History

Friday, December 2, 2005 0:04 AM CST

I write this entry with horrible sadness, Isaac passed very peacefully on Wednesday morning at home with me and Dan holding his hands. All that I can say is thank you Isaac for the most wonderful honor of being you mommy, you have brought me so much joy and happiness. I will carry your love in my heart forever and ev

Friday, November 18, 2005 9:46 PM CST

Hello, It is with a very heavy heart that I write this entry. We returned to Philidelphia on Wednesday for follow up scans. The CT showed a new large tumor on his left side and also a tumor in his liver. So the MIBG was successful in that it gave Isaac a couple of good weeks, but it didn't stop the progression. So doing another treatment is now not an option. So we had to make the decision to bring him home, which is the only place he wants to be lately, and love him. He has been so strong and so brave, he is just worn out. I always wondered how I would decide when was enough enough. But I have come to realize that it really isn't my decision. Isaac no longer wants to go to the hospital, he no longer asks to go when he dosen't feel well. A couple of weeks ago he was have severe pain in his left side, now we know was caused from the tumor, and we were trying to get him to go to the hospital and he said to me, " I don't want to go anymore, they don't help me. All they do is make me do stuff." He is having pain in his legs, stomach, and also under his left arm. We are still working on pain control. We did double his dilaudid dose and on Monday we will be going to Pittsburgh to get things set up for home care so tha we won't have to take him in to the hospital very often. I really don't know what to write I am just sittin here looking and this screen and thinking I feel so lucky that he picked me as his mom. I have five years of wonderful memories that will last for ever. Please continue to pray for him, Thank you for checking up on us. I will write soon.
God Bless
Shawnna

Tuesday, November 1, 2005 9:25 PM CST

hello everyone. I want to first and foremost thank each and everyone of you for checking up on us and for all of the prayers. They have truely been answered. Isaac is doing wonderfully. I don't have any "real" proof that the MIBG has been successful. But I know that three weeks ago my little guy couldn't walk or move his left arm and now today he is up moving around and is very persistant on going to school tomorrow. So let's go back to October 13th what I have to say is the worst day I have face so far along this journey. Bubba had to have an MIBG scan to make sure that the dye that they will inject will in fact cling to the tumor. So the results from that were not very good at all. They showed that his disease had progressed futher and that the chances of this treatment helping were slim to none. So Dr. Maris sat me down and discussed foregoing any more treatments. Now, as all of you parents with sick kids know, this is always in the back of your mind no matter how positive you try to be it is always there. I honestly felt like i had been hit by a train. Now here I am 400 miles away from home and I have a doctor asking me if I want to give up. My first thought was this guy is crazy, he just don't know Isaac, he has never seen him when he was going through a rough patch, he dosn't know the strength that this kid has. And as he continued to talk I started to REALLY hear what he was saying. WHEN?? do you make that decision. So now we have about 12 hours to decide. Dan, who we decided should stay home to be with Kayla, right away left to come out. And we decided even with the risks envolved with the treatment we had to try. There really wasn't any other option. There is no way I could take Isaac home without trying. That evening Isaac had been hooked up to a PCA pump to control his pain, Once they fineally got it hooked up he began to feel a little better. So Friday morning Isaac went to surgery to have a foley placed. And Friday afternoon he had his treatment. Saturday morning when we woke up we noticed that his lower body was beginning to swell. And all weekend long it got worse, I continued to ask to doctor's what was going on and kept getting the same response "It is because he is not moving around." Well by Monday morning I had enough. I told them that we wanted to go home, back to Pittsburgh where people knew him and he knew them. I just couldn't take anymore of their side stepping. So after some very tense moments , we got some answers. Isaac has a tumor by his lymp nodes in his right groin area, and since it has grown so much it was obstructing the flow of fluids through his body. And sense they have been pumping him full of fluids all weekend long they were, I guess you could say trapped inside of his body. By this point his radiation levels are low enough that they can turn down his fluids. So that help in slowing the swelling down. I can;t even beginto describe to you haow swelled up this poor kid was. His little peebob was HUGE he wasn't able to close his legs. So now he is having pain from the tumors and to top it off he is having pain from all of this swelling. Tuesday morning we find out that they are going to release us to come home. YEAH!!!! I am so prowd of my little guy he did so good on the drive home, for as sick as he was. Once we got home he seemed to be feeling a little bit better. But he has absolutely no desire to eat and he wasn't able to go to the bathroom. So he bean to have stomach aches, and wasn't sleeping very well either. But we were staring to see some improvements. Each day was better that the one before. By Friday the swelling was going down, He was really looking good. His pain was better, things were starting to look up. But then on Monday we hit a bump. Isaac's Mediport quit working. Which means that he isn't able to recieve his pain medication through his PCA pump anylonger. So we had the option of being admitted to the hospital and using an IV or going home and trying oral medication. Isaac was very determined that he wanted to go home, so we came home. But since he had been recieving meds around the clock continously he was now facing a slight withdrawl. But we made it through, On this past Friday Isaac had his new mediport placed, but during the surgery, he had some slight bleeding so the doctor didn't feel comfortable removing the old one. We will have to go back and have it taken out. And he still continues to get better everyday. His withdrawl symptoms are getting less and less. He is just very emotional about things, he worries about everything.BUt all in all he has made a complete turn around. Here is a kid who three weeks ago was not able to move his left arm at all is now able to play, a kid who three weeks ago could not even take one step is now asking me to please let himgo back to school. I now looking back know that we, with absolutely no dought in my mind made the right decision. So, what next, Isaac with go through all of his scans again and see if there has been any response, I don't need them to show me that there has been, and hopefully we will be back in Philidelphia by December for his second treatment. And the new year will, I pray, be the best one yet.I thank you all for your prayers and all of you for your support. We couldn't make it through all of this with out you and most importantly God. He is my rock, I have complete trust and faith in him to see me and all of us parents struggling to make the right decision through this. I know that no matter what the outcome is that Isaac will always be loved and he will always be safe. I guess that is what helps me get through this. So once again please keep praying, Isaac said to me today that he is better because of all the people praying for him. So please know that they are working. Please also remember Carter, he had his tratment the same week as Isaac. You can visit his page at www.caringbridge.org/pa/carterfinger So once again, take care and GOD BLESS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Shawnna

Tuesday, October 11, 2005 8:48 PM CDT

well real quick we are off to philidelphia, i'll talk to you when we get back!!
Wish us luck!!!
And don't forget your prayers!!!
Shawnna & Isaac

Sunday, October 2, 2005 2:37 AM CDT

Hello everyone, Well let me tell you what September sure was a long month. It started out with Isaac having leg pain. Well the pain got to the point that he had to go to "the big city" as we call Pittsburgh to recieve IV morphin and dilaudid. And fineally it seemed the pain was going to ease up. As his left leg began to feel better his right leg swelled up once again. So we ended up changing his chemo around and he recieved somemore radiation. But here we are one week away from our big Philidelphia trip and he is doing wonderful. Isaac's blood counts are still low from his last treatment. But on the bright side of things, he is begining to behave like himself again. There was about 4days where he wouldn't eat even a little bite of some food. And you can really tell the few pounds that he lost. But I think it will pop back up soon he seems to be having a good appitite. And with halloween coming up soon, who knows maybe we will have to buy him new pants again. That is the latest scoop. Kayla is also doing extremely well in school and gymnastics. She will be celebrating her birthdy a little early this year because we won't be her for the actual day. But that is o.k. She is having friends over for a sleepover and danceparty. It will be a blast. So O.K. so please keep up the prayers, and please don't forget to pray extra for our trip we need good results from philidelphia. Also remember all of our little friends, who have touched our lives. Thank you again for checking up on us it means so much,
GOD BLESS

