Journal

Wednesday, May 2, 2007 11:19 PM CDT

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth; It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:10,11


It is hard to believe that this day has finally come! I vividly remember sitting in the PICU during Brady’s GI Bleed and talking on the phone to a woman whom I now consider a good friend, who was then and still is a Godly woman that the Lord placed in my life, a mother who was walking in my shoes. She understood exactly what I was feeling at that very moment because she too had a child that had experienced the same things that Brady was desperately fighting. Kay told me that there indeed was a light at the end of the tunnel and that we too would one day reach it and to never give up on our faith that that day would come. Thank you Kay, for being there, for sharing your wisdom and being such a wonderful example of God’s love.

I wanted to document today, the very last time that he would receive chemo in his port, the very last day that he would have a foreign object in his body, the very last day that this Cancer would make him cry.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A CHILD THAT KICKED CANCER’S BUTT




We were feeling kind of nostalgic and wanted to go where all of this truly began, Oregon Park. As we walked by the T-Ball field it all came flooding back to me, the memories of how he would cry as he was running the bases because his legs hurt so bad. I thought it was growing pains but knew it had to be much more when Mr. King had to carry him off the field. I remember standing at that same field and having members of the Board of OP present Brady with a sign that still hangs in our garage today that states: All Our Homeruns Are For You Brady Scott and they had baseball players from the entire park sign this banner, it is a true treasure. I remember the look on his face when he was able to join his team again to play ball, he was so swollen from the steroids that his dimples disappeared, but the light in his eyes was breathtaking. It was so hard for me to allow him to go out there but the need for normalcy was far greater than my fears. I remember all of the faces of our friends and his friends when he walked out on that field for the first time after he was diagnosed, faces filled with joy, concern, admiration but above all else, faces filled with love.

We were able to see one of Brady’s oldest and dearest friends, Michael John, play in his game. One of Brady’s preschool buddies, Landon also plays with MJ and then to top it all off we got to see their team play against a team that has another dear friend on it, Will.


Brady,Will and Michael John

Brady was supposed to be taking it easy but next thing I know Will’s daddy, Sam, has the three of them out on the field pitching to them. Brady finds his rhythm and starts whacking them over the fence on the 8yrold field, his count was four, with “a bunch that one hopped the fence Mom!” When asked how he did fielding………..”It was awesome, I made some awesome catches!”

Listening to him describe his evening brought it all into perspective and made me so very thankful that he does not remember what we remember. Baseball is what he loves. It is something that he has always been able to focus on, his normal, no matter what the circumstances.





He had to be at the AFLAC Cancer and Blood Disorder Center at Scottish Rite this morning at 10am to receive his LAST chemo treatment via his port. Before leaving, we prepared the “magic” cream that numbs the skin covering his port so that the needle stick isn’t quite as painful.



Yes, we use Press’n Seal to cover it. Brady has very sensitive skin and the Press’n Seal works wonderfully to keep the cream in place and then it comes off with no pain what so ever.



Once we arrive at the clinic and get him signed in, off he goes to play games. The clinic is loaded with all kinds of video games and the nurses ALWAYS know where to find him.



After he is triaged it is off to his room. Because he is contained and he has Shelby there, the “little brother” syndrome begins. They annoy each other until Nurse Kim and Nurse Mary show up.



Dr. Lew is “officially” Brady’s Oncology Doctor and his nurse is Kim.




Kim accesses Brady’s port most of the time however, today, she had a very sick patient and was unable to do it so Nurse Mary, Dr. B’s nurse, stepped in.

She cleans the area around his port first with alcohol and betadine



She then inserts a Huber needle into his port so that she can draw blood and administer his chemo.



Brady is then allowed to flush his own line, which he thinks is very cool!





Next, it is Mrs. Terry’s turn to inspect our little man! She is one of the Nurse Practitioner’s that work with Dr. Lew and Dr. B. He gets a thorough inspection, head to toe, nose to throat, you name it, she checks it.



That’s it, on any other day Nurse Kim would take the needle out of his port but THIS DAY it was left in so that they could use it in the Operating Room.

Before leaving we had to say “see ya later” to Kati. Kati is a childhood cancer survivor. She now works at AFLAC but we met her at Camp Sunshine where she is a faithful volunteer, giving back what others gave to her.



Off we go to the other end of the Scottish Rite campus to Day Surgery. Brady is being such a trooper about not being able to eat. I don’t think he asked one time if he could have something. We got him in his pre-op room and got him into the lovely gown that was provided. The children’s gown did nothing for his figure so we had to resort to an adult one. ;0)

Before we knew it it was time for him to go back. He had some “silly juice” and was quite relaxed when Nurse Meryl came to get him. Watching him being rolled through those doors this time held quite a different meaning. In March of 2004, it was like he was being sucked into this huge abyss, I had no idea what to expect, I could barely absorb what all we had been told in less than 24 hours and here they were taking my baby boy from me and all I could think was “Oh my, will I ever see his sweet, sweet, smile again?” This time, as I stood watching,





I could barely contain my thankfulness that the Lord had us walk this journey and here we were, stepping to the other side, completely different people, better people, all the while hoping we had made our Father proud with the way we handled this trial. I believe in my heart of hearts that we have and we will continue to use what the Enemy meant to harm us with to further the kingdom of God.



Brady will continue to take his daily chemo until May 14.



Then he is FINISHED, DONE, CAPUT, FINITO!

Thanks to each of you for your faithful prayers today. They mean so much and were felt the entire day. As my girlfriend Jill’s daughter says, “I’m poofed!” Off to bed I go. Sweet dreams!

Living with Purpose
Loving with Passion,

Ted, LaFortune, Shelby and Brady

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