Cousins

Samuel and Molly were born about a week apart. Must be something about 2009 that caused all that hair to grow. Seems like they just wanted to give eachother some hugs. :)

Can't visit Ron's house with out getting a picture with him. Sarah's a ham for the camera and wants every one to be in at least ten pictures with her or so, everytime you see her.

That which does not kill us,

Makes us stronger.

A Sceen from the Princess Bride, quoted from IMDB
Man in Black: All right. Where is the poison? The battle of wits has begun. It ends when you decide and we both drink, and find out who is right... and who is dead.
Vizzini: But it's so simple. All I have to do is divine from what I know of you: are you the sort of man who would put the poison into his own goblet or his enemy's? Now, a clever man would put the poison into his own goblet, because he would know that only a great fool would reach for what he was given. I am not a great fool, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of you. But you must have known I was not a great fool, you would have counted on it, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of me.
Man in Black: You've made your decision then?
Vizzini: Not remotely. Because iocane comes from Australia, as everyone knows, and Australia is entirely peopled with criminals, and criminals are used to having people not trust them, as you are not trusted by me, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of you.
Man in Black: Truly, you have a dizzying intellect.
Vizzini: Wait til I get going! Now, where was I?
Man in Black: Australia.
Vizzini: Yes, Australia. And you must have suspected I would have known the powder's origin, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of me.
Man in Black: You're just stalling now.
Vizzini: You'd like to think that, wouldn't you? You've beaten my giant, which means you're exceptionally strong, so you could've put the poison in your own goblet, trusting on your strength to save you, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of you. But, you've also bested my Spaniard, which means you must have studied, and in studying you must have learned that man is mortal, so you would have put the poison as far from yourself as possible, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of me.
Man in Black: You're trying to trick me into giving away something. It won't work.
Vizzini: IT HAS WORKED! YOU'VE GIVEN EVERYTHING AWAY! I KNOW WHERE THE POISON IS!
Man in Black: Then make your choice.
Vizzini: I will, and I choose - What in the world can that be?
Vizzini: [Vizzini gestures up and away from the table. Roberts looks. Vizzini swaps the goblets]
Man in Black: What? Where? I don't see anything.
Vizzini: Well, I- I could have sworn I saw something. No matter.First, let's drink. Me from my glass, and you from yours.
Man in Black, Vizzini: [they drink ]
Man in Black: You guessed wrong.
Vizzini: You only think I guessed wrong! That's what's so funny! I switched glasses when your back was turned! Ha ha! You fool! You fell victim to one of the classic blunders! The most famous is never get involved in a land war in Asia, but only slightly less well-known is this: never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha...
Vizzini: [Vizzini stops suddenly, and falls dead to the right]
Buttercup: And to think, all that time it was your cup that was poisoned.
Man in Black: They were both poisoned. I spent the last few years building up an immunity to iocane powder.


Molly has completed 1 of 6 sessions of chemotherapy. Believe it or not, Chemotherapy is a practice where you receive a little poison, with the hopes that it will have a greater effect on the cancer than on the rest of the body. Molly has and will be receiving Vincristine, Carboplatin and Etoposide. Vincristine is derived from an plant that is endangered in the wild (but cultivated for herbal medicines). Etoposide is derived from a poisionous plant from the north-eastern North America. Carboplatin is a chemical based on Platinum. These are designed to attack the rapid cell growth in the Retinoblastoma, although they will affect Molly on a whole. Some of the common side effects are hair loss, nausea, and reduced blood cell production. So we will be giving Molly anti-nausea medication, oral antibiotics and a drug to stimulate her immune system.

The hope is that the chemo will reduce the tumors, and combined with Cryotherapy and Laser Therapy, we will be able to eradicate the cancer.

It's been 11 days, 165 to go.

Home

So, we're finally home. After some delays in Philadelphia, and a ride in a hot plane from Chicago we are back.

The Ronald McDonald House was truly a blessing. We're very grateful to have been able to stay there.

Our journey has begun and still has a lot of treking ahead of us. One of our concerns is that Molly doesn't come down with an infection while she's on the chemotherapy. Because it reduces cell production, it reduces blood cell production too. That means anemia, easy bruising, and reduced immune system response are concerns. Molly has a fever tonight and we hope that it's nothing serious and it's too soon to be chemo induced, but the oncologist warned us to keep in contact with either the doctors in Philadelphia or Omaha whenever something like that happens.

Can't wait to sleep in my own bed. We've been up since 3:30 AM CDT so that we could make our 7:54 AM EDT (6:45 AM) flight. It's been a long day.

Sleep

Kalee, Molly and Bradd are asleep. I'm about to go there myself soon. We had another big day. We met with the oncologist, then did the first round of chemotherapy. Molly did very well during the procedure.

When it was finishing up and when we got home she was fussy and it was really stressing Kalee out. Kalee hadn't been feeling well today too, so the whole ordeal this evening was very taxing on her. Bradd I were able to calm Molly by walking her and we were finally able to give her a bottle. Last I saw of her and Kalee, both were resting, and I think settling in for the night.

