people who have never met him. The one gift is Star Wars action figures (we all know he loves them), one is him holding some new hand made glass beads from a lady in Germany. He is saying "Oh yeah, some more beads!". And the other is him with his strands of Beads of Courage! (You can read about this program at www.beadsofcourage.org if interested) We would appreciate it if you would keep praying for all of us as we are not done yet! Love to all and may God bless you, Cindy"

Caden Update

Since I know that there are several of you who read this BLOG and like to know how Caden is doing, I am posting my mother's most recent update and two pictures. My brave little baby is putting on a brave happy face for the photo, but boy they make me cry. I want so much for this ordeal to be over and for Caden to get back to being only a child and nothing more.

"Good Morning, I'm back in the hospital with Caden and Schelly is out to catch up on her sleep. Caden's schedule has been such that he is not going to sleep until 3 or 4 in the morning and then sleeps very late in the day. This is very difficult on Schelly and me. It leaves us exhausted so we have been doing 2 day rotations. I spoke to the doctor when I got here yesterday and was told the following: Arm biopsy-No inflammationNegative for fungusNo results on the Gram stain, it will be another 1-2 days until they have them.They did see positive diplococci in the vessel (these test were ordered by the Infectious Disease team and the doctor I spoke with did know what this meant. I will find out when that team comes in today or tomorrow.) Lung results - Positive for streph veridan (just a few not significant)Positive for micro coccus (just a few not significant)The doctor is not concerned about these two because he is already getting antibiotics that cover them.We are still waiting on the viral results. Now because of the above results they ordered an echocardiogram of his heart to see if there was any bacterial vegetation around it, it was negative. And, the infectious disease doctors have ordered a respitory PCR (taking a sample of his runny nose to see if positive for a virus). I'm sure it will be negative - it is just being in the hospital that makes it run! Caden has been running a fever between 101 and 103 but continue to take his tylenol. Caden asked me to tell you that he still has hair on the top of his head but it fell out in the back and that his foot hurts but he is getting better. He said he is going to the Ronald McDonald house pretty soon. Well I don't know how soon it will be but I think it is great that he is thinking so positive. Thank you for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. Cindy"

I don't have anything to add other than thank you so much to all of you who pray and send well wishes their way. You are a blessing more than you may ever know.

Update on Caden From Mommy

"Good Morning


I'm here at the hospital with Caden for the beginning of round 5. He was admitted yesterday afternoon and has received 2 doses of chemo so far. It amazes me how calm he is about coming back into the hospital for treatment. However, this round is different as they aren't keeping him hooked to an IV the whole time, only when he gets the chemo. All the other meds are being given orally so he is "free" most of the time. Because his counts are up (ANC 2210) and because he was free, he was able to go with us to the cafeteria last night for dinner. After dinner he thought we were going back to the RMH and was disappointed he had to come back to the room.


Our friend Tom was with us which helped because he interacts well with Caden. In fact they had a pillow fight which got Caden jumping from his bed to a chair, then to my bed while I was trying to make it! So I was "grumpy" and Tom was fun! They did have fun. It's always good to hear Caden laugh and Tom is very good at making both of the boys laugh! They played until he was tired; actually I think they were both tired, when Tom said it was time for them to leave. The shocker was that Caden gave both Tom and Sandy hugs goodnight (not fair since I have to beg for my hugs!) and settled right down for an early night. His temp has been good so far, it is a little elevated (99.7) but not to a point where they consider it a fever. He ate good before and during his first dose of chemo but hasn't wanted anything since. Since he's not receiving any IV fluids we have to make sure he drinks lots of liquids. He was doing good but the nausea hit early this morning (4 AM) and he is afraid to drink. We are still working on his anti-nausea meds.

He will receive 2 more doses of IV chemo this stay, getting the last dose Monday at 2 AM. Then somewhere between 8 AM and 4 PM he will receive a shot of chemo in his leg and will be sent back to the RMH for a week. He will receive the last of his chemo, a repeat of this weekend, next week. The shot is a long lasting drug and it could take up to 3 days for any allergic reactions to show up. If he has a reaction we are to bring him to the ER for a shot of Benedryl. The doctor told me if he complains of anything out of the ordinary to bring him in, don't wait. We will be watching him closely! Of course if he spikes a fever he will not be leaving the hospital at all until treatment is completed and his counts are back up! Schelly is in isolation at the RMH because she has a bad cold again. Thank God Ann is here to help us! At least I won't have to run back and forth to prepare meals and get Cameron. I will check with the doctors to make sure that if Caden is discharged on Monday he can be around Schelly.

Prayers are always needed. Specific prayer for good health for all of us who are here taking care of Caden, no fevers, no more throwing up, Cadens cooperation in taking his oral meds and a good appetite. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. Cindy


PS: I've attched a picture of him sleeping so you can see his new hair, eyebrows and eyelashes. I had to capture it while he was sleeping because when he is up he is in perpetual motion! :-)"