Friday, June 27, 2014

Cycle 13 (of 14) is complete and it is the last day of school.  The end of a long week too.
Cody had an ok week.  I think he was bored and he is just glad to be home with his dogs!  Thanks to Moira for taking good care of them….again.  Thanks to all that checked on Cody and asked about him. We are so blessed that way.
Bittersweet at work.  With the buildings closing and teachers and kids leaving, we all shed a few tears.  We said goodbye to a special teacher, Sue Kleiner.  I know she will be enjoying her retirement with her family!  Congrats!
Looking forward to a relaxing summer.  It will be filled with lots of stays in the city once the new drugs start, the maintenance phase.  Hopefully Cody handles that as well as he handled every other drug pumped into him.  It will be nice to chill a little and I will def do my best to do that.  I  got a special gift from two sweet and very special colleagues today so I am looking forward to that massage!  Thank you!!!  I work with the best!!
So to my teacher peeps, R-E-L-A-X!!  We all need it!!  Love you all!!!XOXOXOX

June 24, 2013

Tuesday,
I have the dates wrong and am trying to figure out how to edit it.

Today marks one year of receiving that dreaded news of cancer…again.
We met a team of doctors to hear those words .."you have cancer"…again,
We listened to the treatment plan and risks and side effect of the chemo…again.
I could go on and on but you all know the deal.  It is sad and so unfair.

Cody is getting treatment and I am glad it is available.  I will see him tomorrow.  Tough ending to the school year with commuting from NYC, three times on Friday, but we can do this.

He is my inspiration.

Tuesday, June 23, 2014

SO chemo cycle 13 is underway.  It started yesterday and so far, so good.  I hate not being there but will do the next few overnights.  The commute to work is tough but I get to be with Cody and take care of him.  It is the last few days of school so I can do this.  I will go tomorrow after work.
Keep going strong, Cody.  So many are praying for you.  Just yesterday, I saw Coach Mayo at my union meeting.  He is going to be a rep too. He asked all about you and said so many are reading this blog and they keep up.  He and TC want to see you this summer so we will work on that.  He is a great  guy.  Thanks for thinking of us, Coach.  We will see you even if we take a ride to Long Beach for lucn one day.
3 more wake ups, SH!  We can do this!

June 22, 2014

So USA and Portugal tied!  Cody got to see some of his friends from high school which makes me smile.  I am glad they are all still there for him.  Thank you, Amy Sekular for housing the friends!
Dana Carvey was fun! He is sure is talented!  Thanks again, Scauso Family for the tix!
Tomorrow Cody goes in for blood work and then hopefully begins cycle 13.  He has one more after this for these meds.  Then we switch to maintenance.  He will take the car service in and meet his dad and then I will take over on Wednesday.  Long week.  And last week of school! Yay, SH Peeps!

June 21, 2014

Happy Birthday to my stepmom!!
It was a quiet and very busy week.  There was no bloodwork so that was nice.  Cody came to work for a little while on Thursday.  He enjoys the kids and used to be able to visit more often.  Everyone is always so happy to see him.  It's hard for me to hold back tears.  My school is amazing and the support is out of this world!!  It was a good week!
He got to race his remote control car last night and had a great time.  I chilled at home.  I like doing that too from time to time.
We are going to be with Corinne's family today at her pool so that will be fun.  Glad Cody can be well and enjoy it.  Then tonight we are going to see Dana Carvey!  I keep in touch with kids and families that I taught on Facebook and we are always trying to get together.  Well, the Scauso's can't use their tix so they offered them to us!  I have been wanting to get Cody to a comedy club so this will be a perfect start!  Thank you, Janlyn for thinking of us!!
Hope everyone enjoys the weekend!!  XOXOXO

June 16, 2014

Scans are good..need I say more?

(Chemo is delayed due to low platelets.  Not low enough to warrant a transfusion but too low to start chemo.)  (And he won about $300 in a Canadian poker tournament this weekend.  He came in 4th! )

June 15, 2014

Happy Father's Day to all those out there but especially to my dad.  He has been and continues to be my rock.  When Cody beats up on me, I beat up on him.  He never argues, raises his voices or reprimands me.  He just listens and tells me what a good job I am doing, even when it is so hard.  I am lucky he is here (well, in Florida) with me.  Today my son, Casey and his wife are passing through so they will take him to lunch.  That makes me smile.  Cody is not here, he went to be with his dad for Father's Day.  Oh how I miss him.
We have no results yet and I am thinking we will get them this week, hopefully tomorrow.  I will have to do a conference call again since I will be at work.  I will update when I know something.
Have a great day everyone!