Shawnna

Friday, August 26, 2005 11:55 PM CDT

HELLO EVERYONE, WELL OUR TRIP TO PHILIDELPHIA WENT GREAT. DR. MARIS WAS WONDERFUL AS WAS HIS NURSES. HE WANTS TO START ISAAC'S TREATMENTS IN OCTOBER. YEAH!!!! I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW RELIEVED I AM. WE WILL PROBABLY BE THERE FOR ABOUT A WEEK. IT JUST ALL DEPENDS ON HOW QUICKLY HIS RADIATION LEVELS COME DOWN. I WAS REALLY SCARED WHEN HE STARTED TO TELL US MORE ABOUT THE TREATMENTS, BECAUSE, GET THIS ISAAC WILL BE RADIOACTIVE!! CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT. HE WILL HAVE TO WEAR A MONITOR TO KEEP TRACK OF HIS RADIATION LEVELS. AND BE IN A LEAD SEALED ROOM. HE WILL HAVE TO STAY IN BED BEHIND THESE LEAD WALLS. BUT THEY SAID THAT THEY WILL HAVE LOTS OF STUFF TO KEEP HIM BUSY. INCLUDING VIDEO GAMES . I THINK HE WILL DO AWESOME. SO HERE WE GO, PLEASE KEEP UP THE PRAYERS, THEY HAVE GOTTEN US THIS FAR, THEY WILL GET US THE REST OF THE WAY.
SO, THE KIDS STARTED SCHOOL. KAYLA WAS REALLY NERVOUS BUT SHE WAS FINE AFTER HER FIRST DAY. ISAAC HASN'T ACTUALLY GONE TO SCHOOL YET HE HAS JUST BEEN DOING ORIENTATION. BUT MONDAY IS THE BIG DAY. HE WILL GET TO GET ON THE SCHOOL BUS. I WILL BE SURE TO HAVE A BIG BOX OF TISSUES SITTING RIGHT BESIDE ME. I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO DO WITH THEM BOTH AT SCHOOL. I WILL BE SO LONELY. TODAY DAN TOOK HIM DOWN TO PUT HIS SUPPLIES IN HIS DESK AND WHEN THEY GOT HOME HE SAID "THERE IS A GIRL IN MY CLASS THAT HAS A SPIDERMAN BOOKBAG!!" ISAAC WAS WEARING A SPIDERMAN SHIRT AND DAN SAID THAT SHE CAME UP TO HIM AND SAID "I REALLY LIKE YOUR SHIRT. SPIDERMAN IS MY HERO." I JUST KNEW HE WAS GOING TO BE A HEARTBREAKER. KAYLA'S BIG KNEWS WAS THAT HER CLASSROOM WAS MOVED TO UPSTAIRS AND THIS YEAR SHE GETS A LOCKER!!! SHE WAS SO EXCITED. SO I THINK THA IS ABOUT ALL. PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR MY BUBBA. AND ALSO REMEMBER ALL OF OUR FRIENDS. TAKE CARE AND GOD BLESS!!!!
SHAWNNA

Saturday, August 20, 2005 2:42 PM CDT

hello everyone, I am once again sorry for not updating sooner. We have been realyy busy around here, between all of Isaac's doctors appt. and Kayla's activities getting ready for school and on top of that I am still working full time. Let me just say that I am so crazy these days I sometimes forget what day it is. We went to Lake Erie this past weekend and had a great time. Isaac was feeling kind of yucky on Saturday but Sunday he started to perk up again. And now he has made a complete turn around and is back to his normal self. Some of you may not know what has been going on lately so let me bring you up to speed. As you know in July Isaac had some progression into his lymp nodes, he has been doing o.k. but the chemo has just kind of been slowing it down, but not killing the cells. Well during his last treatment he was having fevers the whole week, and his leg began to swell up again. So on Friday, before we left fo our trip, Isaac had to go to the clinic to recieve a blood transfusion, iv antibiotics, chemothearpy, and also some radiation on his upperthigh and under his arm, where his has been having all of this swelling, a very busy and emtionally draining day. As you can see the trip away was well needed. But as I was saying earlier he has made a complete turn around. He no longer needs his pain meds. and he is eating better. So now to look to the next step. As I told you before we are trying to get out to Philidelphia to see about doing an MIBG treatment, well I got The doctors name and phone number from Dr. Orlando and called him and great news we are going on Weds. to meet with him. Please pray that he will have some good news for us. I will let you know what we find out when we get back. So until then PLEASE continue to pray for my little guy. He needs them now more than ever. Also remember our friends that are going through this nightmare as well. Please continue to check up on us, I do try to update as often as I can. Thanks again for all of you love, support and most of all your prayers!!!!

God Bless all of you

Shawnna

Saturday, August 20, 2005 2:42 PM CDT

Friday, July 29, 2005 2:22 AM CDT

ello everyone, sorry bout not doin more udates. I really on't ave an excuse except that by the end of the day I'm tired. So anyway Isaac is doing well he as some new tumor, so there is now little bit more on our plate but I can honestly say that e as looked better in the last few weeks than he has all summer. His energy level is up his color is great, he really just looks awesom. So now for our plan of action. We are still doing chemo, with hopes that he can stay on schedule about a month ago Isaac had an infection and missed most of his treatment. And this, I believe is when it progressed. And we are looking into a treatment in Philidelpia, it is clled MIBG it is a dianostic scan for neuroblatoma, but they will give him ahigh dose and possible stem cell rescue. So please pray that the Doctor will give it a try. Because if I know one thing it is that Isaac is not done fighting yet. Please continue to check up on us and PLEASE kep up the prayers we really need them right now. Take care and GOD BLESS!!

Shawnna

Monday, June 27, 2005 10:20 PM CDT

Hello everyone, really quick update. Isaac is doing great he has improved so much in the last month. It is so nice to see him feeling well again. He started his third round of Irinotecan and Temador on Wednesday but we had to stop on friday because he had a positive blood culture. So he had to stay at the hospital for the weekend. Thank the Lord the infection cleared up quickly and was home by SUnday. He will continue on IV antibiotics at home for the rest of the week. We will go to the clinic on Friday to see Dr. Orlando and hopefully start back on his treatments next week. Sunday July 3rd is Isaac's 5th birthday. So I am glad that he wiil be home and feeling well. Kayla is doing great also. Although she is bored already. School hasn't even been out a month yet!! I am still planning on sending Isaac to school in the fall. He is so excited about getting a lunch box. I thank that is all of the latest. I truely thank you for checking up on us. I am really sorry I don't update more. I started a new job about a week before Isaac relasped this last time, so now I an trying to juggle kids, home, and a job. But I will try to update more in the future. Please continue to pray for Isaac he really truely needs them. Also please pray for our friend Carter. He has relasped again, and needs lots of prayers and support. You can visit his website at www.caringbridge.org/pa/carterfinger
and also please remember Angel Alex and Angel Elijah's families as they continue to grieve the lose of their wonderful boy's. Again thank you for all of you thoughts and prayers. Take care and God Bless!!!!
Shawnna

Sunday, May 15, 2005 9:14 AM CDT

Hello everyone, I am so sorry I haven't wrote in what has it been two months. Well, I have some bad news. I have been putting this entry off, I guess the more you talk about things the more the seem real. O.K. I can do this. Isaac has relapsed again. I will go back to the beginning and tell you from the start. As you now Issac was doing wonderful, He was doing the acutane trearments and playing t-ball, everything looked great. Thgen the leg pains started and I guess I kind of knew right away what was goig on. So two Saturdays ago we went to the ER and they did an x-ray but didn't see anything so we were going to try to control the pain at home over the weekend and wait until Monday for his bonescan. So Monday came and went still pain in his right leg. Wednesday Dr. Orlando called and said the scan is showing uptake in both femurs(thigh bone) and also in his left arm. So of course our heart hit our stomach and then they both feel to our toes. But as always you go to a room have a good cry then square your shoulders and look ahead. The plan now is to do a complete evaluation CT, B.M. biospy, ect. Now its Friday and we are getting his CT, and then another long weekend of waiting. Still having alot of pain in his legs, mostly his right. And then on Sunday ( Mother's Day ) Isaac feel, I was in the kitchen and him and Kayla were in the living room when I heard him start screaming, I ran in and he was laying on the floor crying. Kayla said he was stepping over the dog and tripped. So now his left leg in in alot of pain. I gave him some pain meds. and that helped. Monday morning he is scheduled to have his B.M. biospy and aspiration done. I wanted him to have an x-ray of his left leg just to make sure it wasn't fractured. And luckily it wasn't, but with the good comes the bad it seems. The Ct on Friday found some cell growth in two spots in his adominal area and also some in his neck by the lymphnodes. So once again the heart hits the stomach and they both go to our toes. So the plan now is that we need to get him on treatments right away since the cancer is progressing so quickly. So on Wednesday we were admitted into the hospital to begin chemothearpy. He is going to be getting Irinrotecan for five days. Thursday we found out that there was some tumor found in his marrow. And as I said before the heart hits the stomach and they both go to our toes. Friday morning he recieved a high dose of radiation to help relieve some of the pain in his left leg and then we were released to come home and finish his treatments outpatient on Saturday and Sunday. We will begin his next treatment the beginning of June. Isaac seems to be tolerating the chemo well, although between the pain and the meds and the chemo he is not him self at all. And poor Kayla seems to get all of his anger aimed at her. But she is still her super sister self always wanting to help out when she can. Dan and I are doing o.k. for the most part. I will write soon to keep you updated, thank you again for all of you prayers, please keep them up. Thanks for checking up on us. I will talk to you soon.
God Bless!!!!

