Kids Cancer Care produced a beautiful video with local families showing some of the services they provide. They have become a big part of our lives, providing support to Liam and our family.
Kids Cancer Care Video
THANK YOU for all the very generous people who have already donated to my ride with the Tour for Kids! You are amazing. 100% of your donations to the Tour for Kids goes straight to Kids Cancer Care.
8 more weeks until the big ride!
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Approaching 2 Years Since Diagnosis
So many small reminders. Easter traditions. The crazy weather as we wait for spring to come to Calgary. So many little things that bring back painful memories. I'm not sure how many years have to pass before we stop getting the painful reminders of this time of year. Obviously the day of diagnosis is a painful day, April 30, 2012. But we also are reminded of the stressful months before Liam's diagnosis. Why is Liam vomiting? So many tests, but why can no one tell us what is wrong with our little boy? Spring is a time of hope... but it brings painful memories too.
The good news is that Liam is doing wonderful. We are so grateful that Liam gets to just be a normal 5 year old boy now.
Wishing everyone a Happy Easter.
The good news is that Liam is doing wonderful. We are so grateful that Liam gets to just be a normal 5 year old boy now.
Wishing everyone a Happy Easter.
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Tour for Kids for Kids Cancer Care
I have decided to take on a huge personal challenge. It has been a long time since I've been on a bike, but I've decided to take on the Tour for Kids Alberta ride. The ride is 3 days through the beautiful Rocky Mountains. The ride is 100 km (or more) per day July 18-20. 100% of the money donated to the ride goes directly to Kids Cancer Care.
Here is the website with all the details of the ride: Tour for Kids Alberta
Why am I riding? For Liam and all the other kids and families who have had to face a cancer diagnosis. Kids Cancer Care has been there for Liam and our family since Liam's diagnosis with brain cancer. They are such a blessing in our lives. Liam gets rehabilitation through his PEER exercise class through KCC. Our family has attended many fun events for Halloween, a family ski day and many others. Last year Liam attended 1 week at Camp Sunrise, this year Madison will get to go to camp as well.
Please consider sponsoring my ride and donating to this wonderful organization.
Link to donate to my ride:
https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/FundraisingPage.aspx?registrationID=2216273&langPref=en-CA#&panel1-1
A few pictures of Liam last year when we picked him up from camp. He absolutely loved it! Camp Kindle is a truly wonderful place.
Just a sample of what Liam went through from diagnosis until a year later... KCC Camps are really a wonderful opportunity for these kids to meet others who have been through similar experiences.
Here is the website with all the details of the ride: Tour for Kids Alberta
Why am I riding? For Liam and all the other kids and families who have had to face a cancer diagnosis. Kids Cancer Care has been there for Liam and our family since Liam's diagnosis with brain cancer. They are such a blessing in our lives. Liam gets rehabilitation through his PEER exercise class through KCC. Our family has attended many fun events for Halloween, a family ski day and many others. Last year Liam attended 1 week at Camp Sunrise, this year Madison will get to go to camp as well.
Please consider sponsoring my ride and donating to this wonderful organization.
Link to donate to my ride:
https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/FundraisingPage.aspx?registrationID=2216273&langPref=en-CA#&panel1-1
A few pictures of Liam last year when we picked him up from camp. He absolutely loved it! Camp Kindle is a truly wonderful place.
Just a sample of what Liam went through from diagnosis until a year later... KCC Camps are really a wonderful opportunity for these kids to meet others who have been through similar experiences.
Monday, March 17, 2014
$10 Clinic Day
I have no idea how many days we've visited the Alberta Children's Hospital for out patient chemo, MRIs or clinic. Often a sign that it was a good day is when we visit oncology and we don't reach the maximum parking charge of $13. Today was a good day - a $10 day. We were in and out in just over 2 hours. Unfortunately, oncology is a chaotic place, doctors are often called away or delayed, resulting in delayed appointments, etc. We can never know how long we will be there. Thankfully now we don't wait on blood test results, chemo, transfusions or pharmacy refills.
The kids are always so happy to visit the oncology clinic, go figure. As time goes on, we dread going there even more. It's so hard being reminded of the days going through Liam's treatment. The clinic rooms are the same rooms that Liam got his weekly doses of chemo. Not to mention the place we spent hours discussing the awful details of Liam's treatment.
