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Better and Possibly Home Today
By Margot | October 31, 2009
Sam came out of surgery yesterday with clear pee.  Dr. DeCambrie got us in by 9am yesterday and he was done by noon. She said his bladder looks much worse this time around, she showed me some pictures of it just gushing blood. Sam is going to have to lay very low for six to eight weeks and she would like for him to do a hyberbaric oxygen chamber to help heal his bladder. I guess they have one at the UCSD cancer center. Happily, hyperbaric oxygen is supposed to have a nice anti-cancer effect too.  Neil stayed with him last night and as long as he didn’t have any bleeding last night ( I haven’t called to wake them up yet). He can come home today so we are not stuck for Halloween. Dr. DeCambrie spelled out for us in no uncertain terms that he is not to traipse around trick-or-treating but we will rig something up for a few doors and then lay very low. He’ll just be so darn happy to be out of there. Mrs. O’Donavan, Sam’s teacher came to visit him last night and brought a whole bunch of things from the Halloween carnival. She was so nice and stayed until almost 8’oclock. She gave Sam the run down on how everyone dressed up.   We had to visit in the lobby of the hosptial because they won’t let anyone in that place.  Thanks Mrs. O! Uncle Matt is here and that makes the boys very happy. Sam was so glad to see him yesterday and Andy and Charlie had a good time teasing him last night too.
I was able to get to the carnival to paint Andy’s face and he was a great Darth Maul. He went through the haunted house with me and was pretty scared. He waiting in line with Joe and Jake later and then got to the very front of the line and said, “Uh, I changed my mind.” I’ve already gone through and I only go through once a year. That’s my policy.”   I dressed up as the scary unshowered mother in a baseball cap and worked a couple of the class booth for a little while. Then we took Andy to basketball at the rec center and Charlie to the rec carnival in his spidey suit. He had a ball.   He and Joe went down the big slide jumpy a million times with no hesitation. He’d get to the top and wave and then do a huge jump and fly down. His costume made him zoom down that thing. When Sam and Andy were little they used to get to the top the first time and hem and haw about going down. Charlie had no hesitation whatsoever.
Colleen took Andy and Charlie home with her for a while. I got back to the hospital around six and Sam was looking really good. He was excited to get dressed and go see his visitors in the lobby though he was pretty quiet once he got out there.
Thanks to everyone for their kind comments and emails. Yesterday morning was pretty low but I’m so glad that the urologist got us in to the OR so early.
He’ll have a lot of chess matches in the near future and maybe we can replace soccer and tennis with guitar lessons as Uncle Matt suggested last night. He’s wanted to learn guitar for while. Maybe he and his cousin Marty can play together next time we see the Aussie gang. He was pretty good about no more soccer this season since the season’s almost over. He said, “I don’t care that much about missing the rest of soccer since the season’s almost over and my team’s not that good anyway but Dad said I can play baseball in the Spring after this gets better.” He ended on a high note. He scored a goal in practice scrimmage on Tuesday and he and Andy had a really good time playing together on the same team.Â
I’ll post after Halloween and hopefully have some pics for you.
Margot
Topics: Progress Reports | 9 Comments »
October 31st, 2009 at 3:35 pm
YOu guys are just amazing!!!! Sooo glad that he is feeling better!!! I just know that even though he has to lay low, that you will find lots of fun things for him to do!!!! What a blessing you all are to each other!!!!
love and prayers
rhonda dudley
October 31st, 2009 at 4:14 pm
Glad to hear he is doing ok right now. YOu are in my thoughts- Angela (Madison’s Mom)
October 31st, 2009 at 8:31 pm
I cried off and on all day yesterday, thinking of your sweet, brave boy missing Halloween, which, like Sam has always been my favorite holiday. I was really feeling terrible for this little boy I never met, the unfairness of it, of course, and prayed off and on all night with much heart for that one simple wish that I knew Sam would want, to get out of the hospital, to be home for Halloween and to be able to go to even just a few houses. I remember being a kid, around Sam’s age, and missing Halloween for a different reason, and being devestated because of it, an emotion most adults would not understand. I could feel that 10 year old ache so bad for Sam last night.
I can’t tell you how happy this post made me feel to read. I am now crying for a different reason, with joy and happiness and renewed faith that maybe God does here these little prayers and listen. I am praying and praying he WILL get out (or IS ALREADY home now) and WILL enjoy Halloween. Please post a picture when you can of Sam in his costume. Much prayers and blessings to your precious son. Much thanks to God.
Love, R
October 31st, 2009 at 8:52 pm
I hope that the lack of updates means Sam got sprung! If not, maybe a pass out for a few hours could be arranged? You can always sign out under protest whatever that is called. We had to do that once. You guys as parents get to decide what risk/reward ratio wourks for you!
October 31st, 2009 at 10:42 pm
Hope you get to Trick or Treat! Love from the family in Michigan.
November 1st, 2009 at 1:54 am
You are such a phenomonal mother I could not imagine doing all you do when Nate was in the hospital, you are truly an inspiration to all”cancer moms” and regular moms who forget sometimes just how lucky I was to have my son out tonight in his costume. I pray and have so much hope for Sam you are an exceptional family and we wish you the best
November 1st, 2009 at 2:28 am
Yay! What a sweet surprise!
lara
November 1st, 2009 at 2:46 am
This post just brightened my day. Hope you guys have a great day!
November 1st, 2009 at 5:22 am
What a tough week for Sam and you guys ! Glad the surgery went well and he can get out for Halloween ! You two are amazing parents and Sam is lucky to have you ! May all the goblins be scared away and leave Sam happy and feeling better soon !!!!
Kisses and hugs to all,
Love
Colleen