Shawnna

Wednesday, March 23, 2005 7:37 AM CST

Hello everone, Well things continue to go great around here. Isaac has been feeling really good. His skin on the other hand looks horrible. The accutane really dries him out. Last night I smeared vaseoline on him from head to toe. I hope that today it looks a little better. His last dose will be Thursday and then he will get a two week break. Kayla and I got back from Virgina about 3:30 am Monday morning. Boy was that a long ride. They did super at the competion. Saturday they got second place and on Sunday the got third. I am so prowd the they even got to a national comp. She really enjoys cheering, but she is not sure if she is going to cheer next year or not. She has talked about going to a differant squad. Her friend from school cheers for a differant team and they seem to be more advanced. She really enjoys being challanged, so I think I might take her to watch once and let her decide. Isaac will be starting tee-ball soon, and he is so excited about that. I on the other hand am a bit nervous, but it will all work out. Well I think that is about all of the latest we go to see Dr. Orlando the beginning of April and I think do some scans. So I will let you know when I find out. Please continue to pray for our friend Elijah you can go to his website at www.caringbridge.org/pa/elijahking
And also for Carter his website is www.caringbridge.org/pa/carterfinger
And as always the Lonero's this will be their frst Easter since they lost Alex. their site is www.caringbridge.org/pa/alexp
Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers for Isaac, He is my little gift from God.
Take care and God Bless!!!
Shawnna

Monday, March 14, 2005 9:41 AM CST

Hello everyone,

Thank you for stopping by to see how Isaac is doing. He is still feeling great!! He started on his first round of accutane on Friday. He has to take 4 pills twice a day!! Can you believe that. But honestly it dosen't bother him a bit. He is so amazeing. All I do is give him the pills and a drink and in about 30 seconds they are down. I think he is the best guy in the world. His skin has started to get pretty dry from the meds. But as I learned through trial and error the only thing that helps is plain vaseoline. So at night I smear it all over his face, usually by morning it is some what better. It is so sad. But as always it dosen't slow him down. I don't know if I told you on my last couple updates, but Isaac is going to play tee-ball this summer and next fall he is going to start school. Very exciting news for us. It is going to be so nice to see him doing normal kid things. I think the thing he is most excited about is having a lunch box and riding the bus.

Kayla is also doing wonderfully. She has a big weekend coming up. Her cheerleading squad is going to a national competition in Williamsburg, Va. Dan and Isaac will be staying home, so it will be a girls weekend. I have to say I am very excited, and also very nervous to drive all that way by myself. But I never thought I would be able to drive through Pittsburgh and it seems like cake now. So I am going to try to be brave. Kayla has not stopped talking about it. She is so excited!!!

I think that is about all of the latest here. Thank you so much for all of your thoughts and prayers. Please continue to pray for Elijah as his family goes through this hard time. If you want to visit Elijah's website the address is caringbridge.org/pa/elijahking
Also please remember the Lonero's ( Angel Alex's family ) and also our friend Carter and his family as they continue on treatments. And as always pray for a cure!!!!
Take care and God Bless!!!!!!

Shawnna

Tuesday, March 8, 2005 9:58 PM CST

Hello everyone,

Well before I begin I need all of you to say a prayer for our little friend Elijah. He is four years old and also has neuroblastoma, and his family had to make the hard decision to stop treatments. We met Elijah at the clinic awhile back and I instantly feel in love with him, as I do with all of these beautiful children. Isaac of course just adored him because they both had a ball playing the video games. It is so hard to write this because I am so angry. There is so many ugly things in the world and so much that is wrong, why does it happen. Why do these wonderfull gifts from God have to be sick. I have tried not to question it, but I can't tell you how many times I have. I know that the ONLY thing that has gotten me through all of this is trusting God to take care of Isaac. And he is doing so well, I am so grateful for every day that I have him here to kiss and hug. Tell me how you can have two completly differant emotions in the same thought. On Monday when we went to see Dr. Orlando we got to see Elijah and his family, and leaving the office I was so happy that Isaac got a good report but at the exact same time I almost felt guilty because of him doing so well when Elijah isn't. I know most of you won't understand what I am saying I don't think I completly understand it. Please remember Elijah and his family. He really is a beautifull ray of light. Thank you for checking up on us. I talked to the school yesterday and it looks like Isaac is going to able to go to school in the fall, so of course he is very excited. I have to admit that I am VERY nervous about it. But we will see how it goes. I will write soon, Don't forget your prayers!!!!

Take care and God Bless!!!!!
Shawnna

P.S. Please log onto Elijah's website www.caringbridge.org/pa/elijahking
His mother's name is Jonel, she is an amazing person.

Tuesday, March 1, 2005 10:25 PM CST

Hello everyone,

I FINEALLY am back online. Our computer was broke for what seemed like forever, but we fineally got it working again. So here is the latest on Isaac, GREAT!!!!! he is doing wonderfully. I swear he gets more energy everyday. I absolutely LOVE bedtime. I am not kidding this kid does not stop until he falls into bed at night. It is awesome to see him feeling so well. Him and Kayla have had the best time playing in all of this snow. We go to see Dr. Orlando on Monday, I think that the next thing for Bubba is the accutane pills. He did so well on that treatment in 2002 that I expect him to do well again. I get such a happy feeling when I look at him and think back at all he has been through and has never lost his glow, he is my hero in more ways than one. He is so funny to watch, if he is not talking than he is making some kind of war sound or his newest thing is wrestling. Our friend and neighbor Steve took Dan and Isaac to see the WWE wrestlers a couple of weeks ago, so look out!!! Isaac has some new moves and he is not afraid to use them. I have to be the announcer and cheer him on. It really truely is exausting, but very histerical. And poor Kayla she usually gets volunteered to be the one getting roughed up. Speaking of Kayla she seems to have the hives under control. It seems like she gets them whenever she is nervous about something. So I try to steer her away from stressful situations. She is so emotional all the time. I am not looking forward to the teenage years. I think that is about all that has been going on around here. Thank you so much for all of your thoughts and prayers. Please keep them up, And also continue to pray for all of our friends still fighting and grieving. I will talk wit you soon.
God Bless,
Shawnna

P.S. I have been wanting to have some sort of a fundrasier this summer to donate to research. If you have any ideas or would like to brainstorm with me please let me know.

Tuesday, February 8, 2005 8:02 AM CST

Hello everyone,

Well there really is no excuse for not writing sooner, except that we have been running like crazy. Isaac is doing really well He saw Dr. Goyal on Monday ( the 31st ) and he told us that he looked great and we don't need to do any blood work or go to the clinic for 2 weeks. Which is awesome, Isaac has been getting blood drawn twice a week for what seems like forever. So now it seems like we are on a vaction from our lives.

Kayla is also doing great. She has been worring me lately. Two weeks ago she was in the bathtub and broke out with hives. So I of course freaked out like I always do. Well I called t he doctor and gave her some benadryal and the next day went to see the Dr. He told me to give her the benadryal for a week and that it was probably just the weather change or some stress. So she got her med. for the next week and the day I stopped she again broke out in hives. So once again the next day we were back in the Dr. office, and all he said was it is probable her emotions. So since than she has gotten them 2 more times. I tell you what if it isn't Isaac it's Kayla. Some days I really do believe my stomach is going to explode.

I think that is all for now, it is hard to believe that but it has been quite calm around here, well as calm as can be with an animal like Bubba running around. Him and Dan are going to go watch the WWE wrestlers this weekend so GOD help me after that. He really thinks that he is going to beat up all of those 7 ft. monsters. The sad thing is he probably could.

Please continue to pray for Bubba he is doing great but still has a long way to go. Also for Kayla she has a big weekend coming up, on Saturday she has a gymnastics meet and than on Sunday she has a cheering comp.(better make sure I take some Benadryal) Also please say a prayer for my Grandpa he lost his wife last weekend, we all loved her so much. It has been a really rough time lately.

God Bless and take care!!!

Shawnna

P.S. I am going to try to change the photo album so check it out.
And also as you can see Isaac got his Red Rider Beebe gun for Christmas. He is so prowd of it and tells everyone "I didn't even shoot my eye out" To those of you who are worried about him having a "real gun" don't worry!!!!

Sunday, January 23, 2005 12:15 AM CST

Hello everyone, Things are going good here.Isaac has been feeling very well. His counts have been holding, so he hasn't needed any more transfusions since our scary day with the platlet reaction.And his white count is now high enough that he dosen't need any more neupogen shots( These stimulate his white cell growth) He is doing great!!! Driving me crazy as always.

