Dejah's Smile !

Here in Dejah's journal you will read an amazing story of a courageous little four year old and the mountains that he has climbed on his journey to being healthy again.
We created Dejah's Journal to keep family and friends informed of Dejah's treatments and progress as well as a writen journal for ourselves to remember always what a brave little soldier Dejah is each and every day! Please don't forget to say "Hello" in the guest book while you're visiting.

Dec 31st 2003...Dejah was diagnosed with Wilm's Tumour, (stage III) Chemotherapy treatments began Jan 4th, 2004.
March 30, 2004...Surgery (11 hours)to remove the tumour & left kidney. Dejah had a 12 day recovery (5 days in ICU)in hospital. A whole new 34 week chemotherapy protocol began, starting with 11 days of radiation therapy.



July 2007...Wilm's Tumor Relapse
A second journey begins.....
Sept. 5th, 2007 Stem Cell Harvesting
Sept. 24th, 2007 Dr. Blair performs his magic with more surgery...5 days in hospital.
Oct 29th-Nov 14th, 2007 Radiation daily to abdomen and surrounding area.
March 4th, 2008 Mega-Therapy begins with Stem Cell Transplant on day 8.

Journal

Thursday, November 13, 2008 7:14 PM CST

Well...Dejah has graduated to the next step to the end of this battle with cancer!

We went in to BC Children's today for some tests.
First off was blood work, always quick and easy...he even goes in by himself now. "it's okay Mom, I'm good." he says.

Then we went for chest Xrays. he's a pro at this, they don't even have to tell him when to hold his breath or where to put his hands, he knows the drill all too well. She offered him a sticker that said I had an Xray today. Dejah said "do you have one that says like a 1000?" TOUCHE!

From there he had an Ultra sound of the abdomen and area. We had a favorite tech, she's known us since day one and even remembers Rayne's name and all aboit us. She has an 8 yr old boy...I think she is touched by Dejah, and couldn't get over how tall he is now. Then she had to scan his R groin as well, to make sure the clot is gone and we can stop this blood thinner shot in the leg. She came out smiling...smiling is good :-) All is well and off to the cafeteria for some FOOD! Yes, fasting since midnite for the ultrasound.

Then we went to the OUT PATIENT clinic to see the docs. This is the graduation I spoke of at the top. This is where every family longs to be....it means you are done treatment, it means ALOT!!!!! and I'm bawling as I type this, but they are happy tears and it's okay. (I just wish we were ALL here now) but one step at a time...Dejah is here! He kicked cancer in the butt again! See Ya!!!!

Jane, the blood doc. said she has honestly never met another Dejah. She said most kids wimper and whine and miss school and stay in bed all day....when they are on these enoxoparin shots. Oh no, not Dejah...he runs from morning til night, plays hockey 2x a week, runs outside with his friends...runs up and down the hallway, when he can't run anywhere else. He stays positive, thinks positive and never lets anything get hime down! Jane loves him...and his whole demeaner...we do too!

Eva, our favorite oncologist said she too is most pleased with Dejah's lack of complaints and believes that this is what keeps hime so healthy. He got the gold star today, from everyone....and we move on to 2month visits! Eva got verbal results from everyone that all looks a-ok! We'll get a call only if someone sees something, but that's unlikely! So people...celebrate! High Fives and Hugs and lots of happy dancing and always stay positive, always!!!

We went for dinner last night...yup, we pre-partied! Just to Red Robin's, but we love those burgers, love em! Yum! I'm packing to go on a nice week end away with Donna, Joanne & Shanon. This has been a long planned trip, our 2nd annual, but I am going with a much bigger smile on my face now, as I won't be worry-warting about 'things'. I leave in the morning...yeah!

Dejah has been playing hockey, as I mentioned. He enjoys it very, very much. Tues & Wed nights he comes home all sweaty, with the rosiest cheeks ever! I love it! This is what he has always wanted to do...and he's doing it! He is doing fabulous in school, all spelling tests come back 20/20 and he flies thru any homework...so he knows it! He really enjoys going, he's social and he loves his teachers!

