Sunday, August 26, 2012

Wow, the end of August.  Crazy!
Today marks 7 years that my sweet Tyler passed away.  He was a former kindergarten student that died of a terrible inoperative brain tumor.  He is missed each and every day.

Last Wednesday we spent the day in the city at Cornell Eye Institute to try to get to the bottom of Cody's drooping eye issue.  After a 4 hour visit with a very good neuro-opthamologist, we still have no clear answers.  It could be this and it could be that.  After more blood tests and another visit in the next 4 months, maybe we will get some answers.  No worries, just yet.

We had dinner Thursday night with a friend of mine, Moira.  She is the one that takes our dogs and we have become even better friends now.  Unfortunately her sweet niece, Meghan was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer.  She had it removed but will be starting chemo soon. She and her mom came to dinner too and we talked a little about the medical issues and tried to ease some of her fear of chemo. It is not easy.  There is no way around it and it is scary.  I wish she and Cody would become better friends and hang but we can't force that at this age.  I pray for her and wish her luck in the upcoming months.  She is lucky to have her Aunt (and godmother) Moira.

Here's to the last week of summer 2012.  I hope it is a good one for all of us.  Enjoy the long weekend. Stay safe...xoxoxo

August 12, 2012

Well, Cody has been doing awesome!  He traveled most of the past few weeks.  He went to Canada to see his dad then went to TX for his cousin's wedding.  Then he came home and we flew to FL for a 10 day visit with my family. It was perfect!  Casey and Nicole met us there for a few days and we were so glad to see Casey after his stay overseas.  He looks good. He and Nicole bought a house so they had to go back to close on it.  I am so proud of him.  We stayed with Uncle Roy and Aunt Veronica and cousins, Christian and Alex.  Roy did a pig roast for us one night and we had a lot of fun.  We did the beach, snorkeling in the inlet, jet skiing on Hutchison Island and of course Grandpa and Grandma's 30th anniversary party.  It was a nice time and good to see my stepbrother and his little girl.  I also saw my nephew, PJ and met his wife and kids.   We had many dinners out and went to a little water park too.  It was a great vacation.  We spent the last day having lunch with my aunt and uncle and cousin and met their new baby.  It was a lot of family time but we also got to enjoy ourselves too.  We paid a special visit to the Botolino family.  I have been corresponding with Donna after my dad read me an article about them.  Their little Denali passed away in June from a long battle of pancreatic cancer.  It was nice to finally meet them and to pay our respects to the family.
On a lighter note, I also got to spend some time with good friends, Tracy and Gregg and also one of my cousins.  We had a great night at a Tiki Bar on the Inlet and laughed about old memories.  Good times.

I almost have Cody convinced to move back with me one day.  He has 3 conditions, he wants a surf board, a wave runner and college if he is not finished when we move.  We have a good deal here with college so will consider it once he is finished.  I really miss it and think I would like to move back one day.  I am actually kinda torn but think it is just an easier way of life.  Hey, my LI family would always have a place to stay!!

July 12, 2012

We had our visit to Sloan today.  Cody was anxious about it last night but today was prefect.  He did all of his tests, pulmonary, echo and EKG and then it was off to see the neuro team.  This is when I get nervous and our concern is his droopy eyelids.  He has always had the left one drooping but now the right one is and especially when he is tired.  The neurologist wants him to go to a neuro opthamologist to rule out a few things.  Then we can proceed from there.  Nothing seems serious, just concerning.  SO good news, more immunizations, his weight is up and it was good to see some of the doctors and nurses that we have not seen in a long while.  The head of the team was so happy to see Cody.  Everyone hugs him too which brings me to tears, happy tears though.  It brings it all back when you hear the head of the team say 'you really scared us kid'.  I will never forget what we went through but it is scary when you hear from the professionals how sick he really was.  It was a long day but a good one.
We stopped off on the patient side of M9 to see Meghan and her mom.  Meghan is the niece of my friend, Moira who takes care of our dogs when we could not, when Cody was inpatient.  Unfortunately her sweet 21 year old niece has a very rare bone cancer and just had her knee and thigh bone replaced last week.  Prayers go out to them as they await pathology results tomorrow and hope that the cancer was contained to what they removed. She has some of our old nurses and we got to see Nurse Liz today!  Meghan has her!!
It is an uneasy feeling to be back and causes me to reflect on all this. It is so sad and unfortunate and unfair when you see a child with cancer.  While we were talking in the hall, the stretcher comes out of a patient's room with the mom lying on it, with her child glued to her body and they wheel them down for some procedure.  VERY sad and hard to see.  No one should have to go through this.
I pray for  Cody tonight and that his great news continues.  I pray for Meghan tonight so that she may go home tomorrow and for all good reports.  For all others with this terrible disease, I pray.