Kayla fineally got to go back to school on Thursday. It was hard to get her back in the swing of things since she had missed almost two weeks of school. So we are starting to get back to our "normal" lives.

I think that is about all of the latest here. Please continue to pray for Isaac. He has come a REALLY long way but still has a long way to go. Thank you so much for checking up on us, it really means alot to have alot of support behind us. Take care and God Bless!!!!

I'll talk to you soon.

Shawnna

Wednesday, January 19, 2005 11:18 AM CST

Hello everyone, well lets begin shall we. Isaac went to see Dr. Goyal on Monday, his counts were pretty good but he did need some platlets. So he got his transfusion, everything went well, but when we were leaving we made a quick bathroom stop by the elevators. And thats when I noticed these two tiny bumps on Bubba's belly. I saw another one on his back, so I decided that I had better go back to the clinic to have them checked out. Here it was a reaction to the platlets. He has had probably close to a hundred transfusions and never had any problems. So we gave him some oral benadryl. And about 10 minutes later the hives had spread all over his upper body. It was so sad. His back was just one big red welt. They were all over his belly on his arms and armpits, in his hair, on his face, he was COVERED!!! well about 35-40 minutes after I saw the first couple, He recieved iv benadryl and one other iv med. And By this time my heart is in my stomach. Tammy and Dr. Goyal kept checking his breathing, I later found out that hives could cause some repiratory problems. After he recieved his iv benadryl he was out. And I mean OUT. Fineally they started to fade. And we were able to leave, about an hour and a half later. But at the time it seemed like about 12 hours waiting for these nasty red splotchs to get off my baby. I continued to give him benadryl every 4-6 hours. And just incase, Dr.Goyal gave me a perscription for a stronger med. if they came back. Thank the Lord that they didn't. So from now on Isaac will have to be premedicated before he gets any blood products.

Kayla is now home. YEAH!! it took them about 10 minutes and they were back to their normal brother and sister fighting. It is really nice to have them both back together. Yesterday Kayla saw Dr. Macias and he said that she is recovering very well, but will continue to cough for a couple more weeks, from the infection. I think that is all of the latest. Thank you so much for checking up on us, please continue to pray for Isaac. He will go back to the clinic tomorrow. Thank you also to Tammy for picking up Isaac's med. from the pharmacy, I don't think I would of been able to carry him for 1 minute more. O.K. That is all for now. Take care and God bless!!!!
Shawnna

Saturday, January 15, 2005 9:17 PM CST

Hello everyone, Just a quick hello and update. Isaac's counts were pretty good yesterday. His white count is still on the low side but he didn't need any transfusions. He is still feeling very well and VERY active. Kayla is feeling better also she will hopefully be home on Monday. Please continue to pray for him, he is still in need of them. Thank you so much for checking up on us, and for all of your support and prayers. I will talk to you soon. Take care and God Bless!!!!
Shawnna

Thursday, January 13, 2005 8:55 PM CST

Hello everyone, Well good news. WE ARE HOME!!!! Isaac was released yesterday. We got home about 2:30. And let me tell you what he hasn't stopped since we got here. First thing was play in the bath tub. He has had his needle in his port for two weeks so I can't imagine how good it felt to have it out. And also he wasn't able to get wet so he had to get very calm no splashing baths. So he really enjoyed soaking the entire bathroom. And than he of course had to play Halo 2 (X-BOX game) He had just got the game for Christmas, and we went into the hospital 4 days later. Today he has been catching up on other toys and games that he got for Christmas. Still going none stop. Feeling very well. Tomorrow Isaac will have to have some blood work done to see what his counts look like. Hopefully they will be good, if not we will have to go up to the clinic and get a transfusion. But if he does, it is really no big deal for him, I think he is having withdraws from the infusion room. That is where he got all of his chemo treatments this year. It is where they keep all of the really cool games. I actually had to drag him out of there on some days. And than on Monday we have an appt. to see Dr. Goyal, I think that is about all of the latest on Bubba. Now for the sad news on Kayla. She had been coughing for a few days last week and through the weekend so I made her a Dr. appt. on Tuesday and they ran some blood work and did an X-ray, just to be on the safe side, and one of her tests came back saying that she has mycoplasma, Which I guess could turn into pneumonia. So the Dr. said she couldn't go back to school for the rest of the week and also to keep her away from Isaac for 7-10 days. So now she has to stay at my mom's until next week. I was so said for her, she has been missing Bubba so much and now she has to stay away for even longer. And he is lost without her around to pick on. My Birthday was Wednesday and it just wasn't right not having both of them with me at the same time. I have been going over in the evenings to spend time with her, and she seems to be feeling a little better, but I think what she really needs is Bubba. He always cheers her up. She is on antibiotics for thenext week and goes back to see Dr. Macias on Tuesday and I pray that she will be home after that.
Me and Dan are also glad to be home, It is so hard on us mentally when Isaac is in the hospital, It is like trying to split yourself in two. We are so worried about Bubba and getting him through it, but than when your other child is having a difficult time at home your heart just breaks, simply because I can't be in both places at the same time. I just pray that all of our prayers are answered and Isaac will never have to stay another night in the hospital again. And him and Kayla can be kids again, instead of young adults. So I guess that is all of the latest. Please pray for Isaac's blood work to be good and also for Kayla to get better soon so she can come home. Thank you for checking up on us, and all of you that stopped by to see us in the hospital. Please say a prayer for Carter he is going back to New York for two more weeks, his web page is www.caringbridge.org/pa/carterfinger, and also continue to prey for the Lonero's (Angel Alex's family)www.caringbridge.org/pa/alexp they have been my rock so many times, when I have been down and having a bad day thinking about little Alex and talking with Gretchen always puts the smile back on my face. Well take care and as always GOD BLESS!!!!!
Shawnna
HOME!!!!

Monday, January 10, 2005 7:43 PM CST

Hello everyone, Well I missed the weekend report. So let me catch you up on the latest. Isaac is getting better everyday. His platlets were low on Sunday so he got a transfusion, and than today he had to get blood since his hemoglobin was low. The Dr. said that he looks great and we will be home by the weekend. His white count is still really low, which means that he has no defense against germs and bacteria. He is taking neupogen to stimulate cell growth to help his white count. He isn't having any more pain from the mouth sores, and he is back to his normal eating habits. He really is doing super, Kayla on the other hand isn't. She has been really sad the last week. Her and Isaac do nothing but argue and fight when they are together, but you take one away from the other and they are lost. The last two days she has been laying in my bed watching T.V. which for Kayla is very unusual since she usually is always up running and jumping rope,doing cartwheels. Her class made get well posters for Isaac and I am not sure if someone in her class may have said something that upset her. She has never behaved that this in the past when Isaac was in the hospital. Please say a prayer for her, I am sure once we get home she will feel much better. Me and Dan are doing o.k. Dan is wornout from running from work to the hospital and then back to work again. And I am going crazy trying to be here for Isaac and at home for Kayla. I want to say thank you to all of the people who have come to see Isaac, It truely lights up his day when he gets company. Keep in mind that he is not allowed to leave his room for his own safety. So when a new face comes around it is huge for him. I think that is about all for now. Please continue to pray for Isaac, and also Kayla. I will try to write tomorrow. Thanks for checking up on us. Take care and GOD bless
Shawnna and Bubba
room #8627

Wednesday, January 5, 2005 7:01 PM CST

Hello everyone,

Well today was transplant day!! Isaac got his "new blood" and did wonderfully. He fell asleep before the doctor came into the room and didn't wake up until it was well over. So now all we do is sit and wait for his marrow to recover and begin to make new cells. I am hopeing to go home early next week. My birthday is Wednesday, 27 can you believe it, that would be the best gift to get, to be home all together again. Kayla has been really sad the last couple of days. Most of the time she is fine but I think she is just missing us. I will be going home on Friday to spend the night with her. and with some luck cheer her up. Well i think that is about all Isaac is yelling at me to come and watch the Lion King. So I will write from home this weekend to update.Take care and please keep up the prayers!!!!
God Bless!!!!!!!
Shawnna and Bubba

Monday, January 3, 2005 8:14 PM CST

Hello everyone,
Things are going well with Isaac, Saturday night he was feeling pretty yucky and got sick a few times. But by the next day he was feeling much better. Last night he had a little bit of a fever, which means that he has to have blood cultures and begin two antibiotics. And now today he has started to have some pain in his mouth and throat, so he will be taking morphine to help with that so that he is able to eat and drink. I think that is all of the bad highlights of the weekend, The good is that Isaac is still feeling really well and of course very active. He has had alot of company, which is always nice to help pass the time, and also to give you a big smile on your face.
Today was the last day of chemo. Now tomorrow will be his day of rest and then on Wednesday he will recieve his cells. So far his blood counts are still good and no positve blood cultures which is most definately good. So I guess that is the latest from here in room 8627, Please continue to pray for Isaac and all of the other children here in the hospital and also the ones at home. Please remember their families, and loved ones. I will write soon to let you know how things are going. Thank you for checking up on us. take care and God Bless!!!
Shawnna

