Day 1 at home. Tim came home today, after 3PM. He was greeted by a 10 foot long banner on his garage door saying, "Welcome Home, Tim!" made by his neighbors. The neighborhood boys wasted little time in going over to visit him. It is so wonderful to have him home. Tim is still not able to hold down his food. We pray that he could keep some food down and beef up his body in preparation for chemo. Chemo and radiation will begin on Monday, June 26th. He will receive chemo once a week and radiation five times a week, Monday through Friday. This will be the routine for 6 1/2 weeks. After that, Tim will get one month off. More chemotherapy and radiation will follow. (C.L.)
Thursday, June 22, 2000
Day 2 at home. Tim went out to get his hair cut, today. He also went to Hoag for an appointment with the radiologist. It was mostly a consultation to discuss treatment and to talk to Tim. Tim will get his radiation at Hoag, while his chemo will come from CHOC.
Monday, June 26th, is Timothy's first chemo treatment. Thiry minutes is all it may take. The treatment is scheduled to be done as an outpatient procedure. Hopefully, there won't be a need to admit him. Friday, June 30, will be Tim's first radiation treatment, a half hour appointment.
Please pray for courage for Timothy. This may be part of his stomach problems. Also, please pray for Timothy's mom. As everyone well knows, it is always hardest on the mom. (C.L.)
Friday, June 23, 2000
Day 3 at home. Tim still is not able to hold down his food. His parents are watching him for dehydration. Would then need to go into CHOC for fluids intravenously. (C.L.)
Sunday, June 25, 2000
Day 5 at home. A nurse came to Tim's home today to hook him up to an I.V. He is receiving fluids and anti-nausea medicine. The anti-nausea medicine is more effective when given to Tim intravenously, he vomits less. The vomiting is still a problem. Tomorrow will be a big day. Tim will be receiving his first chemo treatment at 10 AM. (C.L.)
Monday, June 26, 2000, 3:00
Day 6 at home. Timothy had his first chemotherapy treatment, today. Afterward, he went out to lunch. Tim said that the treatment wasn't too bad. As soon as he got home, he started playing a game with his friend Robbie. Tim was laughing, smiling, and having fun. A nurse will come to the house today to hook Tim up to an I.V. for some fluids and anti-nausea medication. Vomiting is still occurring. (C.L.)
Tuesday, June 27, 2000
Day 7 at home. There is a visable difference in Timothy's strength. When he first got home from the hospital, he would ask for help to sit up. Now, Tim can stand and walk quite a bit. Tomorrow, he will be going to Hoag Hospital to meet with radiology at 10 AM. The appointment will be 1 1/2 hours to "map out" what they will be doing during his radiation treatments. Tim will have to go into the machines, but no radiation will be given. His first radiation treatment will be Friday, June 30. It is scheduled to take 30 minutes. (C.L.)
Wednesday, June 28, 2000
Day 8 at home. Tim went to his appointment at Hoag Hospital, in Newport Beach, today. For 45 minutes of it, he was secured belly down on a table as they took measurements and recorded settings. Afterwards, he said his appointment wasn't as bad as he thought it was going to be. (I am glad kids are so flexible.) In the evening, Timothy went out for a "walk." Little brother Trenton lead the way, riding his bike, while friend Robbie held on to Tim's dog, and I pushed Tim in his wheel chair. We went around the school and park. Timothy was talking to me and telling me things during the whole walk. When you see Tim, he does look a little different. A 9 year old boy losing 11 pounds does make for a noticable weight lose. Hopefully, he will gain some of that weight back, soon. Reducing the number of times he throws up a day would go a long way toward this. (C.L.)
Thursday, June 29, 2000
A physical therapist came to Tim's home to work with him, today. This was Tim's second physical therapy session. Tim was throwing up a lot this morning. He wasn't eating much, either, because of a lack of appetite. (Was he throwing up because he wasn't eating or was he not eating because he was throwing up so much? Which came first, the chicken or the egg?) Tim is trying a couple different things to see if he can cut down on the number of times he throws up a day. First, Tim is taking double the dose of his anti-nausea medicine. Second, he is drinking a poi and ice cream mixture. (Some people believe that the Hawaiian food poi settled their stomach. They claim that if they ate poi with each meal they would not throw up.) Hopefully, something will work to help Tim hold his food down. Tomorrow will be a big day for Tim. He will be receiving his first radiation treatment.
Friday, June 30, 2000
Timothy did not have radiation, today. They still needed to take more measurements. It will be Monday. Poi may be magic. He holds food down after he drinks poi. The thing is to get him to drink it. (Lack of appetite.) The Poi Company has been SO wonderful. They want to send Tim more poi, free of charge. Please let them know how much their kindness is appreciated. www.thepoicompany.com
Dear Readers, I will be transitioning out as webmaster. It has been a pleasure to write for you. Tim is so lucky to know so many caring people. You will LOVE the new webmaster, Tim's mom will be writing to us. It will be wonderful to read the things that only his mother can write. Yours Truly, Carol L.