June 26, 2012

So here it is summer, 2012.  Things are good, nice and quiet.  Let's hope it stays that way.
I was sitting here tonight looking back on the blog from 3 years ago.  Cody's friend, Lauren needed some info for a paper she is writing so I was looking back at my notes.  It brings me to tears to see what all we went through.  It brings it all back to reality.  Cody has still not read this but when he is ready, he will.  Some day...It makes me look at how far he has come too.  It is truly amazing.  He is amazing.  I wish I had half of his strength.  I continue to pray for his good health and for safety for Casey.  He is still overseas but due home soon.  Life goes on and on.  I just hope and pray we stay on this path...prayers to all.  God Bless.

June 9, 2012

Today Cody worked for the Islanders.  Well, he did his intern job.  He had a long day and was craving KFC wings.  So he was eating and he says to me, "I am loving life right now!"  It brought a tear to my eye.  He feels good, looks good and is relaxing this summer.  He has his first year of college under his belt.  He has his feeding tube out and gets to swim in the ocean now.  He has his car, his dogs and his family.  I guess he is right.
I feel kinda guilty writing all this goodness when I know a few out there not so great.  I pray for Denali, the little boy in FL that is suffering from pancreatic cancer at age 11 now.  He is really not doing well and the family was told a few weeks ago that his days are limited.  I pray for peace for him and strength for his family.
I pray for Meghan.  She is my friend's niece and she is 21 and just found out a week ago that she has some kind of bone cancer.  I visited her with my friend on Thursday to see if I could offer any help or answer any questions that I could.  They are at MSKCC too so I know they are in good hands.  Hopefully it will be over in a year and she can get on with her life.  It is all so unfair and I question it every day.
So add my friends to your prayers and keep Cody and Casey (still overseas) in yours too.  Thank you.

June 4, 2012

Happy Re-birthday!! 3 years ago today Cody received his stem cells. We are very grateful for the donor. Amazing!! I continue to pray each day and am thankful for each day we have. Stay strong, my boy! I love you!!

June 3, 2012 ...3 years ago

Three years ago tomorrow was a huge step in Cody's battle with leukemia.  It was three years ago that he received his stem cell transplant.  Time sure flies.  We went to dinner tonight and talked about the process.  Just last week he had something that was a muscle strain but caused him a lot of scare. This is our life.  When something out of the ordinary occurs, we think the worse. It is something we will live with and Cody mentioned it tonight at dinner.  He is doing well, the feeding tube is gone.  He is doing his best to eat and gain the weight he needs to.  He wakes up with a smile on his face and he is so upbeat and happy with life!  He continues to amaze me each day.  We have an amazing relationship and I will not trade that for anything.  We woke up around 1am last night and did a quick video chat with Casey.  We were both so tired but so proud of his promotion!  He is a sergeant now!!!  Another strong soul but in a totally different way.  I could be happier!
Sending special prayers to a good friend's niece as she begins her battle with bone cancer.  She is at Sloan and will be under the best care.  Please add Meghan to your prayers.  Thank you.