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| Logan and Nurse Carolyn after surgery. She keeps him smiling! |
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Hickman Line
Monday, November 29, 2010
Hospital Time
Hiya Everyone, Logan here.
Writing today from a hospital bed, with fluids being pumped in.
We arrived yesterday (Sunday afternoon) to a quiet ward.
With most people disappearing over the weekend and reappearing on Monday, making for a mad rush if you arrive then.
It was a rather painful Sunday, they blew out 2 veins trying to secure a lure line, which is basically where the needle goes in on side of the vein and then out the other side. Meaning they needed to stick 3 needles into my arm to secure a line to begin my chemo.
Thanks to these blow outs I had even more trouble when it came to taking blood, as they need to regularly, for as they tightened the tourniquet on my arm, my vein practically shot out of my arm, making drawing blood impossible. The other arm was out because of my new lure line, yet even more fun when they applied the tourniquet.
At the moment they're pumping in chemo, while i wait for lunch, I'm sooooooooo hungry.
That's all i have to say for now, so goodbye for now, enjoy your day, and stay healthy.
Writing today from a hospital bed, with fluids being pumped in.
We arrived yesterday (Sunday afternoon) to a quiet ward.
With most people disappearing over the weekend and reappearing on Monday, making for a mad rush if you arrive then.
It was a rather painful Sunday, they blew out 2 veins trying to secure a lure line, which is basically where the needle goes in on side of the vein and then out the other side. Meaning they needed to stick 3 needles into my arm to secure a line to begin my chemo.
Thanks to these blow outs I had even more trouble when it came to taking blood, as they need to regularly, for as they tightened the tourniquet on my arm, my vein practically shot out of my arm, making drawing blood impossible. The other arm was out because of my new lure line, yet even more fun when they applied the tourniquet.
At the moment they're pumping in chemo, while i wait for lunch, I'm sooooooooo hungry.
That's all i have to say for now, so goodbye for now, enjoy your day, and stay healthy.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
photo's of our trip to the States
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| Taking in the sights - if you look carefully, the White House is in the background! |
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| Dad and I at the space museum... WOW! |
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| The Children's Inn - an amazing place to stay... luxury!!! |
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
And so it begins..
Hey Logan watchers,
today logan began his treatment (although he would probably have preferred being on the lake!) Our day got started at 6am (that's in the morning for you teenagers!) with truckloads of fluids. Apparently this toxic stuff is such heavy duty S### that it can make you go into kidney failure as the meany cancer cells collapse at a great rate of knots and clog them up! So between you and me (and the rest of the world) the boy has been peeing like a trouper! Anyhow, he had chemo at about 10am (a low dose to get him used to it) and then at 11.30 came the fun lumber puncture... if you are an adrenaline junkie you should try this cause it's bloody scary!! Even had to bring in the backup (Daddy) for moral support. Then guess what happened? My amazing boy got this equally amazing doctor who was so gentle that he only had a small amount of pain. Spinal fluid is totally freaky to look at. His was clear (apparently that's good!). They also inserted a couple of shots of chemo (of something I couldn't pronounce or spell). That took us up to about 11.45 and as Logan would say... a totally uneventful day really. Then Logan took it all in his stride and spent the rest of the day sleeping. He woke for his meals and then dozed again. All in all, a great first day.
today logan began his treatment (although he would probably have preferred being on the lake!) Our day got started at 6am (that's in the morning for you teenagers!) with truckloads of fluids. Apparently this toxic stuff is such heavy duty S### that it can make you go into kidney failure as the meany cancer cells collapse at a great rate of knots and clog them up! So between you and me (and the rest of the world) the boy has been peeing like a trouper! Anyhow, he had chemo at about 10am (a low dose to get him used to it) and then at 11.30 came the fun lumber puncture... if you are an adrenaline junkie you should try this cause it's bloody scary!! Even had to bring in the backup (Daddy) for moral support. Then guess what happened? My amazing boy got this equally amazing doctor who was so gentle that he only had a small amount of pain. Spinal fluid is totally freaky to look at. His was clear (apparently that's good!). They also inserted a couple of shots of chemo (of something I couldn't pronounce or spell). That took us up to about 11.45 and as Logan would say... a totally uneventful day really. Then Logan took it all in his stride and spent the rest of the day sleeping. He woke for his meals and then dozed again. All in all, a great first day.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
READ THIS!!!!!!!