Today was Liam's 3 month clinic visit. It is his 1 year post treatment checkup, although timing wise Jan 31 was 1 year. At his 3 month clinic, Liam gets weighed and measured. Then the doctor does a physical exam and a neurological exam. We discuss Liam's eating, fatigue and how he is doing socially and in school. As well, Dr Lucie gets Liam to do things like walk on his tip toes, walk on his heals, walk on a line. Liam still has slight dysmetria "improper measuring of distance in muscular acts". This is one of the of the side effects caused by the impact of the tumor and surgery in the cerebellum. His balance is the other area that is still improving, he can't stand on one foot for more than a couple seconds.
The kids are always so happy to visit the oncology clinic, go figure. As time goes on, we dread going there even more. It's so hard being reminded of the days going through Liam's treatment. The clinic rooms are the same rooms that Liam got his weekly doses of chemo. Not to mention the place we spent hours discussing the awful details of Liam's treatment.
Today was Liam's 3 month clinic visit. It is his 1 year post treatment checkup, although timing wise Jan 31 was 1 year. At his 3 month clinic, Liam gets weighed and measured. Then the doctor does a physical exam and a neurological exam. We discuss Liam's eating, fatigue and how he is doing socially and in school. As well, Dr Lucie gets Liam to do things like walk on his tip toes, walk on his heals, walk on a line. Liam still has slight dysmetria "improper measuring of distance in muscular acts". This is one of the of the side effects caused by the impact of the tumor and surgery in the cerebellum. His balance is the other area that is still improving, he can't stand on one foot for more than a couple seconds.
Dr Lucie had no more to add to the information about the MRI, it's the news we want to hear. The wording in the MRI report is something like "no new sign of residual or recurrent disease" and "stable hydrocephalus". It sounds so much better to say "ALL CLEAR"!
Liam will continue with MRIs every 3 months for another year. The MRIs are every 3 months for 2 years, because the first 2 years has the highest recurrance rate. Once 2 years is passed, we can finally breathe a little easier.
The picture is of Liam and his sister eating lunch in the exam room. The kids were too busy playing with the toys in the waiting room at the clinic to eat their lunch, so they ate while waiting for the doctor to come in.
Friday, March 14, 2014
Good News on MRI
A quick chat with the nurse, the brain and spine MRI shows everything is stable. That's the news we want to hear, all good!
No results from LP yet. Our clinic appointment is on Monday where we will discuss everything in more detail.
No results from LP yet. Our clinic appointment is on Monday where we will discuss everything in more detail.
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Monday, March 10, 2014
Parents' Quest for the Cure a Huge Success!
What an event! I was on the silent auction committee and am proud to say we exceeded our goal and raised $49,500 for the silent auction alone! The whole event raised $225,000, which goes towards pediatric cancer research. This is an event started by some Moms on a mission to do something about childhood cancer. What amazing work they are doing!
Troy and I were also lucky to get offered tickets to sit at a table of Kids Cancer Care parents thanks to a sponsor. It was an amazing and emotional night. A brave girl told her story about surviving childhood cancer when she was 4, it was so touching to hear it from her perspective. Here is a link to a Kids Cancer Care video they played at the event. These are all stories about Calgary and southern Alberta families. I don't know about the rest of the room, but there wasn't a dry eye at our table!
I wanted to send a thanks to my friends who helped me out with the items for the silent auction. Janalee at Fair Planet, Tara and Brant Leatherdale, Kath & Bruce Larsson and Sportique Apparel.
Pictures from the event will be posted on their Facebook page KCC Facebook.
Troy and I were also lucky to get offered tickets to sit at a table of Kids Cancer Care parents thanks to a sponsor. It was an amazing and emotional night. A brave girl told her story about surviving childhood cancer when she was 4, it was so touching to hear it from her perspective. Here is a link to a Kids Cancer Care video they played at the event. These are all stories about Calgary and southern Alberta families. I don't know about the rest of the room, but there wasn't a dry eye at our table!
I wanted to send a thanks to my friends who helped me out with the items for the silent auction. Janalee at Fair Planet, Tara and Brant Leatherdale, Kath & Bruce Larsson and Sportique Apparel.
Pictures from the event will be posted on their Facebook page KCC Facebook.
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