Tyler’s Journey…

How fitting that to mark the two-month anniversary of Tyler’s initial admission to Hopkins with AML, we find out that Tyler has a SECOND perfectly matched bone marrow donor!  This lets the transplant team choose carefully between the two donors, possibly eliminating auto-immune disorders such as eczema or anything more serious the donors may have.  We are sooooo happy!   Also on the […]

A lot of the music I listen to on 95.1 Shine FM has really been getting me through some rough times.  This one, by MikesChair, is one of Tyler’s and my favorites.  It’s called Let the Waters Rise.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ln5DIlGEWc&feature=related Don’t know where to begin; It’s like my world’s caving in, and I try, but I […]

Tyler was taken to the ICU early this morning after a very rough night. He has an infection, but they still can’t identify the source.  He’s receiving heavy hitting antibiotics and antifungals. Because his blood pressure’s been dipping dangerously low, he needs constant monitoring. Please pray for him and for the doctors to treat him […]

Ty is stable in the ICU – it looks as though they got to his infection before sepsis set in. It’s possible nothing will grow on his cultures, and they’ll never be able to identify his infection. The thought is that one of the mucositis sites in his GI tract is infected. At any rate, […]

Tyler’s body continues to try to fight his infection, resulting in continued low blood pressure.  The first part of the day, Tyler required the highest level of dopamine he’s been on yet.  This was so incredibly discouraging to all of us as there just didn’t seem to be an end in sight to the misery […]

Folks from Crossroads Church and Connections Church organized a fundraising event in Tyler’s honor that took place tonight.  Many of his friends were able to get involved.  They had planned on streaming Tyler into the event, but of course he is too sick in the PICU.  If you click on the link below you can watch the […]

There must be so many people praying for Tyler’s blood pressure and infection!  Yesterday he wasn’t doing too well and was requiring higher and higher levels of dopamine.  Last night, his levels improved enough for them to try to wean him off a bit.  He then tried to drink some water and was very ill […]

I’m writing this from Tyler’s room back on the oncology ward!  Boy, does it feel good to be back here and out of the ICU – the longest 3 1/2 days of our lives.  Tyler is much better than he has been, but is still extremely weak.  He couldn’t wait to shower, and he even got […]

Tyler’s doing great!  Today they took him off two of his four antibiotics, and he seems to be doing fine with that.  His blood pressure has been good as well!  They also discontinued his continuous morphine since he has no more pain. Tomorrow, they will reduce his TPN from 24 hours to 20 hours, giving him a four […]

I’m feeling giddy as I write this post!  Today (Wednesday) the docs said that Tyler will be sent home either Friday or Saturday.  Next Tuesday, he will spend the day in the Outpatient Clinic getting labs drawn, having a bone marrow aspirate and a lumbar puncture, as well as an echocardiogram.  I figured he’d have to […]

My son is my hero.  About a month ago, he reluctantly agreed to participate in a free professional photo shoot offered to oncology patients, called Flashes of Hope.  Our appointment was set for November 17th at 9:30 AM.  Tyler hates having his picture taken.  But his mom convinced him that having professional photos of him […]

Tyler made counts today, and he is HOME!!!

Many folks over the past 2 ½ months have expected me to be angry or questioning over Tyler’s cancer. I’ve decided to journal my thoughts on this and post it for others to read. I’ll probably go on for quite a while, so please bear with me or just skip this entry all together. I […]

Tyler’s Facebook status today said, “I really, honestly love all of you.” Tyler may be feeling weak, miserable, shattered by his appearance and isolated from his social life.  He may be facing a very uncertain future.  But he is also feeling embraced and loved in ways he’s never before experienced.  It’s good the way God works.

Tyler’s post on Facebook today was “Home Sweet Hopkins.”  Here we are again, this time for chemo course #3. To update you on Tyler’s home visit, which started a week ago today, it was kind of topsy turvy.  He certainly wasn’t the same boy he was on his first home visit.  He just never quite felt very […]