- Name: Ryan
- 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.
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Saturday, August 13, 2005
Mentally regrouping
Any news other than "all clear" simply sends you spinning. We have spoken with Ryan's doctors in greater detail and our immediate plan is to have an ultrasound done early next week to hopefully get a clearer picture of his liver. No matter what that outcome of the scan is, we will still be repeating the CT and MIBG scans in 4 weeks. Dr. George needs the time to make sure there will be definitive changes between this week's scans and the next ones. He says he is cautiously optimistic, yet still nervous. Should the new scan intensify, Ryan will be scheduled for another surgery to biopsy the liver for conclusive identification. We were hoping for a simpler, less intrusive type (needle), but the proximity to Ryan's heart makes that approach too risky. If that is confirmed, Ryan will undergo another surgery to remove the potion of liver effected and begin chemo, then radiation. He had complained of pain in his back last weekend and in his chest yesterday. Missy ended up spending the day at school with Ryan and the pain went away. We are thinking there could be some separation anxiety going on after the last year of Ryan being with at least one of us 24/7. Missy explained to Ryan that he and she is "OK" while he is at school, and he is where he needs to be, not to worry. Obviously, we are hoping and praying that this all will not be required, but it is also slightly comforting knowing we have a plan. Ryan is in good spirits. His best friend Matt spent the night which always makes him very happy. Check out the video we added that tells about Alex Scott. You may have seen the huge posters of her hanging in the Mall of Georgia. Thank you all for your phone calls, emails, and posts to the daily chat, and most of all, your prayers for Ryan. It is so very comforting to know that so many are thinking of us. Please continue to lift Ryan up in prayer that his cancer is gone. Much love, Les, Missy, Heidi, Will, and SuperRyan
# posted by Ryan @ 8/13/2005 06:33:00 AM