Saturday, January 1, 2005 1:48 PM CST

Hello everyone, and Happy New Year!!!
Well everything is going pretty good here. So far Isaac has not been to sick from the chemo, but last night about 2:30 he woke up screaming of what we later figured out was his legs hurting. So we gave him a dose of morphine, and today all is well. He is back to his same old self. We had Kayla here last night, she wanted us to be together for New Year's, it was not the most comfortable sleeping arrangement but we made it through with only a couple of stiff necks. So here is the game plan, 5 days of chemo and next week he will recieve his stem cells. And then we just wait for his marrow to recover so we can get out of here. And after a few weeks he will start back on the accutane pills. Which is really hard on Isaac's skin, it gets REALLY dry and tears very easily, but by far the easiest and closest to a "normal life" that he has had in over a year now. In about 3 weeeks it will be 3 years since Isaac was diagnosed. It is amazing to look back over the last 3 years and how much Isaac has been through and he is still smiling and still fighting like a champ. So I guess that is all for today I will write again when there is some new news. Thanks for checking up on us, Please remember Isaac in your prayers, altyhough he is doing well, he still needs lots if them. Also remember all of the other children fighting and their families. Take care and God Bless!!!
Shawnna

Wednesday, December 29, 2004 10:21 PM CST

Hello everyone, Well good news!! Isaac's latest scans looked good. So we can go ahead and get started on his next stem cell rescue. Which will be tomorrow, we are going into the hospital in the morning and start chemo on Friday. I am hoping that it won't be a very long stay, but I am figuring on about two weeks. And, pray to God after that we can start back on the accutane pills and get things calmed down around here. It sure has been a long year, I pray that 2005 will bring us good news and great health. I will try to write while Isaac is in the hospital to let you know how things are going please remember to pray for him, he has a rough couple of weeks coming up and can really use some extra's. Also please say a prayer for Carter and Angel Alex's family ( Gretchen and P.J. Lonero ) And also PLEASE log onto www.lunchforlife.org and donate your lunch monet to neuroblastoma research, it could save thousands of beautiful childrens lives. Thank you for checking up on us, I'll talk to you soon. Have a Happy New Year!!!
Shawnna
P.S. Christmas was wonderful, Isaac LOVES his new Halo 2 game and of course his "real gun" he had an absolute ball!!!
Kayla got everything she wanted which was of course make-up and movies and music. I can't believe she is only 7, good Lord help me when she is a teenager!!
Take care!! and God Bless!!!!!

Sunday, December 19, 2004 2:39 PM CST

Hello everyone, I am not sure what happened to my last entry, somehow I must of erased it. But anyways I'll just catch yo up on all that has been going on.
Isaac is doing really well. He has been feeling great. He had 10 radiation treatments a few wekks ago, they went very well. He actually cried some of the days we were there because he didn't want to leave. But he was glad when it was over so that we could go back to Dr. Orlando's office. I know I have said this before, but it truely is his home away from home. He has such a good time while we are there for appt. Since then we have only seen the Dr. once, that's when we found out that we would be home for Christmas. I can't tell you how relieved I was when he told us. I am not sure why I feel the way I do, somedays I get really afraid that this will be our last Christmas withim.Now I know how that must sound to some of you, but until you are faced with your child having cancer you really don't understand the things that pop into your head. It is the worst feeling in the world to imagine your life without your child. Most of the days I am o.k. but there are times when I feel like I am loseing my mind. Please don't get me wrong I am not giving up by any means, It's just that the reality of Isaac's illness somethimes hits me like a train and it takes me awhile to get a grip on my fears and emotions. I know that my son is very strong and has so much fight in him. That is what gets me through the hard times, just by looking at him and seeing the strength inside him. Next month it will be 3 years since this battle has began. I am grateful for everyday that I have with him. And I know that everyday to come is a gift from God. So therefore I will enjoy every second of Christmas.
Please continue to pray for my little solider, and also all of the families who are faced with the unknown future. It is a scary place, but with enough love and support we will make it through. Please say a prayer for Gretchen and P.J. Lonero and their son Neil (Angel Alex's parents),this is their first Christmas without Alex, I know that he is with them in their hearts. I think that everyone who had the gift of knowing Alex carries a piece of him in their hearts.
Isaac will be having a GFR (kidney function test) and also an echo and EKG (heart tests) before his transplant, Please pray for good results. Kayla is having a ball on her Christmas vaction, We will be going to see Santa sometime this week. Isaac has talked to him twice already but Kayla hasn't had the chance yet. Isaac wants to make sure that he remembers to bring him Halo 2, his favorite game in the world. He has been waiting for this game for about 6 months now. It will be an interesting sight to see him on Christmas morning when he opens it.
Well I think that is all for now, Thanks for checking up on us, Have a very Merry Christmas.
God Bless
Shawnna

Sunday, December 12, 2004 5:36 PM CST

Monday, December 6, 2004 8:01 PM CST

Well lets start with hello and sorry it has been so long since my last entry, our computer has been acting really crazy lately. Hopefully it is fineally fixed.
Things are going great, We went to see Dr. Orlando today and he said Isaac looks great and that we can wait untill after Christmad to do his next stem cell rescue. YEAH!!!! I have been so stressed out about it. Isaac finished radiation last week, he recieved 10 treatments all together, and he did awesome. Everyone was so amazed at how good he was about laying still. After the stem cells he will start back on the accutane (it is a pill that he takes for two week cycles) it is really hard on his skin, but through alot of trial and error I have found that plain vaseoline is the only thing that seems to help. So for now I am going to look forward to a wonderful hoilday at home with my family all together. That is the only Christmas presant that I wanted.
Kayla is doing wonderful also, she is really happy also that we will be home for Christmas. As always she is busy with her cheering and gymnastics. And still doing great in school.
Please remember to pray for Isaac, he still has some tumor on his leg, and for all of our friends at the hospital. Please remember Gretchen and P.J. Lonero, this will be the first Christmas for them since little Alex recieved his Angel wings. And most of all please pray for a cure. Thank you so much for checking up on us, I promise that I will try to write before Christmas, but incase I don't, have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!
God Bless
Shawnna

Sunday, November 21, 2004 8:08 AM CST

Hello everyone, well we had a busy week, Isaac started radiation treatments this week. He is doing really well with it, it is by far the easiest thing that he has gone through. He is so brave, never complains, never cries, he just climbs up on the table and gets right down to business. The nurses let him use the controller for the table and he thinks that is really cool. The said that he knows how to more than some of the students that they have working there. The doctor said that there is still some tumor on his right leg. So this was a little bit discouraging. So now we have decided to do 10 radiation treatments and than another high dose chemo with the stem cell rescue. So it looks like we will probably be in the hospital for christmas. I was really down about it, but I called Gretchen (Angel Alex's Mom) and as always she made me feel alot better. I realize that it dosen't matter where you are as long as you are together. So even though I am still hoping and praying to be home for Christmas, I am no long sad about it. Gretchen told me that her family had a christmas celebration the day before they wnet into the hospital. So if we are going to be there we will probably do the same. Thank you Gretchen you always know what to say to make me feel better.
Everything is going well with Kayla, she has a competion today, for cheering, if they do well today than they will be invited to go to a national comp. in Virigina in March. So naturally she is very nervous, I know she will do great. And also in her gymnastics class she got to write her name on the wall for doing a kick over trick on the uneven bars. This was very exctiing for her because she is the first one in her class to get their name on the wall. School is going great she got all A's on her report card.
I have to say that I have the best kids in the world. They are my superstars, And I am so prowd of everthing they do. I love them more and more every second.
Thank you for checking up on us. Please remember to pray for Isaac he needs them all. Please remember Carter, Elijah, and Gretchen and P.J. They also need your prayers. Also if you could, Log onto www.lunchforlife.org and donate to neuroblastoma research, and one day our children will no longer have to fight this disease, and they will be kids once agsin.
God Bless
Shawnna

