Friday, July 31, 2009

End of the week...it's good.



I just spoke to Ricky who had just returned from a great trip to the cape for a few days to visit with a favorite Aunt and Uncle. The highpoint was hearing his exploits of extreme amounts and variety of food consumed, I guess he never stopped eating! Oh, he did get some new telephone tags for his collection.

The photo: This was taken last year, at a retreat in Stockbridge, MA by Ricky's Aunt Susan. Amazing natural outdoor lighting!

My guess is he will set a new weight record next week at Dana Farber. He hit 77 lbs last visit, a neew record. He looks good and is presenting no real symptoms from the cancer or the moi-moi. Of course, he does get tired, but is having a great summer, amazing us all everyday with his strength and attitude.

SPECIAL NOTE: This weekend is the Pan Mass Challenge (http://www.pmc.org/), which is the leading fund raiser for Dana Farber. If you have it in you, consider supporting a rider. If you don't know a rider, my friend Jon Siegel from Bolton, MA (ID JS0347) is riding and he is also a cancer survivor thanks to Dana Farber.

Every dollar helps us to further cancer research. We have directly benefited from this research and we have 110% confidence in Ricky's doctors, all of whom do research in addition to patient care. I believe there is no better place for us to be than at Dana Farber.

Thank you all for the prayers and the positive thoughts!

Bill

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Holding his own

Ricky has been doing okay, a bad cold, but otherwise he's still enjoying summer.

He was in RI last weekend, and will be going to the cape for a couple of days this week.

He's up to 77 lbs!

Bill

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

All is okay!

Ricky is still feeling great. No real TIAs in the last couple of weeks, and he hasn't had any other problems except constipation and fatigue. He was in NH with his mom last week and had a great time. Sunday we went whale watching followed by a dinner of fresh bluefin tuna compliments of some friends on the dock who shared some of their catch. He loved it, which isn't surprising since he had sushi the night before along with a ton of Chinese food, the leftovers making for a good "crazy" breakfast Sunday.

Back to DFCI Wednesday for more Avastin, but so far he is amazing us all.

Thanks for the prayers, good thoughts and positive feedback!

Bill

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

We made it!




Ricky and I had a great trip to the White Mountains. He did well at Dana Farber Wednesday, and we arrived at our cabin by late afternoon. He was swimming within an hour in the outdoor pool. While he does tire easily, he swam for hours, hiked, went to Story land, Clark's Trading Post, the Cog Railway and all the places we go each year. He had but two small TIAs when we first arrived, otherwise he has been feeling really good.

He came over for dinner last night and ate sushi, fish sticks and spaghetti, followed by a Popsicle.

Blood test today, but I'm feeling pretty positive his numbers will be okay.

Bill

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

All of a sudden, it's July!

Sorry for the delay in updates, but no news is good news in this case. Ricky has been feeling fine, especially since the red blood cell transfusion. No TIAs, good energy, all things considered, he's doing darn good! His numbers last week were okay, no major issues. His food choices remain the same - crazy breakfast was stuffed jalapeno peppers one morning, pizza and pancakes with sausage another. He's enjoying some time off from school, and the extra sleep has been good for him too.

He and I went to the Summernational car show on the 4th, he walked a good couple of miles up and down some big hills on a real July day- it was hot! We've been going to this each year sine he was six, we missed last year because he got nauseous on the ride there, so it was great to be back again. Very emotional for me.

Wednesday we go to Dana Farber, and hopefully he will be able to get the Avastin as planned, because we are going on our annual white mountains trip directly from there. This will be our third year heading north since he got sick and I had my heart attack. I didn't think we would be able ever go again back in 2007.

I've learned so much on this journey, but above all, I have learned that you always have to have faith. Many of you have inspired me. I humbly thank you for that!
Bill