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
Saturday, May 30, 2009 2:12 PM CDT
***UPDATE: Adding a picture of Kevin from our last trip to the lake...
END OF UPDATE***
Kevin has one more week of middle school. I can't believe how fast 3 years went by. The beginning of 6th grade was just a few months after his last chemo treatment. He was still feeling the effects of treatments that entire school year. Wow, has he come a long way since then. 7th grade brought the beginning of growth hormone treatments and we saw lots of improvement in strength and stamina that year. 8th grade went by in a flash. Kevin is biking in phy-ed this quarter and some days they ride around 15 miles. He is having no problems keeping up with that so that tells me he is doing great! Kevin has passed me and Kate up in height now and his voice is trying really hard to change to a lower octave. Academically, Kevin has kept an A average all through middle school making the A honor roll every quarter! Not that it has been easy, but he is the type of kid that perseveres. Oh, he gets tired of it and lets some things go, especially at the end of the year, but he is a very determined student most of the time. Next it is high school and a move to an almost 3000 student school population...quite a contrast to only 120. I think I'm more worried about that than him. My prayer is that he gets reacquainted with old friends and makes some good new ones. That will make things fun and the rest will fall into place. No doctor appointments until the end of July and that will be with endocrine and ENT, so nothing major at all this summer. We plan to take it easy enjoying our lake place and having nothing to do for awhile. I will have 6 weeks off starting on June 19th. After a week at home getting a little done around here, I plan to head up to the lake for at least 3 weeks straight. Can't wait...
Have a wonderful summer everyone who stops here to read this! Please keep Kevin in your prayers for continued good health.
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