Thursday, November 11, 2004 7:29 AM CST

Hello everyone, I am so sorry it has taken me so long to write, I have tried afew times and my computer wasn't working right it keep erasing my journal entries. So I am going to give it another try and hopefully it will work this time.
Well lets start with the news from Isaac's scans from last week. The CT looked really good, there was no visible sign of tumor, and the bone scan showed some changes on his right leg. So there is no way of knowing if it is tumor or just from all of the trauma to the bone. So Dr. Orlando thinks we should have an MRI to get a better look. Isaac had his bone marrow biospy and aspirations done yesterday, we won't know the results on them until maybe Tuesday. After we get them we will decide whether or not he will have the MRI. And after that, we will most likely do some radiation and than after Thanksgiving another stem cell transplant. So it is going to be a busy couple of weeks. I just pray that he won't be in the hospital for Christmas. If so we will just have to have Christmas when we get home. All in all Isaac is doing really well. His hair is starting to sprout, and he insists on washing the 3 hairs he does have. Kayla is doing really well at school, she is still doing cheering and gymnastics and loving all of them.
Now about our trip, well the only word to describe it is MAGICAL!! It was so amazing. I felt like we were inside a hugh bubble of love. There was not one time during the whole week that we thought of cancer. The only thing we were worried about was where we were going to go that day. There was no scary, angry, tired, worried, feelings only happy.
Give kids the world, The village that we stayed at, was completely amazing. It is exactly what the name says. They truely give kids the world. They make you feel so special and safe, like there is absolutaly nothing to worry about. It was so beautiful everything was so colorful it was like another world. They would have activities for the kids everyday. And the last night that we were there Mayor Clayton, he is a 6 foot tall bunny, came to our villa to tuck the kids into bed. They had the most amazing time.
It was way beyond my expectations, Everything was taken care of for us, we didn't have to worry about nothing except having fun. Make-A-Wish is such a wonderful organization, please, if you ever have the chance to, support this amazing organization. It was exactly what we needed to recharge ourselves. It was not only Isaac's wish come true, but all of ours. For the first time in a very long time we felt like a normal family, and enjoyed every second of it.
I was really afraid to leave, I had such a warm safe feeling around me when we were there, I thought that I would lose that feeling once we got home. But even if I live for a million years I will never forget, I will carry that magical feeling with me everywhere, forever.
Please keep praying for Issac, he is still very much in need of prayers, as well as Carter, he is also on treatments, and Angel Alex's family as they continue to grieve for their little boy. Thank you for checking up on us.
God Bless!!
Shawnna
P.S. there is some new photos from vacation, check them out. The pic at the top of the page is also from florida. Isaac got to meet spiderman on this day.

Friday, October 22, 2004 10:55 PM CDT

Hello everyone, Well just a quick note before we leave for disney. Isaac is feeling really well, his cold seems to be going away. Kayla is super excited, I think I am the most excited though. I can't wait to see thier faces when we get there. Well I have a ton of stuff still to do yet, so I am going to go I will write when we get. I'll talk to you soon. Thanks for checking up on us. And God Bless!!!
Shawnna

Tuesday, October 12, 2004 9:54 PM CDT

Hello everyone, Well as before Isaac is doing awesome. I can't ask for any better. We had a great weekend. Kayla's Birthday was on Monday, so we had a little cake for her. Isaac wanted it to be a football cake, but I talked him into a pretty pink one with roses. We are going to have a party for her on Saturday, God help me, she is having about 6 girls spend the night. I think everything will be fine though. Dan has said that him and Isaac are going to hide out at the cabin for the night, but if the weather dosn't hold up than they will be stuck here at the hen party. We had an appointment today to see Bubba's bone specialist, and got a really good report. When the bone stared to heal it was really crooked so he couldn't bend it all the way. But the x-rays today showed that the bone is starting to straighten back up. So we don't have to go back to see him for 3 months, we have been going every 6 weeks. We go to see Dr. Goyal on thursday. I'll let you know how that goes later on in the week. Thanks for checking up on us. And please keep praying, It is defintely working. And also please log on to www.lunchforlife.org and donate your lunch money for one day to neuroblastoma research.
Love you and God Bless'
Shawnna

Tuesday, October 5, 2004 7:52 AM CDT

Hello, sorry it has been so long since I've updated. Isaac is doing really well. HIs counts are great, and he is feeling great, so now we will just go to see the doctor once a week and get blood counts done once a week also. Our trip is still scheduled for Oct. 23rd -- Oct. 29th I can't wait. Kayla and Isaac are getting really excited also. I am not going to want to come home once we get there. Thank you all who have logged onto www.lunchforlife.org to donate your lunch money to Neuroblastoma research. It is very important, so please if you have not yet done so, do it now, and also pass the info. around and get the word out. I will never give up hope that someday there will be a cure for this terrible disease, and with all of your help and support that day will come very soon. Thank you for checking up on us, and for all of your thoughts and prayers. Take care and GOD BLESS!!
Shawnna

Tuesday, September 28, 2004 12:37 AM CDT

Hello, Let start out by saying how wonderful Isaac is doing. I am completely amazed at it. He had to go to Pittsburgh yesterday to see the docter and to do blood coutns. And they were all good. He didn't need any transfusions, which we thought he would need. And his white count was good enough to stop his daily neupogen shot, for the time being anyways. So yesterday was a really good day. He continues to get better everyday. I am so thankful for this, we are scheduled to leave for disney in about 4 weeks. And I was worried that he might not be strong enough to go. But if he keeps going like this it won't be a problem at all. Kayla's birthday is coming up in about 2 weeks. She will be 7, its hard to believe, but she is really excited because we leave for disney shortly after her birthday, so she thinks that is her b-day presant. The lunch for life is doing really good, but I know it could do better so I am begging each and everyone of you to please, if you haven't already log onto www.lunchforlife.org and donate you lunch money for just one day and if possible maybe even more. It is really important to us. PLEASE DONATE!!!! They have raised over 60,000 dollars so far. Thank you to allof those who have donated, please keep the word going and get more people involved. It truly will save the lives of thousands of children, includung Isaac. Thank you so much for checking up on us, I will write soon. Take care and God Bless!!!!
Shawnna

Saturday, September 25, 2004 2:28 PM CDT

Well we are home. And it is wonderful!!!! Isaac is doing really well. He has a doctors apt. on Monday morning but all shoild be well. He may have to get platlets and blood, but he does well with those. Hopefully in a couple of days I will be able to take him somewhere, but for right now I'm just going to stick around home. His white count is still really low. So until it comes up more we will have to stay home. he is still on 4 meds. but he dosen't mind at all. He dosen't even complain about his shot that he gets everyday. I am just so prowd of him for everything that he puts up with and never complains. Like I always say he is my hero. Kayla is also doing great. I think she is really glad to have us all back together again. She is doing excellant in school, I am so prowd of her. Well I think that is about all for now, so I will write later when we know more. Please continue to pray for Isaac, and the Finger's ( Carter's family) and also the Lonero's(Angel Alex's family) Please log onto www.lunchforlife.org and donate for neuroblastoma research. And save the lives of thosands of children including Isaac's.
God Bless!!!
Shawnna

Thursday, September 23, 2004 1:32 PM CDT

Hello, Well we have been here now for 15 days and let me tell you what we are ready to go nuts. Isaac is doing really well, his counts are still low but he is doing awesome. The Dr. told us this morning that they will most likely send him home tomorrow. He will probably have to go to the clinic on Monday for blood or platlets, but I can handle that. And he will have to take some meds at home but also not a problem. So if all goes well we will be heading home tomorrow morning. Kayla has to spend the night here with me nad Isaac tonight. Her school is off tomorrow, and my dad and mom and Dan all have to work so she is kind of stuck with us. Well if we go home tomorrow I will write to let you know. But until than please keep praying for some white cells. Also keep prating for the Fingers (Carter's family ) and the Lonero's ( Angel Alex's family ) and all of the family's fighting cancer. It is a scary thing to face, but with enough prayers and most of all support we will be able to pull through. Thanks for checking up on us. Don't forget to log onto www.lunchforlife.org to donate your lunch money to neuroblastoma reserach, all of the donations are very important in saving so many lives, including Isaac's. Please remember www.lunchforlife.org and donate.
God Bless!!!
Shawnna

Monday, September 20, 2004 1:46 PM CDT

Hello everyone, Well things are going good here. We are still waiting for Isaac's counts to come back. His white count is only.2 It has been low for about 5 days now. But all in all he has been feeling good. He is still on the pca pump(morphine, for pain from the mouth sores) and also on the TPN (for nutrients, since he is not eating real well) although he has been eating better and hasn't complained of any pain. So I am hopeing that the Dr. will order for that to come down soon. He is stil on alot of other meds. also. So we are just waiting.
Kayla is doing good at home, I think she is starting to feel the effects of me not being home. My mom and Dad have been helping out alot with getting her to bed, on the bus, off the bus. I am really grateful for all of their help. I don't know what I would do with out them. I think that is about all for now. I will write soon, Thanks for checking up on us. Please keep praying for Isaac's counts. Also remember Carter and his family. And also Gretchen and P.J. Lonero, They had a scare with Neil ( Alex's little brother, he is 2) the other day. Gretchen found a bump behind his ear. The Dr. said it didn't look like anything but to keep an eye on it. So please say a pray for them. Talk to you later
God Bless
Shawnna

