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Dear everyone,
Thank you all for your ongoing concern and prayers and support for Travis and our family. Here's an update re: life around here.
Travis is in the second phase of chemotherapy. Still enduring weekly spinal taps and nasty medications with great courage and strength. He is an incredible 5 year old. Yes, he does have moody and even nasty attitude moments... but he is more than entitled to them! Thankfully, he is mostly sweet, laughing and trying to have fun like any normal child. At times he is somber and scared, but is relying on us to do everything we can to help him get well and get back into a positive frame of mind. His energy has been much better this last week (off steroids) and his "moon face" and swollen belly is going down. That has helped him emotionally a great deal. He does know that we are searching for a matching donor for healthy bone marrow and that he will be getting this healthy marrow in his body in Milwaukee when a donor is found. We haven't gone into much more detail on that yet. The nausea stage has kicked in, but at least meds help with that. And he still has his hair! He is more normal than Joe and I would have expected (though the doctors encourage as much normalcy as possible always) -- even attending a park district class (called "Safetytown" -- oh, the irony!) with Spencer each morning.
The search for a donor is on. The transplant center is working on finding a match -- then more, if available -- then the best to go with. This is important, because for one reason or another, donors may become unavailable. We want to try to cover our bases if we can. We are hopeful...
Spencer is doing ok. He goes from loving and supportive to scared to aggressive (to get attention). We are trying to give him special attention and explain as much as we can to him. He suggested to Travis that he should think of the medicine as Pac Man beating up the "Leukevias" inside his body. He is a very bright 4 year old -- we thought that was great. It is a big challenge -- but the last few days he has shown great support to Travis. Their friendship will face many tests to come, but their best friend bond will hopefully endure. He is trying hard to make sense of this and figure out his role. Spencer helps in Travis' home care which makes him feel valued and important and helps demystify some of the steps. He does accompany us on doctor appointments occasionally, so that's not a big unknown either.
Joe and I are more and more feeling the stresses of all this. It is indescribable. However, the support from everyone (cards, letters, meals, jokes, hugs, voicemails, emails, committees for Travis, bone marrow drives, contributions to the Friends of Travis Fund, individual Bone marrow registering, babysitting, people doing marathons/walkathons for Travis -- including his PRESCHOOL!, prayers/emails/ cards from temples and churches around the country, websites, public service announcements, flyers, and much more) is carrying us forward. I am trying to work when I can (sometimes it is physically and/or emotionally impossible). My company is SO supportive, beyond what anyone could hope for. I just wish we were organized enough to capture all the stories (this letter is a weak attempt)-- they is phenomenal.
Bone marrow drives are being organized in many places :
1. Pecos River (my company) in Mpls had an employee drive last week. It was personally funded by our Vice Chairman and the company Founder, Elizabeth Wilson and Larry Wilson and organized by the head of Human Resources, Bea LaMonica. They volunteered their generosity instantly. Unbelievable. This is MY corporate America. Everyone should be so lucky.
2. June 28 (10:00 - 3:00) at Beth Tikvah Congregation in Hoffman Estates, IL. Organized by an incredible committee of volunteers here -- friends, neighbors, Temple members, co-workers and even a client!
3. July 1 an Aon employee drive at the Corporate HQ in Chicago (our parent company). Spearheaded by my right-hand partners Jennifer Howland and Brenda Burke.
4. July 12(?) in Minneapolis at Temple Beth El, I believe. Spearheaded by our aunt, Barb Bearmon, with help from my sister, Lisa and others of our friends. Word will be coming out on this soon.
5. July 15 and 16 at St. Lukes Hospital in Duluth. Organized by a committee of long-time buddies from elementary and junior high school, skating, and people we know (many through Dad's days as a physician and Chief of Staff) from the hospital. Too many to name here, but they have always been there through thick and thin.
6. I hear American Express is working on either putting together an employee drive or will try to get people to the June 28 drive. Unbelievable.
7. So may people are going to their local donor centers and registering in hopes of helping Travis, or maybe someone else if not him. We are so touched.
FYI, we've learned that the "ABDR" typing is more expensive, but is very helpful for the search process, if possible.
So, that's the long and long of it. There's so much more, I only wish I could find a way to express what is going on for us, but it is beyond our own understanding. I hope this update helps you feel connected. It helps us that you know what's going on. Feel free to forward this on to anyone whom you think would like to know -- or send us their e-addresses for future updates. Much love from us.
Melanie, Joe, Travis and Spencer