Surgery

This morning up at Primary Childrens Me and a nurse struggled hard to wipe Beckham down and dress him in hospital pajamas to get ready for his surgery. When he doesn't want do do something he can be as stubborn as they come. He was sobbing it was so sad. When the nurse left he was exhausted and full of tears. And kept saying he didn't like his pajamas. I held him and asked if we could say a prayer to ask if Jesus could watch over him, he said yes and we said a prayer. Beckham said amen and was allot more calm.
Right before we took him in, the anesthesiologist gave him some medicine in his "tubie" he relaxed noticeably. As I carried him down the hall I so wanted him to fall asleep because I know they won't let me past a certain point. He didn't and I had to hand a crying Beckham off to a nurse. A part of me wanted go grab him and run. All I can do is wait and pray...

...They just called me and said they got out all of the tumor and are patching him up. Also, it went allot better than they thought it would. This type of surgery normally takes 2-8 hours and they were done in a little over an hour.
I am crying Thank you so much Heavenly Father






- Posted from my iPhone

Location:N Mario Capecchi Dr,Salt Lake City,United States

Round 5

Round 5 ended up starting on New Year's Eve. We started the day off in clinic to get Beckham nice and hydrated.






Beckham loved little in this chair, especially with the curtain. I wish I had a picture of him taking the curtain and wrapping it around the chair to make a fort!





Another sleeping picture!











The chemo meds that he had his time around were the same as round 3. Round 3 was a total beast too. He was so sick and his energy was gone. This time around we decided to give him more anti nausea medicine to hope that we could have a better handle on it and allow him to mainly be more comfortable. It definitely was a success. He wasn't as sick to his stomach as before. All the anti-nausea meds made his very moody and bounce off the walls. I rather have it that way then him constantly sick though.











Beckham loves making forts any chance he can.





Music therapy!!!! Beckham did not want these ladies to leave. They were amazing...had great voices and fun instruments and really got him engaged in the music. This is something we will do every time we are inpatient now!!!





We were able to escape the room a couple times. They have a little play area for the healthy kids that want to get out of the room. Beckham was so excited to have he little field trip.





Have you seen Calliou? Beckham loves this show. The last time we watched this show together he turned to me and said, "Mom...he is just like me!" I asked him what he meant and he was like, "He has a bald head just like me!!!" He bopped himself on the head as he said that too. I know it's odd to be thankful for a show, but I love that there is a show that appears to be Beckham's age and had a bald head just like him. Beckham doesn't usually comment about his hair being gone. When he does he seems to be a little sad that it still hasn't grown yet.











After 4 days in the hospital we headed home. Beckham had a good amount of energy and was still eating a decent amount.





A few days later we ended up back at the clinic for a blood transfusion. This is a normal thing though. Chemo tends to drop everything and transfusions are more of a normal thing now. Beckham had the beginnings of a fever and stopped eating altogether.





They ended up admitting us. I wasn't surprised by this since if a child is neutropenic and has a slight fever they end up having to stay. Beckham wasn't too happy about this. I think this picture shows more of his annoyance that his mom is always taking pictures of him. :)






Since he wasn't eating the doctors thought it was best to put in a feeding tube. Even though this is not the funnest thing in the world for Beckham, I think it definitely a great thing for now. He is on a slow feed and we are all hoping that it helps bring back his appetite.





Heading home!!!! Since being home Beckham has started to eat a little more. I'll take any progress we can get! His counts are still pretty low, but it's cold out anyway so we don't mind staying in watching movies. :)

Christmas

The holidays ended up being wonderful for us. Beckham was able to start treatment after Christmas. His counts were higher so we were able to get out of the house. :) I want to say another big THANK YOU to all of you that are thinking of us. We got a few surprises on our door step. We definitely know some amazing people.


This was Beckham on Christmas morning. We were able to stay at grandma's house and I think he was one of the last to wake up.






Opening presents!



Thank you to Bloggers Give Back!!!



Beckham got a Spider-Man surprise on the from door. He has been living in his Spider-Man gear!!



Thank you to whoever collected this for us! What a nice surprise!!!








Before his 5th round of chemo we were able to go up to Salt Lake to look at the lights and wander around City Creek! (Beckham loves scarves and insists on wearing mine all the time!)

Prayer

I know not by what method rare
But this I know, God answers prayer.
I know that he has given his Word
Which tells me prayer is always heard
And will be answered soon or late
And so I pray and calmly wait.

