Why we love Adam's friend Antonio:
(over heard at Pizza Perfect on Adam's birthday)
Adam: 'I'm bald.'
Antonio: 'So.'
Yesterday was Adam's weekly chemo office visit. Normally this only takes about 30 minutes. This time because Dr. Kuttesch was out, his partner, Dr. Collier was seeing all the patients. Adam and Martha were at the Center from about 10am to 1pm. But the wait was worth it as Dr. Collier is a bit more communicative and willing to speculate a little. (This is not a critique of Dr. K. He is one of the best in his field and we feel very fortunate to have him as Adam's doctor.) Martha asked if it was possible that once the inpatient chemo treatments are complete will Adam generally be feeling better. He seems to gradually do well a few days past these treatments so the question was certainly sensible. Dr. Collier, like Dr. K, emphasized that all patients are different so virtually nothing can be predicted with certainty. But unlike Dr. K, Collier was willing to say that it was possible and that other patients with Adam's profile had generally done better once of the 'ditoxan' regimen, which is the 'bad' chemo medicine Adam gets when he goes inpt, was complete. Adam has had two ditoxan treatments; he has two more coming.
Martha also found out more about Camp Horizon. I had heard about it a little from Gilda's Club. This is a camp for kids who have or have had cancer. Adam can not miss any of his chemo appointments but this camp is happening during Adam's chemo holiday in June. We are signing him up. It's a 'spend the night' camp and is for one week. We had to cancel Adam's YMCA camp and Camp Beckwith sessions due to his treatment. Adam has always loved camp, whether day or over night, so we are taking advantage of this free service provided by the American Cancer Society. The camp is located in Kingston Springs, Tn. I remember being so shocked at the first appointment with Kuttesch and almost sick to my stomach when Cindy the social worker told us that there were special camps available for children with cancer. 'That's not for my kid' is what I was thinking. What a difference 6 weeks can make. Now we think it's a great idea. Adam will love it. Heck, maybe he will be a counselor there in a few years.
I have blasted chemo treatment before. It looks and feels like torture sometimes, especially when my son is crying 'I just want to go home', as he holds his stomach in pain. One of my sister's oldest and best friends, Laura, who grew up across the street from us in Atlanta, sent us a lovely and pertinent note attached to a jar of delicious cookies for Adam. Laura is a cancer survivor. She is three years out from completing her own chemo and is cancer free. Two more years and I guess she will be considered 'in remission.' Laura's note was very supportive, hopeful and uplifting. She says "you must see chemo as your friend....where would we be without it?" Well that cuts through all my own self pity. She also says this may be hard for a 1o year old to understand but maybe it will help you. Well, it does. Chemo is part of Adam's treatment. The treatment he is getting is going to save his life. The treatment he is getting is the best, the most advanced, form of treatment available for the type of cancer he has. And just as I or Martha had to hold Adam when he got his shots as a baby, we will have to hold Adam when he is in pain from this life saving chemo. And thank God that we have this treatment.
We also received a note from our old Jesuit Volunteer Corp friend Dennis. Dennis is an actual Buddhist. He ain't just reading about it, he has been living it since the early 90s. I am not sure if Dennis has email or even a computer. He said he had heard through the JVC grapevine about Adam and was writing us to tell us his concern and to let us know he will be thinking about us and Adam as he prays and meditates. I want to send out a special appreciation to all my old JVC comrades. I know you are praying, meditating and thinking of us and Adam. I know your good wishes and concern count and are paying off. We have a little less than 5 months left, we are in the beginning of this tunnel, but we can see the light.
(over heard at Pizza Perfect on Adam's birthday)
Adam: 'I'm bald.'
Antonio: 'So.'
Yesterday was Adam's weekly chemo office visit. Normally this only takes about 30 minutes. This time because Dr. Kuttesch was out, his partner, Dr. Collier was seeing all the patients. Adam and Martha were at the Center from about 10am to 1pm. But the wait was worth it as Dr. Collier is a bit more communicative and willing to speculate a little. (This is not a critique of Dr. K. He is one of the best in his field and we feel very fortunate to have him as Adam's doctor.) Martha asked if it was possible that once the inpatient chemo treatments are complete will Adam generally be feeling better. He seems to gradually do well a few days past these treatments so the question was certainly sensible. Dr. Collier, like Dr. K, emphasized that all patients are different so virtually nothing can be predicted with certainty. But unlike Dr. K, Collier was willing to say that it was possible and that other patients with Adam's profile had generally done better once of the 'ditoxan' regimen, which is the 'bad' chemo medicine Adam gets when he goes inpt, was complete. Adam has had two ditoxan treatments; he has two more coming.
Martha also found out more about Camp Horizon. I had heard about it a little from Gilda's Club. This is a camp for kids who have or have had cancer. Adam can not miss any of his chemo appointments but this camp is happening during Adam's chemo holiday in June. We are signing him up. It's a 'spend the night' camp and is for one week. We had to cancel Adam's YMCA camp and Camp Beckwith sessions due to his treatment. Adam has always loved camp, whether day or over night, so we are taking advantage of this free service provided by the American Cancer Society. The camp is located in Kingston Springs, Tn. I remember being so shocked at the first appointment with Kuttesch and almost sick to my stomach when Cindy the social worker told us that there were special camps available for children with cancer. 'That's not for my kid' is what I was thinking. What a difference 6 weeks can make. Now we think it's a great idea. Adam will love it. Heck, maybe he will be a counselor there in a few years.
I have blasted chemo treatment before. It looks and feels like torture sometimes, especially when my son is crying 'I just want to go home', as he holds his stomach in pain. One of my sister's oldest and best friends, Laura, who grew up across the street from us in Atlanta, sent us a lovely and pertinent note attached to a jar of delicious cookies for Adam. Laura is a cancer survivor. She is three years out from completing her own chemo and is cancer free. Two more years and I guess she will be considered 'in remission.' Laura's note was very supportive, hopeful and uplifting. She says "you must see chemo as your friend....where would we be without it?" Well that cuts through all my own self pity. She also says this may be hard for a 1o year old to understand but maybe it will help you. Well, it does. Chemo is part of Adam's treatment. The treatment he is getting is going to save his life. The treatment he is getting is the best, the most advanced, form of treatment available for the type of cancer he has. And just as I or Martha had to hold Adam when he got his shots as a baby, we will have to hold Adam when he is in pain from this life saving chemo. And thank God that we have this treatment.
We also received a note from our old Jesuit Volunteer Corp friend Dennis. Dennis is an actual Buddhist. He ain't just reading about it, he has been living it since the early 90s. I am not sure if Dennis has email or even a computer. He said he had heard through the JVC grapevine about Adam and was writing us to tell us his concern and to let us know he will be thinking about us and Adam as he prays and meditates. I want to send out a special appreciation to all my old JVC comrades. I know you are praying, meditating and thinking of us and Adam. I know your good wishes and concern count and are paying off. We have a little less than 5 months left, we are in the beginning of this tunnel, but we can see the light.
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