June 12, 2014

12 hour day today that started at 5:00 am.  Cody had a PET scan, CT scan, EKG and an MRI today in addition to his bloodwork. We did not get lunch until around 3:00.  We did not get any results today which leaves me a mess, to say the least.  Cody's dr usually does a preliminary but he was not here today.  ERGGHHH!  Cody is going to Canada in the morning and returning Monday morning in time for his chemo week-not my choice at all but what can I say.  I will try to keep myself busy so the time goes by quicker.  I will go in on Tuesday to bring him more clothes so I will be counting the time until then.  As much as the stress gets to me at times,  I miss him when he is not here.
Tomorrow is kindergarten moving up day.  The kids are so excited and cannot figure out how that is not the last day of school.  Then it is off the Ronald McDonald house in New Hyde Park.  Allison Saber from my school along with her brother and friends from the Grill Scouts, I think they are formerly called, to cook and prepare a meal for the families that are staying there while their kiddies get treatment.  It is a feel good moment and I thank her for doing it.  She is a really giving person.
Looking forward to a quiet weekend.
Good night!!

June 11, 2014

So we went to the Portugal/Ireland game last night.  Cody loved it!  I liked the photo but he didn't.  Shh, don't tell him I put it here.  He does not read this.
Sooooo, tomorrow is scans day.  I hate this.  It is a vicious cycle for sure.  We are both anxious and will need lots of prayers.  Not sure if we will see the dr after.  If he is around, we will see him.  If not, I guess we will get a call.  I will update when I know something.  Thank you in advance…xoxox

June 10, 2014

Cody took the train yesterday and went to Sloan.  On Friday the NP said there was a 99.9% chance he would need platelets….well, he did not.  That is my Cody.  He continues to surprise and challenge us each day, even in small instances.  The other night, Saturday, he bowled 3 games.  That was after a blood and platelet transfusion on Friday.  He will not let this cancer stop him. We had a long discussion.  He is planning to visit his dad on Friday and come home Sunday.  That is in Canada.  While I do not want him to go, I know he needs to do this.  We have made a doctor contact in the event of an emergency.  He will begin chemo on Monday.  It is a rough protocol.  The maintenance scares me.  Not sure when he will start that.  We will do scans on Thursday and go from there.
Tonight we are going to the Portugal/Ireland soccer game which he is VERY excited about.  He claims his Portuguese heritage (from me, of course) and loves soccer so it is a win-win for him! Thank goodness tomorrow is Field Day and I do not need my brain too much.
Special prayers for two good friends at work.  One is having a mass for her son that passed away one week ago.  So sad.  The other needs prayers for her husband as he had a scare yesterday and needs some tests.  It will all be ok.  I believe that.
Have a good day my friends…hug your kiddies..xoxoxox

June 6, 2104

Friday-Blood work was done and in 30 minutes we found out Cody needed platelets badly and then once at Sloan he got blood also.  I am glad about the blood as his color was off.  He went to be early last night so I was thinking he needed it.  And he did.  We discussed the maintenance with his nurse practitioner and I am scared.  It is another 12 week cycle with 10 days of chemo.  The first time he does this they want him there the 10 days to see how his body handles the drugs.  One drug makes you very nauseous and the other causes explosive diarrhea.  I am already worried.  Not sure when this will start as he just finished cycle 12 of 14 and then he has scans on Thursday.  I think a lot depends on the scans.  He needs to go in Monday for a blood check and most likely platelets since he was incredibly low today.  I thought a lot today and the cancer epidemic  is really sickening to me.  I saw some very sick children today.  It breaks my heart.  I will pray harder tonight for the children I saw today.  I will pray harder for Cody because he will continue on this tough road.  It has been 5 and a half years.  This is now a full year of chemo that he has been going through and he has more.  I am rambling on now but just scared and very worried for my son.

June 4, 2014

Happy Re-birthday to the strongest and sweetest kid I know.  I know you are 21 but you are still a kid to me, actually still my baby!  You amaze me beyond words, Cody.  You always find a way to move ahead and you never let cancer hold you back.  On the few times it does, you are angry.  I do not know how you do it.  You are amazing and truly a hero to me and to many others, I am quite sure.  Carry on and fight on!  You got this!!  Love you more!!  Mom

 This was the time he was first diagnosed at 15.

This was just after we found out about the Ewing's.  One year ago June 24

This is Cody's 16th birthday with my dad.

June 3, 2104

Cody got his blood work this morning and did not need anything.  All counts were acceptable and he is not neutropenic.  Way to go..
The day at work did not start off so well.  My school is amazing and we are all very close.  So when tragedy strikes, as it did today, we all came together to offer support to each other.  It is really a special place.  A co worker received some devastating news today and we are all shattered.  Hug your children a little tighter tonight.  My prayers and thoughts are with this family through this tough time today and strength to get through this each day.
Tomorrow marks 5 years since Cody's transplant.  It is hard to believe that 5 years have gone by.  Cody is doing so well with that and with this new challenge.  I pray for his continued strength and courage to get through this.  He has scans on the 12th.  Lots of prayers needed.
Good night all.

June 1, 2014

Quiet day.  The fluid pump's battery died sometime during the night.  So that meant fluids all day.  We decided we would do dinner out.  At the last minute, Jean and Mike went with us.  It was nice.  I did a lot of things here today and am tired.  It was a good Sunday.  Bloodwork on Tuesday.  Wish us luck.