I know not if the blessing sought
Will come in just the way I thought
But leave my prayers with him alone
Whose will is wiser than my own
Assured that he will grant my quest
Or send some answer far more blessed.
Eliza M. Hickok


I came across this poem today and obviously it really hit home. I just want to thank all of you that are praying for my little boy. It means the world to me. I have heard a couple people say all they can do is offer prayers and I think there is nothing greater. So, thank you again!

Sigh...

After Beckham's 4th round of chemo I was so amazed at how well he was doing! You would of never guessed that he just had been in the hospitals the last couple days. I was naturally very happy about this. After the previous round of chemo it just made me sick thinking about how awful his treatments can make him feel. This round was easy...it was nice. Not entirely nice...but better. Well, a week ago Beckham woke up acting a little different. His energy was about the same...but he didn't want to eat. I checked his temperature. I was immediately nervous. Brian was out of town for the weekend and I potentially had a little boy getting sick. I knew it was very likely he was coming down with something since his ANC was 0 and with no immune system it doesn't take much to knock you down.
The rule they give us is to call if he has a temperature of 100.4 for over an hour or plan on just coming in if he hits 101. Beckham was at about 100.2 most of the day. When they are neutropenic though a fever is not always manifested so you have to watch for other symptoms. Well, I called Primary Children's ER and spoke with a charge nurse at about 7pm. I knew his temp would most likely go up in the night. They told me to bring him right in and thankfully my brother and his wife were able to come right over and watch Navy. My brother decided to head up with me and I'm so glad he did. It was nice to have family with me while I'm stressing out with what could be wrong.



After a few tests and nothing clearly showing up. They decided to admit him. Beckham burst into tears when I told him we were staying at the hospital. He just wanted to go home. I felt so bad for him.


Beckham ended up staying till Tuesday afternoon. The nurses continued to take blood cultures to see if anything would show up. Nothing did though. His fevers would spike and we would have moments where he looked sick. They told me that mostly likely it was just a cold.



When you are neutropenic and when they are unsure of the cause of sickness they put you on a general antibiotic. Between that and two blood (red and platelet) transfusions he seemed to be getting better each day. :)


Brian got back in town last Sunday and was able to come up to the hospital to give me a break. It was really hard for me to leave Beckham this time. He cried when I told him I had to leave and as I walked out he would yell out for me. I eventually had to stop walking in and just keep walking. It broke my heart.
I am sure I drive Beckham nuts, but I hover over him when we are home. I watch his every move looking for any changes or signs that anything is wrong. I try to relax, but it's hard. I worry about him all the time. With that being said he is responding really well to his treatments so far. He has a lot a head of him still, but he is one tough little guy.

Day 3

Day 3 is here and we are getting close to finishing round 4...well kind of close. One of his chemos runs for 24hrs straight per bag...making just the one run 72 hours straight. I have had a harder time with him getting chemo this time around. Sad things have happened recently in one of my cancer support groups and although I am trying to stay positive I have moments where I am just terrified of what Beckham's fate could be. Maybe the holidays have a part in that too. Since we don't know the outcome of this all...I have this mission to make every holiday, birthday, event the best I can make it. I'm in memory mode...creating memories that is...
Anyway, the hospital gives us write ups of the medications that they give Beckham. I, of course, research them more. One of his chemos happens to have a couple nicknames...."red death" and "red devil"....just what a mother wants to read. Why oh why...ugh...I am putting my trust in the doctors though that they know the proper way to heal Beckham. I am doing my best to use alternative methods I have read about, and approved with his doctors, as well. Sigh....I'm one worn out mama.
























I think he is over it. I take way too many pictures. The boy needs some space.

Round 4

This morning Beckham rolled into the hospital hidden under warm blankets and overnight bags. Rather than wear a beanie and a mask in cold weather he almost always opts out to just be covered over with blankets.





For this round Beckham will be here for 3 days. He's getting 3 chemo fluids each day. The common effect of all 3 is they destroy cancer cells by interfering with the cancer cells growth cycle.
They will be giving him medication for nausea which is the most common side effect.
On a good note the doctor and nurses say that this round is considered a "lighter" round. Meaning that Beckham shouldn't get "really" sick afterwards. They say it's not quite as light as rounds 1&2 but not as heavy as round 3.

Beckham has been so full of energy lately it's really hard to imagine that he has cancer. I'm trying to do my best to take advantage of this time with him.

It's a constant challenge to figure out what Beckham will eat. It's a blessing the cooks downstairs are patient. For dinner tonight all Beckham wanted was club crackers and pepperoni. After bringing up the 3rd! Plate of pepperoni he was finally full. On the 3rd order I had to assure the cook Beckham was eating them and this was no joke:)




- Posted from my iPhone

Location:N Mario Capecchi Dr,Salt Lake City,United States