Hey everybody. This is Jace. My mom is typing for me. Thanks for sending me notes. Thanks for all of the blessings. I love you guys.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Surgery Went Well
Jace is resting peacefully in our room. Both doctors said things went well. In the recovery room Jace was very sleepy, but calm. He complained briefly on his way back to our room about his "side" hurting. The "port" looks painful, so I'm sure that's what he was talking about. I'm including a picture of the place of entry in his neck, and then the port itself which sits on his left ribs. Running a finger from the orignal entry down to the port you can feel the tube just under his skin. Wonder how that's gonna work with Flag Football... Just kidding. Maybe this season he 
gets to be the water boy. Hey! Did anyone catch that bit of optimism I just displayed without even trying?
gets to be the water boy. Hey! Did anyone catch that bit of optimism I just displayed without even trying? My long time friend and cancer survivor Travis Mitchell told me this on my Facebook a little while ago: "A young cancer patient once told me that I must be special because God only gave that kind of hardship to those who would be able to bear it. Jace is certainly a very special young man." Thanks Travis, I agree.
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
A.L.L- I guess it's the good one...if it can be called good. The nurse told us if we have to have a cancer, this is the one to have. The official results from the blood came back, and it is A.L.L. Right now we are waiting for the operating room. Three procedures will be performed: Central Line Port Implanted, Bone Marrow Aspirate and Biopsy, and Lumbar Puncture. Tomorrow we will start Chemo.
Jace is sad and sick. His head hurts, and he is hungry. Because of the coming surgery he hasn't had anything to eat or drink since midnight. We are trying to talk the nurse into a Tylenol. There is an X-Box here in his hospital room, but his head hurts too much to play. I'm so sad.
On that note, I am loving the texts and calls...but I have to tell you all that Matt and I are a mess. We keep saying that we are finished crying and that we are going to be strong for Jace, but then we talk to one more person. PLEASE don't be offended if I don't pick up my phone. I can't talk or I cry. I just need a few hours or days. I love you all, and I am so grateful for your prayers. We do feel them.
Central Line
The surgeon just came and explained that they need to put in a "Central Line" for Jace to receive chemo. They will imbed a permanent tube in his vein on his neck so all treatments can be given there. We've also received word that Jace will receive a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) to see if the cancer has reached his brain, and a bone marrow Aspirate and Biopsy to determine which type of leukemia Jace actually has. Hopefully all of this can be done under anesthesia. The doctor has not been in yet this morning. 
We were told it will be around 9 before we see the attending doc.
We were told it will be around 9 before we see the attending doc.Jace did receive a blood transfusion in the night. He is receiving the last of the blood now. He's sleeping peacefully, and Matt and I are just watching him. When the resident doctor explained the risks of the transfusion and asked if we wanted to go ahead with the procedure, Matt and I were both choked up. We couldn't answer. After a minute of silence, I asked her if she has kids. I wanted to know if she would do it for her own child. She said absolutely. We then agreed.
Primary Children's Hospital
We are checked in, and it's not just a giant nightmare. It's almost 2 AM and they just came in after looking at the latest blood draw and said Jace needs more blood. His red blood cells aren't carrying enough oxygen to his major organs, and his heartrate is too high.
They just took more blood, and they should have a positive match within a couple of hours. Hayden went with Randal and Joan to Megan's.
Jace is being such a sweetheart; when he saw my dripping tears while I listened to the doctor, he started rubbing my back. I was sleeping with him in his hospital bed, and Matt was sleeping on a chair that folds out right next to the bed. We have changed places now, because I can't sleep...so I'm typing.
The bloodwork tonight should tell us if Jace's Leukemia is AML or ALL. This means nothing to me now, but with the help of this internet I should be educated by morning.
If you are reading this, please pray for Jace. Whatever form of positive faith and energy you can send our way will not go unrecognized. We love you.
They just took more blood, and they should have a positive match within a couple of hours. Hayden went with Randal and Joan to Megan's.
Jace is being such a sweetheart; when he saw my dripping tears while I listened to the doctor, he started rubbing my back. I was sleeping with him in his hospital bed, and Matt was sleeping on a chair that folds out right next to the bed. We have changed places now, because I can't sleep...so I'm typing.
The bloodwork tonight should tell us if Jace's Leukemia is AML or ALL. This means nothing to me now, but with the help of this internet I should be educated by morning.
If you are reading this, please pray for Jace. Whatever form of positive faith and energy you can send our way will not go unrecognized. We love you.
Leukemia
Monday, Jace awoke with a fever. We were in the mountains camping, so I thought maybe he was just worn out. He’s also cutting a tooth so, I thought it wasn’t a big deal. We gave him Ibuprofen and he acted great. That night when we returned home, he was too tired to help unpack. I even gave him the fun job of washing the four-wheeler, and I found him sitting on the side of it, leaning against the seat.
Tuesday morning he acted great, so I sent him to school. That afternoon when he returned home, he had a fever again. Ibuprofen again. No big deal. Normal when you are getting teeth.
Wednesday morning I had an early morning meeting. Mom came over and fed the kids and put them on the bus. I called her at 8:30, and she said, “Jace didn’t look very well…you better check on him.” I drove to the school and picked him up. On the way to the doctor, I looked over and realized he was very pale. They checked for the flu and took blood. No flu- no infection. But, “The Red Blood Cells are too low.” They told us to go home: they would run more tests and call us. At 4 PM they called and said it was Mononucleosis. “Make sure he gets plenty of rest and fluids.”
