Please coninue to PRAY for Cody

Dear Family and Friends,

I have been meaning to get an update out sooner. I keep thinking that I will have more information and time "tomorrow"; however, it seems, this roller coaster ride is unending from one day to the next. We have our good days that we celebrate, the bad days we roll with.

He got his very last radiation treatment 5/26. He has m ore chemo to go after the last one he received 5/21. Because he had difficulties, again, right after receiving chemo, we have switched to plan C as far as a chemo map goes. From here on out, he will be taking "out patient" oral chemo…..less harsh as he cannot tolerate the original plan(s).

Shortly after the last update, he started having stomach issues. Food would go in and immediately out. So after all of the begging we did to get him to eat, he is now told to he has to be on a liquid diet so his stomach and intestines can heal. How cruel is that? But, he was a sport and savored his red Jell-O and broth. He is now eating regular food and enjoying every bite. The stomach issue seems to be resolved.

Since the last update he has been receiving pain medication through IV and a push button on demand. His feet and legs cause him great pain. The rest of his body is tender too, but nothing like his feet and legs. He has been on pain medication for three weeks, his body has become accustomed to it, and therefore the medication is no longer effective. On Wednesday, they changed his medication to another pain narcotic. On=2 0the switch, they reduced the dosage so he could ease into the new. Hence, we had a couple of very rough days/nights adjusting to the new to get the right combination of continuous and demand doses.

On 6/5 they took an x-ray of his feet; nothing to indicate the source of his pain. On 6/10, he had an MRI of his legs and feet to try to find the cause of the pain…still nothing. He is receiving medication to enhance bone marrow growth, which the doctors believe could be part of the source of pain. The other factor is that radiation continues to do its job for weeks/months after treatment and could cause inflammation, in Cody’s case his spine, where all of the nerves are.

He had an MRI on 6/5 of his brain and spine. Per the doctors, the tumors on his spine are reduced. Yeah! Thank you God!! Some changes on the brain, but they believe it to be treatment related/scar tissue, not tumors. Great news, as it appears the nasty chemo and radiation are doing what it is supposed to do to the tumors.

The most recent hurdle is that he has positive culture in his broviak line (infection). He had a fever for a couple of days, another reason his white counts and platelets were not improving as expected, because his body was busy trying to fight off this new bacteria. We are waiting the results for the most recent cultures, if they continue to come up positive, we will have to replace the broviak line…yet another surgery and challenge.

After chemo 5/21, his body had to fight to get his stomach issue resolved, the pain and now this….using precious white cells that he needs to recover and feel better so he can continue treatment to kill the cancer. At this point we are only a couple days behind the chemo schedule due to the unexpected challenges; his white count s and platelets need to be much higher to continue treatment. So we wait and pray.

At this point, he has limited use of his hands and feet. It is difficult for him to stand on his own, due to the pain and nerve issues. He started physical and occupational therapy last part of May, however, he has not been able to exercise since 6/4 due to pain. On June 4, my birthday, he mustered the strength to walk with his walker way further than we expected. I told him that was the best birthday present ever!! But the following day and since, he was just in too much pain to exercise. We are hoping and praying that with the switch of pain medication, the discontinuation of the medication that enhances bone marrow growth (hopefully in the next couple of days) and the reduction of inflammation (in time) caused by radiation will ease his pain so he can get back on track to recovery. As a parent, the most difficult thing ever is to see your child crying out in pain and not being able to do anything about it….particularly when you can’t even hold him close because it hurts too much…..it brings you to tears

Yesterday as Cody was coping with pain challenges, he yelled “Cancer Sucks!!! I had to agree with him. It really, really does. The first time around was a cake walk compared to this time. He endured the treatment with the sickness and generally feeling lousy first time, which was bad enough...but this time it is that PLUS the many challenges and obtacles thrown at him. He is growing weary of it all. He just wants to feel better and not be in pain. He doesn’t mind so much that his hands and feet aren’t behaving right now...it’s the pain that wears him down.

We feel very blessed to have so many faithful people praying for Cody/us and so many kind and giving people helping us out in this difficult time. We can’t thank you enough for your kindness and continued prayers.

Please pray for:

• Cody’s pain to go away
• Cody’s body to heal
• A big dose of strength, courage and will to keep fighting
• Our continued faithfulness

Humbly,

The Days