« Radiate | Home | Yesterday Sucked but today is better »
Globetrotters and Valentines
By Margot | February 14, 2010
Sam almost made it to his Valentine’s Day party on Thursday but started feeling pretty cruddy about an hour before we were going to go. He wrote out all of his Valentine’s the night before. He loves to do that. I dropped them off to his class and picked up a huge bag stuffed for him and Ms. O’Donoavan sent home some cookies and cupcakes too. I was able on Thursday to go with Charlie to drop off his little Valentine’s at preschool. His favorite Valentine he received was from himself. He insisted on doing one To Charlie From Charlie and taping the stickers on there and everything and then when he was opening his up he got the most excited at opening his own. It cracked me up. Mid-morning on Thursday I went to Andy’s class while Neil stayed with Sam. Andy was really happy that I was there and I got to help the kids do the craft table and make Valentine’s for their parents or someone special. I kept teasing them all that they could make them for their husbands and wives which was a funny joke to the fist graders. Andy made his Valentine craft card for Sam and put the ultimate compliment on it. “Sam, You Rock, From Andy.”  Sam made one for Andy at home with all of the art supplies we now have handy thanks to Lisa B. and Mrs. Meara.  Andy got a card from a girl who had written “I love you” in it and of course he showed it to practically everyone in school.  Maureen came over for dinner on Thursday night and the boys were very happy to see her.
Friday was a long day in the hospital getting blood and platelets and velcade and then zooming over to radiation by 3:00. Dr. Murphy is radiating Sam’s whole skull so that we are not whacking the mole with different spots. He is a great guy and explained to us how he is blocking Sam’s brain with electrons and using photons to get through the bone. Sam did really well and was not panicked with the mask at all. After the skull the liver radiation goes lickity split and we were back in time to catch Andy’s basketball game. Colleen had brought Andy and Charlie to the game for us. Andy did really well -made four baskets.  After the game we went to see the Harlem Globetrotters at the Sports Arena (Thank you Luke and Bonnie for the awesome tickets). The boys loved the show. It was Sam’s first genuine smile all day and they all laughed at all of the antics. All three boys have been trying to spin the ball on their finger since the show.  It was a long Friday but we packed it all in and Charlie even made to the late end of the show relatively melt-down free.
Saturday I took Charlie and Andy to Ty’s bowling birthday party. Sam was feeling pretty cruddy and cranky all day with stomach and leg pain issues. He’s not walking much again – more on that later. He and Neil went to see Percy Jackson together and Neil said it was a great Sam/Dad date. Last night Sam spiked a fever and had a lot of leg pain. We called the on call doctor and she recommended the ER since his counts are ok. Unfortunately, the last two times we’ve been through the ER, we were admitted anyway and the nurses and doctors down their seem befuddled by all that is going on with Sam.  We finally decided at midnight with his pain getting bad and his temp closing in on 102 that we’d better do a direct admit. Colleen came over at midnight to stay with the boys while Neil drove Sam and I to the hospital to help get us in since Hem/Onc is shut down after eight.  Thank you Colleen!  Hope you got some sleep.Â
Which brings us to today. Happy Valentine’s Day in romantic Rady Children’s ;-). Sam is sleeping now and we’ve upped his pain meds for the leg pain. We started sorafenib yesterday. It is supposed to work well with radiation.  He hasn’t had any liver pain since we started radiating which is a good thing.  Uncle Matt has Andy and Charlie today and I just called for an update. They are 1/4 of the way up Cowell’s mountain and Andy got on the phone and said, “this is awesome!”  It’s a beautiful day for a hike and while my heart is heavy that Sam is stuck in the hospital, I’m so happy the littler guys are out and about and having a great time.
I owe a million thanks to people.  Thanks to the PBE families for the card and all of the gift cards. They will be hugely helpful and the card itself was so nice.  Thanks to Rebecca for the gift cards and Lisa for all of the art supplies and Colleen and Meredith for all the help with everything.  Thank you Kuhn Family for the awesome Valentine’s Package. I know I’m missing people but I feel that I must get this drop into the bucket at least.
Hoping for a jailbreak soon.
Margot
Topics: Progress Reports | 9 Comments »
February 14th, 2010 at 9:09 pm
Margs and Sam and Red and Andy and Baby Charlie…You rock as a family and the world sees it!
Sam The Man..may the pain quit and the cancer retreat from the radiation…
Thinking and praying good thoughts from Abby, Joan and Tom
February 14th, 2010 at 10:11 pm
Praying for you all, and especially Sam.
I’ve been in the hospital during holidays with a young son with cancer, and know it’s no fun for anyone. Words fail me right now, as it is too close to home to try to cheer you, having been there and knowing how hard the journey is, but I wanted to let you know that my family prays for yours – and especially Sam – every single day.
In Christ’s Love,
February 14th, 2010 at 11:56 pm
We send our Valentine’s Day hugs and kisses and love to all of you. Do you need more arts and crafts supplies? You know how much I love crafty stuff and I can put together some projects for the boys. Will work on that and send it your way. Always thinking of you! Love, Nicole
February 15th, 2010 at 4:26 am
Hang in there- hope to see Sam back at school soon!! Angela (Madison’s Mom)
February 16th, 2010 at 12:03 am
I so want the best for all the Hutchisons. You certainly deserve it. Andy’s got it just right, you are all on a journey up a tough mountain, and it’s a good idea to stop every once and a while, look out at the vista, and say “This is awesome.”
Vickie
February 16th, 2010 at 4:12 am
Sam, Neil, Margo and kids……………we are all pulling for you here! Neil and Margo, I pray for you guys daily, I really do.
I love you guys, take care.
February 16th, 2010 at 8:05 pm
Can we coordinate a simultaneous, bi-coastal jailbreak? We are playing Legos, doing some homework, watching SpongeBob, and playing Yahtzee. Sound familiar? It gets OLD real fast, however! Jack has a couple new Lego sets and we wish we could meet you in the hall to share a smile and some Legos.
If you figure out the secret to breaking out (which we hope you do very soon) please share the good news and the trick!
With friendship and hope,
Sarah and Jack from NYC
February 16th, 2010 at 8:28 pm
Hey Margo! Glad Sam is feeling better. We think about him often and Gabby keeps us updated (as best as she can)…. Was she the one that wrote I Love you to Andy! I have a feeling she has a secret crush! She talks about him all the time!!! So cute… Anyway, please let me know if there is anything I can do…
Jen Mays-Gabby’s mom from Andy’s class…
February 16th, 2010 at 10:08 pm
Definitely time for a Get Out of Jail Free card… thinking of you. Jan