Wednesday 1/23/02 - Timmy will be able to return to school tomorrow and he is looking forward to this. He continues today and tonight with the IV medication but will switch to pills 4 x a day tomorrow for 3 days. The pills are "horse" size so he is not looking forward to this. Even cut in 1/2 they are pretty big. At least it is only for a few days. We have heard nothing from Endocrinology and at this point I am looking for referrals to a good Pediatric Endocrinologist. Timothy needs to start his hirmon therapy and since this will be a long term relationship, we really do need to have a good line of communication and follow through. Thank you for remembering this in prayer. Love, Ginny.
Wednesday 1/30/02 - We are finding that Endocrinology is a VERY busy field of medicine. We did get a call back from an Endocrinology office that didn't have any appointments available until April, but had a cancellation. We took it. I liked the doctor. She is very thorough. More importantly, Timmy liked her too. She has ordered some testing to be done which we are trying to get set up for this coming Monday. It involves various lab work, exercise, a shot, and more lab work. All can be done through the pick line, except the shot. Timothy is back at school full time. He is eating well and feeling good, other than being exhausted at the end of the day. I know it will take time for his body to recuperate. Thank you for your continued prayer as we make our way through the next phase of his treatment, hormone replacement therapy. Timothy also has a hearing test tomorrow afternoon. Love, Ginny
Saturday 2/2/02 - Timothy had his hearing test last week. It was a good report. Although he has lost a little more "high pitch" hearing, he can hear the decibels of speech perfectly clearly. That is what is most important. Everything is set up for Monday for Timmy to get his hormone testing done. This involves several blood draws, and injection, exercise for 20 min. and more blood draws. We are grateful that things are moving forward. Timothy has been working hard at school this weekend and enjoyed sleeping in until 9:00 this morning. Thank you for your continued prayer. Love, Ginny
Monday 2/4/02 - Timothy had hormone testing done today. As much as he was NOT looking forward to the injection, he agreed that the exercise on the stairs for 20 min. was worse. When I tried to rest (he had to keep going) he said, "Hey, I thought we were in this together," so up I went. Now we are praying for quick results so the Doctor can get things rolling with the Insurance company and he can start his growth hormone. This is a busy week. Tomorrow Timmy has an appointment with the eye doctor to check his vision. Wed. he will see his Oncologist for his monthly appointment. If we don't feel a need for him to keep the pick line in, it may be removed that day - We'll see what they say. Timmy is looking forward to taking a real shower. As it is now, he has to take a bath and hang his arm out the edge so it doesn't get wet. Now that is hair is growing in, it's kind of difficult to get a good shampoo. Thank you for your contunued prayer. Love, Ginny
Thursday 2/7/02 - The Pick line is out! Yesterday at the doctor's office the nurse took it out. Timmy was very nervous as he didn't know if it would be painful . It wasn't at all and just slid right out. While we were there he had a burning sensation where the shingles were. This is the 3rd time this has happened in the past couple of days. For about 2 min (which must feel much longer to Timmy) his skin feells like it's "on fire". Although Timmy's skin looks completely healed, I guess the nerves are still affected from the shingles. His doctor gave him a prescription similar to the medication he took when he had the shingles. He'll be on this for a week and hopefully won't have any more episodes. Timmy's eye appointment on Tuesday went well and his vision has not changed. More to be thankful for. Love, Ginny
Tuesday 2/12/02 - We spoke with Timmy's Endocrinologist today regarding the results from testing. He will need growth therapy, however she does not want to start him on the injections until he has been "clear" for one year. Because the growth hormone will stimulate all cell growth, she wants to make sure that Timmy's MRI's have been clear for a year from the end of chemo. (Aug.) and that there aren't any dormant cancer cells lurcking around. The doctor did start him on Cortisol medication. This is a hormone, as I understand it, that kicks in when your body is ill or under stress. When Timmy was going up and down the stairs for 20 min. this level should have higher. I need to read more about this. The burning sensation Timmy was having from the shingles and lessened. He has only had one episode last Sunday so we are hoping they are coming to an end. Timmy will not see the Endocrinologist again until May. He will continue to see the Oncologist once a month and will have an MRI early March. Thank you for praying. Love, Ginny
Tuesday 2/19/02 - We have had reletively a great week, but then around the 15th Timmy started picking at his food and we left Church on the 17th because he was nauseous and threw up. No flu signs apparent. In fact. we went to Knott's on the 18th. It was a school holiday and the kids had been looking forward to this time. Timmy didn't go on any wild rides, but was nauseous in between feeling perfectly fine. Today I picked him up from school about 10:30. He hadn't felt well this a.m., but I encouraged him to go. The office called me to say he was throwing up. Truly, we don't know what to make of it. The fear is that the cycle is starting again. Please pray for Timmy and wisdom for the doctors. If Timmy is not MUCH better tomorrow, I will be calling the Endocrinologist to see if the Cortisol might be causing a problem. This is something the body needs and can cause nausea if it doesn't have enough, yet the medication itself can cause nausea as well, so it's very confusing to me. Love, Ginny
Thursday 2/21/02 - Yes, Timmy is doing better. He spent the last 2 full days in school. He is still having some nausea but is "getting through it", so to speak. Thank you for praying.