If Logan were writing this he would say something interesting and exciting and still get his message across. Maybe it is this that makes people want to help him... or his kind heart.. (I cant feel him saying SHUT UP MUM!). Anyway... Whatever you believe in, you cannot underestimate the inate urge in people to help others...
Thanks to the lovely people who dumped a pile of wood in my garage to make a ramp with
Thanks to Andrew (the builder) who came and made the ramp on Saturday
Thanks to my fabulous friends at Knighton Normal School (the best in the country) who have been cooking us the most amazing meals so that we have at least one proper meal a day
Thanks to Paul who ripped all the walls out of the old laundry so that we could start building our new bathroom
Thanks to Greg and Phil who spent the day plumbing the room so that it will best suit Logan and his needs
Thanks to Ross and my brother Dean who spent an entire day at my house building bits on the new bathroom in preparation for the new wet room
Thanks to my sister Carolyn who has been coming down from Auckland for days at a time to attempt to keep me sane - an exercise that was doomed to fail!!!!!
And thanks to ALL of our lovely friends and family for ALL you have done... the cleaning, washing, cooking, baking, phone calls, texts, love, prayers and positive thinking means so much to us. Our faith in people has never been so strong...
To people who have been generous in other ways... thank you... words cannot express our gratitude...
Anyway, enough soppy stuff!!!! My men will be home shortly and I have got stuff to do!!! (Like I have been sitting on my butt for the last week). Speak to ya soon!
Tracy
Thanks to the lovely people who dumped a pile of wood in my garage to make a ramp with
Thanks to Andrew (the builder) who came and made the ramp on Saturday
Thanks to my fabulous friends at Knighton Normal School (the best in the country) who have been cooking us the most amazing meals so that we have at least one proper meal a day
Thanks to Paul who ripped all the walls out of the old laundry so that we could start building our new bathroom
Thanks to Greg and Phil who spent the day plumbing the room so that it will best suit Logan and his needs
Thanks to Ross and my brother Dean who spent an entire day at my house building bits on the new bathroom in preparation for the new wet room
Thanks to my sister Carolyn who has been coming down from Auckland for days at a time to attempt to keep me sane - an exercise that was doomed to fail!!!!!
And thanks to ALL of our lovely friends and family for ALL you have done... the cleaning, washing, cooking, baking, phone calls, texts, love, prayers and positive thinking means so much to us. Our faith in people has never been so strong...
To people who have been generous in other ways... thank you... words cannot express our gratitude...
Anyway, enough soppy stuff!!!! My men will be home shortly and I have got stuff to do!!! (Like I have been sitting on my butt for the last week). Speak to ya soon!
Tracy
He's nearly home...
Morning Logan watchers...
Logan and Evan are exiting duty free as I type this, then heading home. I spoke with the oncologist yesterday (hey Dr J) who told me the following:
- called anaplastic large cell lymphoma
- a form of Non-hodgkins
- rare and aggressive
- systemic
- ALK+
- hits toddlers to teens
- stage IV - advanced
- approx 4mths chemo
- substantial reduction in tumour size within a week
- BFM regimen (name of chemo)
Logan will come home and then after a short rest, head straight to the hospital. He will be on Ward 25 for about 3 or 4 days. If you would like to visit, please text immediately beforehand. This is new to us, and we are not sure what to expect. Each person copes differently. Love to you all for your prayers and support...
Tracy
Logan and Evan are exiting duty free as I type this, then heading home. I spoke with the oncologist yesterday (hey Dr J) who told me the following:
- called anaplastic large cell lymphoma
- a form of Non-hodgkins
- rare and aggressive
- systemic
- ALK+
- hits toddlers to teens
- stage IV - advanced
- approx 4mths chemo
- substantial reduction in tumour size within a week
- BFM regimen (name of chemo)
Logan will come home and then after a short rest, head straight to the hospital. He will be on Ward 25 for about 3 or 4 days. If you would like to visit, please text immediately beforehand. This is new to us, and we are not sure what to expect. Each person copes differently. Love to you all for your prayers and support...
