Kevin was 10 years old and in 4th grade when he was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma on January 26, 2005. A tumor was removed from his brain on January 25th. This page has been created for friends and family to follow Kevin's progress as we journey through the days ahead to treat and cure this disease.
Here is a timeline of Kevin's journey so far: Physical to determine why Kevin is having trouble with balance: 1/19/05 MRI at Unity Hosp. where tumor is discovered: 1/20/05 Admit to Mpls Children's to take care of Kevin and MRI to spine (no tumors found in spine): 1/20-1/21 Home to accept all of this and prepare for surgery: 1/21-1/24 Surgery to remove tumor: 1/25/05 Medulloblastoma diagnosis: 1/26/05 Home from hospital: 1/29/05 Spinal Tap (all clear!) and Port Placement: 2/11/05 30 rounds of radiation begins: 2/17/05 6 doses of Vincristine (chemo): 2/23, 3/3, 3/10, 3/18, 3/24, 3/30 Radiation ends with round 30: 3/30/05 Make A Wish Trip to Legoland San Diego: 4/16/05 - 4/20/05 First 3 month MRI (ALL CLEAR): 4/27/05 Chemo Round 1 In Hospital (Cycle A-Cisplatin, Lomustine, Vincristine): 4/29/05 Chemo Round 2 In Hospital (Cycle A): 6/10/05 Chemo Round 3 In Hospital (Cycle B-Cyclophosphamide/Cytoxan, Vincristine, MESNA): 7/22/05 Second 3 month MRI (ALL CLEAR): 7/29/05 Chemo Round 4 In Hospital (Cycle A): 8/19/05 Chemo Round 5 In Hospital (Cycle A): 9/30/05 Chemo Round 6 In Hospital (Cycle B): 11/11/05 Third 3 month MRI (ALL CLEAR): 12/2/05 Chemo Round 7 In Hospital (Cycle A): 12/9/05 Chemo Round 8 In Hospital (one week delay) (Cycle A): 1/27/06 Fourth 3 month MRI (ALL CLEAR): 3/8/06 Chemo Round 9 In Hospital (LAST ONE!!!)(Cycle B): 3/10/06 Last and FINAL dose of Chemo (vincristine): 3/16/06 Day surgery to remove port: 4/11/06 First MRI Post Treatment (ALL CLEAR): 5/8/06 Comprehensive Clinic: 5/9/06 Seizure/Stroke Like Episode: 5/26/06 EEG followup for seizure (Normal): 6/1/06 2nd EEG Followup for seizure (Normal): 6/16/06 Post Treatment MRI (#2)(ALL CLEAR): 8/23/06 Post Treatment MRI (#3) (ALL CLEAR): 11/22/06 Growth Hormone Stimulation Test: 1/24/07 Post Treatment MRI (#4) (ALL CLEAR): 3/1/07 Growth Hormone Trial: 4/2/07-4/6/07 Post Treatment MRI (#5) (ALL CLEAR): 8/21/07 Scripture of the day:
If you would like to help us, donations can be sent to: THE KEVIN MINKKINEN BENEFIT FUND TCF Bank 3345 124th Ave. NW Coon Rapids, MN 55433 (Any TCF Bank will accept donations to the fund) Your donation will help with Kevin's medical expenses and relieve financial pressures on the family. Thank you!! Please let us know if you donate directly to the fund so we can thank you!
These friends need our prayers too: Kyle P - Coon Rapids, MN (stage iv neuroblastoma) Danny W - Florida (medulloblastoma) Derek - Grand Forks AFB, ND (medulloblastoma) Allegra - Brooten, MN (gr. I juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma) Manda - St. Cloud, MN (ulcerative colitis & raynaud's disease)
These special ones are cancer free in heaven: Jacob C - Queensland, Australia (medulloblastoma - relapse) Colin - Park Rapids, WI (medulloblastoma - relapse)
Our God is a God of justice and surprises. Faithful, yet not predictable other than the fact that He is true to Himself and His Word and His people.