Rayne is still tap dancing, but she opted out of the musical theatre. She will be taking some acting classes soon thru a gentleman we met over the summer. She did a 4 week thing with him and has a CD of the movie they did. "Night at the Museum" very cute! She also has a paper route now, 3 nights a week, so has her own spending money, which she spends. LOL! She is also doing well in school and is social (to say the least)so loves her time with her friends at school and after. I think she is going to the rec dance tomorrow night.

Robert...working hard and happy to be doing so. He worries about the economy and looking after us, so doesn't complain when work is busy. He enjoys the Ultimate Fighting and gets together with o bunch of 'the guys' everytime it is on PPV...I think there is one this weekend, here at our house! (ahhh, I'm away :-)

Me...smiling my ass off right now! Life is good! I haven't gone back to work, but have kept up with my fundraising efforts with the Michael Cuccione Foundation. It has been going very well and am hoping to carry on, and on, and on. I'll post "my thing" at the end and hope you can help spread the word that I take donations...as well as sell them :-) The Skate For A Cure here at GM Place, with the Canucks is coming up in Feb '09. I have joined in this year as a volunteer and have my first meeting on Monday, I'm very ecxited about that!! Anyone else wanna join!? Just give me a shout...the more the merrier!!

We are slso planning a little trip to Edmonton, the WEMall and The Skate For A Cure there with the Oilers on Dec 20th. Getting all the details and then will book it! We have always promised the kids a trip there, and tho Dec 20th is probably a crazy time to go...it's also a good time. Edmonton Ice...meet & greet with some of the players and of course, Dej & Dad will attend an Edmonton game while Rayne & I shop and hot tub :-)

First promise....many, many to go :-)

Well I hope I caught you all up! I'm sorry, I'm not much of a writer any more. And when things are good...well, we're enjoying them. So it's a good thing when I don't write here, really it is!!!

We're ALL on Face Book now...you can see us there! Look us up, click on us and say "hi"

Love to you all...thanx for checking in on us :-) and reading our Happy News!! Don't forget to dance!!

...........................................................
My name is Gloria Milne, our son Dejah, is in grade 3 @ Eagle Ridge Elementary, Coquitlam

I sell new and used items on Craig’s List and in various garage type sales.
I do this to raise funds for The Michael Cuccione Foundation
http://www.childhoodcancerresearch.org
Finding a CURE for Kids Cancer

We have lived the life of Cancer and wish it upon no one.
We met Gloria & Dominic (Michael’s Parents) 3 years ago.
They have a wonderful foundation and I know for a fact that 100f all donations go straight to the Children’s Lab at BC Children’s Hospital.
(Unfortunately not all causes can say that)
If you would like to browse my items and perhaps buy an item or 2
http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca
type in **MCF** in the search engine

In turn…if you have any gently used items you wish to donate to our cause...Please do not hesitate to contact me at any time. Thank you so very much!

530 Carlsen Place, across from Eagle Ridge Hospital off Guildford Drive
604-461-8446 or gbrd4@shaw.ca

.......................................

It's Kourageous Calendar Time too :-)
Dejah & I have done this every year for 5 in a row...I totally forgot about it this year. So....I will support Tracy & Emma Sheepwash by having all my friends and family buy thru them.
Okay everyone! Bring on the orders! And remember that my favorite 6 year old has her very own art work in here!!!
Love you Em :-)
**Emma is in the picture above with Dejah & Dominic...and both of their websites are posted below...please take the time to read of their journeys too.

(from Tracy'e Facebook page)
Some children being treated in the Oncology department of BCCH have drawn pictures, and a 14 month calendar was made. Every picture drawn, thells a brief story of the "Kourageous Kid" fighting this disease. The calendars are $10.00
All proceeds go to Balding for Dollars, which provides assistance to the families in Oncology. Its a great cause.
Emma has some of her own art work in the calendar. Our family will be selling them, to help the families in Oncology.
I will take orders, by phone, and I take Visa, Master Card and American Express.....cash or cheque. If you order from me, I will cover the costs of shipping, not a problem.
Oh ya, and tell your friends!!!!!!
Hope to hear from you soon

tracywithmarykay@hotmail.com
604-809-6763 or phone her!

Read Journal History

Hospital Information:

B.C. Children's Hospital
4500 Oak Street
Vancouver, BC

Links:

E-mail Author: gbrd4@shaw.ca