It's an emotional struggle. For me it feels like a set of things to do, to accomplish, all with many details to coordinate, and many people to work with to make sure all the wheels keep turning. For Kalee her number one concern is what Molly is experiencing. She has always been very empathic for both of our children. Maybe it's the maternal bond, maybe it's the level of communication that she has that goes beyond spoken word. I'm sure I'll never know, it is s very personal thing for her. I feel the pressure of dire consequences if I fail to perform, while kalee I think experiences the pain, frustration, and hardship that Molly is experiencing moment by moment.

If all goes well, and we can line things up with the airline, we may be able to travel home on Thursday. If not we maybe able to reschedule for Friday or Saturday. I'm not sure what the policy of the RMH is. I think I read something that asked families to move out as soon as their child was no longer receiving active treatment. But they may be understanding with the airline requirements and all. We're a little stuck because with the emergency medical flight option we received from United, we are required to fly the same route home, which is through Chicago. Flying home through Denver doesn't really seem like a good option either, because it would mean an extra 2 hours in the air, and a 4 hour flight doesn't sound like something that would go well.

Sarah, Michael and lil' Sammy stopped by the RMH tonight after we were done at CHOP. They came over while Molly was receiving chemo too. It was really great to have them around. Kalee and Sarah chatted for most of the 3 hours it took to administer the drugs. Who knew having your sister live 19 hours away would become such a blessing (well in some ways 19 hours away already was ;) ). RMH has been really great also. I'm gonna have to find a way to repay them some day.

Go

We're starting chemotherapy. It's 3:15 PM. Molly will receive three types of chemo drugs during the course. Tomorrow morning, we're due back first thing, to finish this round. If all goes well, we'll be traveling home on Thursday. Besides the chemo, Molly will be getting an anti nausea medication, an antibiotic, and another drug to stimulate white blood cell production.

Hurry up

The schedule keeps advancing. They were able to get us in to the Oncology schedule today at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). So we are in the waiting room and going to go see the doctor. It's 10:20 AM. We got the news about an hour ago.

View from Wills

The offices for Dr. & Dr. Shields is located on the 14th floor of the Wills Eye Institute/Hospital. We were treated to this vista while in the waiting room.

Below is a photograph of books by the two doctors that were in the lobby at the base of the building.


So while writing two books, running the premiere eye tumor diagnosis and treatment clinic, this married couple also raised seven (7!) children.

So may be these aren't the best pictures, but all I had was my phone camera.

Prognosis with Great News!

The examinations are over and we have good news.

We started today very early. Our cab from the Ronald McDonald House arrived at 5:30 AM EDT. From there we were whisked (some what precariously) to the Wills Eye Hospital. There we began our examination with Dr. Jerry Shields who took our background and history around 8:00 AM.

By 8:45 Molly underwent a ultra sound scan of her eyes. She was a doll and slept through the procedure.

By 9:30 AM they performed a visual examination of all three of us. Dr. Carol Shields performed the examinations of first Kalee, then me, and finally Molly. Kalee and I were both completely normal. Molly didn't like the procedure because the doctor had to place a infant sized eye specula in her eye to hold it open.

By 10:30 AM Dr. Shields performed a retina camera procedure where she could take photographs of Molly's retinas and the tumors there. At the end of the examination she gave us her prognosis.


We have been blessed by God in knowing that Molly will not require surgery. She will undergo chemotherapy here at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Molly will have to under go 4 to 6 rounds of chemotherapy, once a month, two days in a row. Dr. Shields said that we caught the retinoblastoma early, and that most cases aren't caught until a year and a half.

All praise be to Jesus our Lord and Savior! He truly provides comfort and healing.

At the Wills Eye Institute

We're at the Wills Eye Institute, beginning examinations.

Whirlwind Week

Hi everyone. For those who we haven't been able to contact yet, on Monday, July 20th, Molly was diagnosed with bilateral retinoblastoma. Retinoblastoma is a kind of childhood cancer that affects the retina, and Molly has it in both eyes. Kalee had been worried that Molly couldn't focus on her, and was concerned about her vision. At Molly's scheduled 2-month exam, on Monday, the pediatrician took a look and referred us on to a pediatric ophthalmologist. From there we were on our way to Children's Hospital for an MRI and other tests. All to get ready for a trip to Philadelphia and to see doctors at the Wills Eye Hospital.

It's Sunday now, and God blessed us with wonderful traveling weather. We had no delays, and best of all there was room for us at the Ronald McDonald House. We've got an early morning tomorrow at Wills, and we'll just take one step at a time after that. We'll know more as the week goes on. Thank you all for all of your prayers, gifts and other help!

BTW: Kalee says that next time you see one of those coin boxes for the Ronald McDonald House, don't pass it up. Having this place available is a real blessing, it is very inexpensive, and accommodating to families.

Fireworks

Matt's camera skills at work... I like this picture. This is part of the big show in our neighborhood!

Some of the Family here for the holiday!

Matt and his cousins working on the basement...


Super Sammy sportin the mohawk...


Marcus and Raleigh playing in the tent at Papa's house...


Molly, sleeping... of course...


Marcus lovin his sister!

4th of July Parade!

Thank you Katie, for helping me take the kids to the parade! I think Marcus had a good time! He especially enjoyed the firetrucks and collecting the candy, of course! It is always fun to sit and watch all the wierd people, too. That was a long parade. Hope everyone had a safe 4th!