Thursday, September 16, 2004 9:04 PM CDT

Hello everyone,
Today was very uneventful. My Mom came up and sat with us most of the day. It is so nice to have someone to talk with while you sit, sit, and sit somemore. Isaac is doing incredably well. His counts are low but hopefully they will start to climb back up in a day or two. His mouth sores seem to be feeling alot better. And he is actually eating a little bit. So know we just have to wait. So please keep praying for a quick recovery, Thanks for checking up on us. I will write soon when there is some new news.
God Bless
Shawnna

Wednesday, September 15, 2004 12:21 AM CDT

Hello,
Well let me update you on the last couple of days. Monday was a really sleepy day. Isaac got his PCA pump(for pain management)and it had him pretty much out of it most of the day. And than Monday night at about midnight He spiked a fever, so now on top of all of the other meds. that he is on he now has to do 2 antibiotics. But so far nothing has grown in his blood culture. So that is good news. And today was the big day. He recieved his stem cells this morning at 10:30. So far so good, his hasn't gotten sick from the infusion. It leaves a really bad taste in their mouths and a horrible smell in the room, so alot of the time the kids get sick from it. But everything went smoothly. We also found out that our trip to disney has been rescheduled for Oct. 23rd. So we now have that to look forward to. Carter got to go home today, Hurray!!
I have to say that I will feel kind of lonely without them. He has been here for about 3 weeks so I'm really happy for him. He will be doing another high dose chemo in I think 3 weeks. Please keep praying for him and his family. Gretchen( Alex's Mom ) stopped to see us today. I really enjoy talking to her. Please remember to keep her and her family in your prayers, they still need them. I am so lucky to have friends like her and Rhonda to talk with. And understand when you are having a bad day. I have alot of support in my family and I'm very grateful for them but nobody understands like them. I feel very blessed to have them in my life, and very lucky to call them my friends.I will write soon with another update, Thanks for checking up on us. Please keep praying for Isaac to have a quick recovery.

God Bless
Shawnna

Wednesday, September 15, 2004 12:21 AM CDT

Monday, September 13, 2004 7:38 PM CDT

Hello everyone,
Wel we made it threw the chemo, Isaac finished up today. He began to get the mouth sores, so he has alot of pain in his throat. So he got his pca pump(for pain control) he is starting out with just the button, but I expect them to put him on a constant dose soon. He also began the TPN, for nurtrients and minerals, because he is unable to swallow from the sores in his throat, he is unable to eat. He has been really sleepy tonight, I guess thats best when he isn't feeling very well. Tomorrow will be kind of like a day off, he will just get his medications and the TPN. Then on Wednesday he gets his cells. And then after that we just wait for his counts to recover and hope for no fevers or infections. He still has alot to go thruough so please continue to pray for him and for his pain to go away. Carter is still here from his high dose chemo, he looks great, they are also waiting for his countd to recover. So please pray for him and his family.
Kayla is also not feeling well, she had a really big weekend so I think she just got wornout and now has hopefully juat a cold. Say a prayer that she will be feeling better soon. Sunday went really well, her squad got first place. Kayla was so prowd of her trophy she didn't put it down all evening. I was so happy for her.
I think that is about all for now. I will write in a day or so to let you know how everone is doing. Thank you for checking up on us. I'll talk to you soon.
God bless!!!
Shawnna

Friday, September 10, 2004 11:20 AM CDT

Hello everyone,
Well we made it through the first night with only 2 bed changes. They have to give Isaac a ton of fluids so he has to pee every five minutes. I wear pull-ups on him at night but that dosn't help a bit, it is like a river. He began chemo today, and despite all of the scared feelings I have been having I could not stop laughing today. Isaac got like four differant anti-nausea meds. that make him sleepy, but he just got really goofy. He had a silly smile on his face. and was kind of like zoned. It was so funny. So, me and Dan met with Dr. Goyale yesterday, and he explained what was going to happen over the next couple of weeks. He also told us that this was not a cure, but that it's purpose is to hopefully keep the tumor from returning right away. But Since Isaac was so far advanced when he was diagnosed and that he has relapsed after all of the chemo, surgery, stemcell transplant, and radiation the chances of a cure is even lower. It was very hard to hear him say all of these things to me. I already knew everything that he said but to have a Dr. standing in front of me pretty much saying that the tumor is going to come back eventually, really hit hard. I just couldn't get myself together last night. But when I woke up this morning I felt like myself again. I just have to keep praying and keep hopeing for a cure. I know that someday they will find something that will kill the disease once and for all. So what I have decided to do is keep the faith that God is looking out for Bubba and if it comes back again then we will get rid of it again, until the cure is found. So what I need for you to do is go to www.lunchforlife.org and donate to neuroblastoma research. If you know someone who wants to daonate and dosen't have a computer call me and I can give you a phone number and address. Please donate!!!!!!
Well I will try to write tomorrow, there is a computer in our room so I can write while we are here. talk to you soon.
God Bless
Shawnna

Sunday, September 8,2004 11:20 PM CDT

Hello everyone, well tomorrow we will be heading to the hospital to start the high dose chemo. The chemo will be done on Monday and than Tuesday will be a day to rest and Wednesday he will get his stem cells. And after that we just wait. The Dr.'s ahve decided to keep us until Isaac's counts go down and than come back up. Which means a couple of weeks in the hospital. I feel better knowing that we will be there in case he gets sick, but that also means that I won't be able to be at home with Kayla. Between Dan, my mom, and my Dad she will be fine, on the weekend when Dan is off I will come home for the day to be with her. I can't even imagine what her hair will look like with Dan fixing it. So anyways I will try to update soon. Please keep praying for our little Bubba, he is going to have a rough couple weeks. Thank you for checking up on us. Take care.
Shawnna
God Bless
Shawnna
P.S. please check out a website for me, the address is www.lunchforlife.org it is a fundraiser to go toward neuroblastroma research. Some of you will be getting a letter about it, please check it out it is a great cause. We have to find a cure soon before we lose anymore children to this horrrible disease.

Thursday, September 2, 2004 10:40 PM CDT

Hello everyone,
Sorry it has been so long since my last entry. Everything is going good with Isaac, we finally know when he will do his high dose chemo. Wednesday we have to go for some tests to make sure his heart and kidneys will be able to handle the chemo. And then on Thursday he will begin the chemo. We will have to stay at the hospital for this one since it is a high dose, and than on Monday he will get his stem cell rescue. This is what we have been striving for and now that it is here I'm a nervous wreck. I don't think it will be as bad as his first one, but we are still nervous. I have no idea what the next step is after this but I have a feeling things will start to slow down for him. We are trying to plan our trip for the end of October, as aweful as it may sound, I'm glad we didn't go in August. I think we would have been miserable in the hot weather.
Kayla is doing really well in school, she was really nervous the first few days but now she really enjoys going and seeing her friends. Her favorite class is P.E. and this year they have it twice a week, so that worked out really well. She has her first cheering comp. next Sunday Isaac will be in the hospital, but if he is feeling well Dan will be able to stay with him and I will be able to go. If not my mom or dad will take her.
Please continue to pray for us, we still have a long road to travel. But there is always light at the end of the tunnel, And I feel like I can finally touch it. Also remember all of the kids who are fighting this disease, and those who recieved their angel wings to early. They are amazing children . Thank you for checking up on us, I'll write soon.
God Bless
Shawnna

Friday, August 27, 2004 4:20 PM CDT

Hello everyone,
Great news, Isaac's bone marrow biopsy came back clear. There is one spot on his left leg that showed up on the bone scan from a couple weeks ago, they think it is from all of the strain on it since his bad leg is the right one he has a bit of a limp. But it dosen't look like tumor. So the next step is to do a higher dose chemo than he usually gets and than do a stem cell rescue. He did the same in 2002 but this will be a little bit easier on him, not that it is easy at all but it won't be quite as bad as before. Dr. Orlando is going to talk to the tumor board on Tuesday about the stem cells, and Isaac will be admitted on Thursday or Friday to begin his chemo. I'm not sure how long he will be in the hospital. The chemo will last for 4 or 5 days. And depending on how quickly his counts drop, he might have to remain in the hospital until they recover. I am really nervous, his chance of infection is going to be much higher after this round of chemo. And I am afraid of him being sick and weak. For those of you who don't know Isaac, he is really wild. Even when his hgb is low and he should be tired and weak, he seems as though there is nothing wrong. He makes me very prowd, he is just so strong and brave. The next couple of weeks we will need your prayers, so please don't forget my little bubba. Even though we have gotten some really great news, he still needs lots of prayers. And please say a prayer for Carter, he is going through the high dose chemo this week. I wish we could have done it the same week so we could keep each other company, because if any of you has spent time in the hospital you know how very lonely it gets. Also please remember Gretchen, and her family. Log on to the link at the botom of the page and read some of the stories of these wonderful, brave, terrific children. It might bring a tear to your eye after seeing just how many kids are effected by this disease, but please don't turn away because it's sad. These are stories of courage, and a great will to live. They are stories of my personal heros, each and everyone of them. So please take just a ilttle bit of time and check it out, and don't forget to pray for them, and for a cure. Thank you for checking up on us, I will write in a few days to let you know what I find out. Don't forget your prayers tonight!!
God Bless
Shawnna

P.S. I think we might be able to go to disney at the end of October, Keep your fingers crossed. I'll let you know.