Tracy
Sunday, November 21, 2010
A Fun Day
Hiya guys, Logan here!
Today we did in fact get into DC, it is an amazing place: Tall buildings, massive monuments, and a great atmosphere. Dad and I had a great day!
To start with we had a half hour ride on the metro, which is was rather confusing to get into, as the main entrances are large escalators. It took about 10 min and dad a trip down the escalators and back before we figured it out. They have elevators! But not in the obvious place right by the escalators, they were tucked away a 150 metres from the escalators. And I say when these were elevators, i mean they were a box, just big enough for my chair and this is with us having lowered the long leg as I can bend my knee a bit more.
Well enough about the elevators, metro is actually quite a simple place to be, as long as you not at central, where we were headed. Getting on was simple, we waited in the station for 5 min before our chariot arrived, and other then the loud rattling it makes as it zooms along, it is quite a way to travel!
On arrival at metro central, the confusion started, we had to go down a lift, walk to another then find a third to get out, doing this in the dusk-ish lighting was great fun, but we managed, as we always do.
Out we stumbled into the light to the brisk morning of DC, cars zooming and people walking on their own private missions. At this point we were forced to consult the map, because the streets in DC are winding and we had no idea which direction we needed to travel in. But we solved the problem and off me walked/rolled to our destinations, starting with the washington monument. We made it down 12th street and found what we were looking for, the National Mall (the area all the smithsonions, the washington monument and government buildings occupy -for those who don't know). Of course the first thing that catches your eye is the washington monument, that huge obelisk (which belongs in Egypt I might add), that stands for all to see.
So we wandered towards it in a rather unrushed manner, we didn't even bother getting too close as it was on a rise and surrounded by people, but we got pictures, that is the important part.
Our next destination was the National Natural History Meuseum, a popular spot and a good choice in our day of fun. Since where we were when we headed for the museum was equal distance from the main entrance and the secondary door (still a major door) we thought we would head for the main entrance that was on the Mall side of the building, so we could look around as we walk. As we approched a sign pointed out that the museum we were heading towards was in fact the building we were looking for, we continued eagerly. unfortunately our bubble was popped when a sign at the STAIRS, points out that the wheel chair access was on the other side of the building, this wouldn't have been such a big issue if the building wasn't so HUGE. So we headed back in the direction we had just come from to reach the other side. As we passed the sign I noticed what it had failed to mention on the other side, "Access other side of building" (not the exact words of course, i fail to remember what the street was called), something that would have been useful on the OTHER SIDE!
Eventually we reached the enterance and it was amazing, although the effect was delayed slightly by the fact that we arrived on the floor below the main muesum, mostly filled with cafes and gift shops. upon taking the lift however we were greeted by the famous African Bush Elephant, on display since 1959. Now I won't bore you all by describing each and every exibit, but they were magical. They had a T-Rex Skeleton, massive whale skulls, extremely large crystals, a live butterfly house, and soo many more I couldn't name them all if i wanted to. But if you ever in the DC area, and have some free time, stop in, admission's free and there there is soo much to see.
The National Air and space Mueseum was our next destination, and we had no trouble locating or entering. Although security was fun, they scan your bags, and walk you through a metal detector like they have at the airport, although for some reason it didn't go off when my chair went through, strange really. But once again instant WOW factor, They have planes and rockets hanging over head, with lander modules and other interesting air flight crafts, and there was always more to see. Their were flight simulator, an air bus cockpit you can explore and IMAX theatres with all sorts of flying related movies showing (we were a bit short on time to explore these unfortunately), real sized rockets, REAL rockets and planes (no longer working of course). It was really intriguing to learn how our flight has evolved and all the mishaps and triumphs that came along with it. Again, get in to see it if you can, good fun for adults and kids.
After all this it was getting late, so home bound on the metro, with no confusion this time (we saw squirrels on the way there). It's been rest and food since then. And i must sign off now, thankyou for bearing with me as I blabbered about my day. It's bed time now, as we have an early morning tomorrow so we can catch our flights home. I'll try and leave a post in my stop over in San Fransisco.
