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Location: Athens, Ga, United States

Our son Ryan was diagnosed with stage 4 Neuroblastoma in 2004. In 2007, my wife Missy was diagnosed with stage 2 triple negative breast cancer. On July 8th, 2009, Missy lost her battle to this horrible disease. 2 days later, on July 10th, Ryan also lost his. Together forever, they both watch over our family now from the heavens above. Below is our families journey through Ryan's treatments, along with the joy and laughter we tried to instill into our daily lives. Those days helped us all cope with the pain and suffering that comes with cancer and it's deadly treatments. Both Missy and Ryan endured high doses of chemo, radiation and surgeries. Over 150 nights spent in the hospital and many, many more days. More transfusions than I could count. Yet both Missy and Ryan took on each day with a positive attitude and warm smile for all their friends. We miss them terribly. They will always be a shining light in our lives.

Saturday, January 15, 2005

 

Slow uphill battle

Ryan's white blood cells are as close to zero as you can get. He has had a low grade fever (under100). He had asked Missy if he could ever "run out of air". He had to have oxygen the day of his transplant to bring his O2 levels up, and he told me at 3am , (for the third time) that he wished he had "never gotten his tubes" (he equates those with the reason he is sick) but he is "just happy to be alive" :( It's hard to tell what is churning in his mind that he doesn't say. After several minutes of reassurance, he went on to tell me how much he loves his friends, family, and his pets (past and present) :)

He has progressed through this absolutely draining stage with strength and determination, and we are so very proud of him. It's bad enough to be this sick, but to be away from Heidi, Will and his home makes it so much harder for him to stay upbeat every day.

Please step up your prayers if at all possible. The feeling of knowing that we have used his last vile of stem cells gives a sense of urgency for them to take hold and begin to generate new cells. A bump in the road at this time is not what we need!

This disease feels as if you are climbing a 1000' shear rock face without a rope. Your fingers are cut and bleeding and you have made it three quarters of the way up. You're telling yourself you can't go back, but how can you possibly push on to the top. Then you realize it's not you on that cliff at all. It's your child, and you can't assist or rescue him, and all you can do is encourage him to keep climbing from a distance.

We are all going to be so over-joyed when Ryan makes it to the top, but no one will be as happy as Ryan.

Thanks again for keeping us all in your daily thoughts and prayers and may God bless all of you.

# posted by Ryan @ 1/15/2005 09:50:00 AM
Guest Book:
Will say a prayer for your son today.
Wish him a speedy recovery.
N from Phoenix.
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : 1:28 AM
 
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