The greatest surprise is also the greatest certainty: His grace. So I do not doubt for a moment I will be in Heaven. For it is dependent on Him, not on me. If on me, I would have no doubt either—because I know Hell would await me. I thank Him for His assurance that what He has done for me is far greater even than what I have done against Him (and that is far greater than I grasp).~~~~Randy Alcorn
http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics - MySpace Layouts - Glitter Graphics Kevin and Dan playing the usual round of Pac Man while waiting. Can't help but smile knowing this is the LAST ONE!!!! Kevin's favorite Dr. Bostrom. What a team! Best nurse Sarah and Dr. Bostrom. We will always be grateful to them.
"Your righteousness is eternally right, your revelation is the only truth. Even though troubles came down on me hard, your commands always gave me delight. The way you tell me to live is always right; help me understand it so I can live to the fullest." Psalm 119:142-144 The Message
Cancer is so limited . . . It cannot cripple love. It cannot shatter hope. It cannot corrode faith. It cannot eat away peace. It cannot destroy confidence. It cannot kill friendship. It cannot shut out memories. It cannot silence courage. It cannot invade the soul. It cannot reduce eternal life. It cannot quench the Spirit. It cannot lessen the power of the resurrection.
Journal
Friday, July 18, 2008 11:37 AM CDT
***Update Friday night: The doctor thinks Kevin's cough is due to seasonal type allergies. He gave us some samples of zyzar (much like claritin only better) and a prescription for an inhaler with allerbuterol (sp?). He told us not to fill the prescription until we've tried the zyzar first. Kevin had to use an inhaler last fall around Thanksgiving when he was having trouble with a cough. Kev hasn't coughed much at all today so I'm hoping he has a better night. Last night he had a hard time getting to sleep until after I tried several remedies including cough syrup, a room humidifier, and finally I put him in the bathroom and ran the shower hot for about 10 minutes and gave him another dose of cough syrup. He slept after that and hasn't really coughed much since. It has been a strange cough/cold for sure. Hopefully, we're onto the right path now to get rid of it. End of update***
Thought it was time to post an update. We are having a very quiet summer. Kevin and I were at the lake for 2 weeks from June 27th to July 7th. It was very relaxing. Sam came on July 3rd and stayed with us. Kevin and Sam did lots of fishing and 4 wheeling. They had a good time. Dan was there for the first week and I know he's ready to get back up there as I am. I have 2 more weeks off work so I'm trying to enjoy it as much as I can. We're not doing much of anything but it has been nice to slow down.
We had Kate's graduation party on June 21st and it was so much fun. We had all worked hard on getting things ready and it was all worth it. We had lots of family, friends and neighbors come to celebrate Kate's high school graduation and to wish her well for her future plans. Kate went to a 2 week youth camp right after the party with her good friend Mica. Since then she has just been hanging out at home, sleeping late and getting together with friends. She has orientation at the community college on Monday. It will be time for classes soon.
Here are some pictures from the party...
Kevin trying not to smile.
Kate with her cake.
Some of the many friends who came.
Lots of cousins!
Kevin has been fighting a cold for 3 weeks so we are going to the doctor this afternoon. It seemed to be going away but yesterday he started coughing again so it's time to get in to get checked. We had him seen at the clinic in Big Fork while we were up north 2 weeks ago and at that time they felt it was just a summer cold. But, since it is not letting up and even seemed to be worse yesterday, I need to see what's going on.
Kevin is kind of bored this summer. He had fun with Sam but he isn't doing much at home. We need to find something for him to do for the rest of the summer.
Kevin has his next MRI scheduled for August 12th. We'll also have comprehensive clinic that day where all the specialists see Kevin over 4 hours. It is a thorough review of how Kevin is doing. I'm hopeful for all good news because Kevin has been doing fine (other than this cold). I'll update all we find out.
I hope everyone checking on Kevin is having a nice summer. Let us know you stopped by.
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