But for now, goodnight, and enjoy your afternoon in New Zealand.
Today we did in fact get into DC, it is an amazing place: Tall buildings, massive monuments, and a great atmosphere. Dad and I had a great day!
To start with we had a half hour ride on the metro, which is was rather confusing to get into, as the main entrances are large escalators. It took about 10 min and dad a trip down the escalators and back before we figured it out. They have elevators! But not in the obvious place right by the escalators, they were tucked away a 150 metres from the escalators. And I say when these were elevators, i mean they were a box, just big enough for my chair and this is with us having lowered the long leg as I can bend my knee a bit more.
Well enough about the elevators, metro is actually quite a simple place to be, as long as you not at central, where we were headed. Getting on was simple, we waited in the station for 5 min before our chariot arrived, and other then the loud rattling it makes as it zooms along, it is quite a way to travel!
On arrival at metro central, the confusion started, we had to go down a lift, walk to another then find a third to get out, doing this in the dusk-ish lighting was great fun, but we managed, as we always do.
Out we stumbled into the light to the brisk morning of DC, cars zooming and people walking on their own private missions. At this point we were forced to consult the map, because the streets in DC are winding and we had no idea which direction we needed to travel in. But we solved the problem and off me walked/rolled to our destinations, starting with the washington monument. We made it down 12th street and found what we were looking for, the National Mall (the area all the smithsonions, the washington monument and government buildings occupy -for those who don't know). Of course the first thing that catches your eye is the washington monument, that huge obelisk (which belongs in Egypt I might add), that stands for all to see.
So we wandered towards it in a rather unrushed manner, we didn't even bother getting too close as it was on a rise and surrounded by people, but we got pictures, that is the important part.
Our next destination was the National Natural History Meuseum, a popular spot and a good choice in our day of fun. Since where we were when we headed for the museum was equal distance from the main entrance and the secondary door (still a major door) we thought we would head for the main entrance that was on the Mall side of the building, so we could look around as we walk. As we approched a sign pointed out that the museum we were heading towards was in fact the building we were looking for, we continued eagerly. unfortunately our bubble was popped when a sign at the STAIRS, points out that the wheel chair access was on the other side of the building, this wouldn't have been such a big issue if the building wasn't so HUGE. So we headed back in the direction we had just come from to reach the other side. As we passed the sign I noticed what it had failed to mention on the other side, "Access other side of building" (not the exact words of course, i fail to remember what the street was called), something that would have been useful on the OTHER SIDE!
Eventually we reached the enterance and it was amazing, although the effect was delayed slightly by the fact that we arrived on the floor below the main muesum, mostly filled with cafes and gift shops. upon taking the lift however we were greeted by the famous African Bush Elephant, on display since 1959. Now I won't bore you all by describing each and every exibit, but they were magical. They had a T-Rex Skeleton, massive whale skulls, extremely large crystals, a live butterfly house, and soo many more I couldn't name them all if i wanted to. But if you ever in the DC area, and have some free time, stop in, admission's free and there there is soo much to see.
The National Air and space Mueseum was our next destination, and we had no trouble locating or entering. Although security was fun, they scan your bags, and walk you through a metal detector like they have at the airport, although for some reason it didn't go off when my chair went through, strange really. But once again instant WOW factor, They have planes and rockets hanging over head, with lander modules and other interesting air flight crafts, and there was always more to see. Their were flight simulator, an air bus cockpit you can explore and IMAX theatres with all sorts of flying related movies showing (we were a bit short on time to explore these unfortunately), real sized rockets, REAL rockets and planes (no longer working of course). It was really intriguing to learn how our flight has evolved and all the mishaps and triumphs that came along with it. Again, get in to see it if you can, good fun for adults and kids.
After all this it was getting late, so home bound on the metro, with no confusion this time (we saw squirrels on the way there). It's been rest and food since then. And i must sign off now, thankyou for bearing with me as I blabbered about my day. It's bed time now, as we have an early morning tomorrow so we can catch our flights home. I'll try and leave a post in my stop over in San Fransisco.
But for now, goodnight, and enjoy your afternoon in New Zealand.
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