Thursday morning, the doctor called. He said, “I’m worried about that little guy. Let’s check his blood again and see what it’s doing this morning.” The results were the same as the day before. Apparently there were two tests that had been sent to a Boise lab, but we wouldn’t get results until Friday. Matt took the day off, and I went to work. Matt and Jace rented movies and Wii games and had a good boys’ day home. Jace was pretty mellow with a raging fever though. Tylenol and Motrin didn’t touch it.
Friday morning (9-11-09) Matt went to work, and I stayed home with Jace. Around 10 he decided he wanted to bath. Normally he spends an hour in the bath if I let him, and after three songs on his Primary CD, he was ready to get out. He was shaky and he had to sit down, wrapped in his blanket, on the toilet. He said, I’m so dizzy mom. I helped him comb his hair and brush his teeth, and I had to carry him back to the couch. He said he heard a hissing in his ears. He even said, “I don’t want to die, mom.” Kneeling in front of him I assured him he wasn’t going to die.
Friday afternoon Matt came home for lunch to check on things. While he was there, I called the doctor again. Dr. Speakman said, “I’m just looking at his file right now. I think you better bring him in again.” When we arrived they drew more blood. They also did a chest x-ray and a urine test. Both looked fine. We also learned that while we were on our way to the office, the pathologist from the Boise lab called and was concerned. He said the red and white blood cells were too low, and the platelets were also abnormal. This alarmed Dr. Speakman, and he referred us to Dr. Hancock, an Oncologist in Rexburg. Dr. Hancock was off for the afternoon and still asked if we could come in. We met him at his closed office at 3:15 PM.
“Ratios bad…proportions aren’t right…virus causes one to be out of whack…leukemia causes all to be low…Primary Childrens …calling to see if they have a bed…get him on an IV tonight..draw blood to see if you can transport him...Jace has Leukemia.”
4:30 PM we go home… to Randal, Hayden, Wayne, Vicki, Emily B, Laura, Dayton, Carson, Skyelar, Daisy, and Gabriella. After hugging my dad, I went straight to the shower so I could cry. Matt went outside to talk to Randal and Wayne. Vicki, Em, and Laura packed our bags. Matt, Randal, and Wayne gave Jace a blessing, and we were out the door.
We are driving now. It is 8:03 PM. Matt and I take turns crying. Everyone is calling. Hayden has a scared look in his eyes, and Jace is finally asleep. He’s had blood drawn 5 times in the last 60 hours. He cried worse every time. The last time at 4:15, Matt and I were both crying with him.
Tuesday morning he acted great, so I sent him to school. That afternoon when he returned home, he had a fever again. Ibuprofen again. No big deal. Normal when you are getting teeth.
Wednesday morning I had an early morning meeting. Mom came over and fed the kids and put them on the bus. I called her at 8:30, and she said, “Jace didn’t look very well…you better check on him.” I drove to the school and picked him up. On the way to the doctor, I looked over and realized he was very pale. They checked for the flu and took blood. No flu- no infection. But, “The Red Blood Cells are too low.” They told us to go home: they would run more tests and call us. At 4 PM they called and said it was Mononucleosis. “Make sure he gets plenty of rest and fluids.”
Thursday morning, the doctor called. He said, “I’m worried about that little guy. Let’s check his blood again and see what it’s doing this morning.” The results were the same as the day before. Apparently there were two tests that had been sent to a Boise lab, but we wouldn’t get results until Friday. Matt took the day off, and I went to work. Matt and Jace rented movies and Wii games and had a good boys’ day home. Jace was pretty mellow with a raging fever though. Tylenol and Motrin didn’t touch it.
Friday morning (9-11-09) Matt went to work, and I stayed home with Jace. Around 10 he decided he wanted to bath. Normally he spends an hour in the bath if I let him, and after three songs on his Primary CD, he was ready to get out. He was shaky and he had to sit down, wrapped in his blanket, on the toilet. He said, I’m so dizzy mom. I helped him comb his hair and brush his teeth, and I had to carry him back to the couch. He said he heard a hissing in his ears. He even said, “I don’t want to die, mom.” Kneeling in front of him I assured him he wasn’t going to die.
Friday afternoon Matt came home for lunch to check on things. While he was there, I called the doctor again. Dr. Speakman said, “I’m just looking at his file right now. I think you better bring him in again.” When we arrived they drew more blood. They also did a chest x-ray and a urine test. Both looked fine. We also learned that while we were on our way to the office, the pathologist from the Boise lab called and was concerned. He said the red and white blood cells were too low, and the platelets were also abnormal. This alarmed Dr. Speakman, and he referred us to Dr. Hancock, an Oncologist in Rexburg. Dr. Hancock was off for the afternoon and still asked if we could come in. We met him at his closed office at 3:15 PM.
“Ratios bad…proportions aren’t right…virus causes one to be out of whack…leukemia causes all to be low…Primary Childrens …calling to see if they have a bed…get him on an IV tonight..draw blood to see if you can transport him...Jace has Leukemia.”
4:30 PM we go home… to Randal, Hayden, Wayne, Vicki, Emily B, Laura, Dayton, Carson, Skyelar, Daisy, and Gabriella. After hugging my dad, I went straight to the shower so I could cry. Matt went outside to talk to Randal and Wayne. Vicki, Em, and Laura packed our bags. Matt, Randal, and Wayne gave Jace a blessing, and we were out the door.
We are driving now. It is 8:03 PM. Matt and I take turns crying. Everyone is calling. Hayden has a scared look in his eyes, and Jace is finally asleep. He’s had blood drawn 5 times in the last 60 hours. He cried worse every time. The last time at 4:15, Matt and I were both crying with him.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