Monday, August 23, 2004 9:32 PM CDT

hello everyone,
We had a awesome weekend, Saturday we went to Gretchen Lonero's house for a party, her youngest son, Neil turned 2 and also Alex would have turned 4. It was a wonderful time. We was able to see Carter and his family and we also met a new family. There was one moment that I have not been able to forget. I was standing in the yard talking to Rhonda, which is Carter's mom, and a butterfly fluttered up to us and come really close to landing on me, I just kind of watched it for a few seconds and then it flew over to Rhonda and did the same. Over the next 15 seconds or so it kept going back and forth. We both got the same idea and smiled. Rhonda then said o.k. Alex flutter on. Then at that very moment it flew away. It gave me such a unexplainable feeling. I feel that it really was Alex there with everyone who loved and admired him. It was so nice to be able to share the day with such wonderful people who I have come to sincerely care about. Please remember to say a prayer for Gretchen and her family. Also for Carter, he is such a really cool little guy.
I recieved some great news today, Isaac's scans from the 11th have come back and they look really good. The ct didn't show anything, and the bone scan only showed a spot on his right leg which is where the fracture was. So the Dr. said that this is to be expected. So now we just have to wait and see what his bone marrow shows, and then on to the next step. Isaac goes Wednesday for his bone marrow tests, so hopefully we will know something by early next week. Kayla will start school on Thursday, she seems to be really nervous, so please say a little prayer for her. I think that is about it for now. Thank you for all of your support and all of your prayers, please keep it up and please don't forget about the other children fighting not only this disease but all of the horrible childhood diseases, there is far to many sick kids in the world. Thank you for checking up on us. I will write soon. Take care and God Bless.
Shawnna

Saturday, August 21, 2004 12:08 AM CDT

Hello everyone, Well it has been almost calm this week all Isaac has done was blood counts at our local hospital. He has been feeling really well. We are still kind of sad about our trip being cancelled, but we will hopefully be able to go in October. I still haven't heard anyhting from Isaac's scans last week. I probably could call the clinic and get them but Dr. Orlando is not in this week so I want to wait until next week so that I can talk to him. Isaac will have his bone marrow tests done on wed. the 24th So please pray that they will be good results. Kayla had here first cheering comp. last week and they did awesome. She was so nervous. I think that is about all of the lastest. We are going to go and visit Gretchen (Alex Lonero's mom) today. I am really looking forward to seeing her. She is such an amazing person, I'm so lucky to have met not only her but so many family's at the hospital. I don't know what I would do with out their support. Please remember to pray for all of the children and their families. I beleive that is the only way to get through these tough times. Thank you fro checking up on us, please take the time to read and sign Isaac's guestbook. Take care and I will write soon
God Bless
Shawnna

Sunday, August 15, 2004 9:54 PM CDT

Hello everyone,
Well, we didn't make it to Florida this week. There was some damage to Give Kids The World(the place where we were going to stay) They call us Saturday morning and said that they had to cancel our trip because they didn't have any electric or phone lines. So we will have to try to come up with another week to go. Isaac is doing really well he actually was comforting me and Kayla because we were really bummed out about it. He just kept saying "You just have to wait, you have to be patient" which is what I always tell him. So I am going to call Dr. Orlando tomorrow and tell him we didn't get to go and maybe we will get to do his bone marrow tests sometime this week. We are wanting Isaac to go on his trip before he has his transplant since he will be so sick for so long. I guess we will just have to wait and see. Kayla lost her 6th tooth today. That as always was a tramatic experence. She gets so worked up over the littlest things. Even if there is just a tiny drop of blood she is fliping out. I think Isaac got all of the courage in this family. When he saw it he got so excited and shouted "HOLY COW" that brought a big smile to Kayla's face. I guess that is about all for today. I will write when I know more. Please say a quick prayer that we will get good news about Isaac's scans. We are really worried about them. If they show tumor Isaac might have to continue on chemo or maybe some radiation. So please kepp him in your thoughts and prayers. And also please remember all of the other brave children fighting this disease. Thanks again for checking up on us, I will write soon.
GOD BLESS
Shawnna

Monday, August 9, 2004 10:20 AM CDT

Hello everyone,
We had a awesome weekend. We spent the weekend at our cabin in Brush Creek. It is so nice to get away for a few days but I love to come home. Isaac has been feeling well although he does get tired quickly if he is running around alot. He fell Friday and hurt his leg but it seems to be fine now. We have to go to Pittsburgh on Wednesday for a ct scan and a bonescan. Both are long test so we will be there pretty much all day. Isaac always does so well for these tests I sometimes think they are harder on me then him. He is such a brave little guy there isn't to much that bothers him. We will leave for disney on Monday (16th) morning, and come home on Sunday (22nd) and than go see Dr. Orlando and schedule his bone marrow tests. I pray that all of these will be clear so we can start plans for his stem cell/bone marrow transplant. Kayla is doing great she has been keeping busy with her cheering and gymnastics. We have been getting her things for school and I think she is a little scared about going to first grade. I have complete confidence that she will do terrific. Please say a prayer for all of the children I mentioned in my last entry (Alex Lonero's family, Carter, Alex Scott's family, Kolton, Shelby, Gigi, Elijah) They all need your prayers, and also all of the children fighting this disease. I hope that some day there will be a child who dosen't have to worry about chemo or scans or blood and just worry about what they are going to play with that day. Isaac has alot coming up, and even though he is a strong boy he still is just a little guy and this is really hard on his little body. So please remember to say a prayer for him. Thank you for checking up on us. I will write later on in the week to let you know how his scans went.
God Bless!!
Shawnna

Monday, August 2, 2004 11:12 PM CDT

Hello everyone, Sorry it has taken me so long to update. There hasn't been alot going on pretty much just hanging around since Isaac's counts have been low. Friday we had to go to Pittsburgh to get Platelets. And we continue to wait for his counts to recover. For the most part he has been feeling well, although he sometimes will get really tired out of the blue. But still has enough energy to drive Kayla absolutly carzy. Next week he will have some scans and than we will get ready for our trip. When we return for florida he will have tohave a bone marrow biospy. I am really nervous to get the results back, if all is good than we can move forward to the stem cell transplant. I pray that we get good news. Today our make-a-wish volunteer came to give us our package for our trip. I'm so excited, I was talking to Gretchen(she is Alex Lonero's mother) and she was telling me that a family she knows,whose son also has neuroblastoma, just made a generous donation to make-a-wish in Alex's memory, so we feel like he is the one who is making Isaac's wish come true. And that makes our trip a whloe lot more special. I am so grateful to have met Alex last year in the radiology dept. at children's it was as if God knew we were suposed to meet. Gretchen continues to update Alex's webpage, please check it out. She is the most wonderful person and has so many inspirational things on his page. His address is caringbridge.org/pa/alexp
Please remember Gretchen and her family in your prayers. We just recently met another family at the clinic and I have been keeping updated on his webpage. HIs name is Carter and he is the same age as Isaac also with neuroblastoma. His address is caringbridge.org/pa/carterfinger
He is cute as a button, Isaac really enjoyed playing video games with him, they even managed to get Dr. Orlando in a little joke.
He is curently on treatment and also needs your prayers. His mother Rhonda helped me get some info on some things that I needed, Thanks a bunch for that.There is another little guy who needs your prayers his name is Elijah, also with nauroblastoma, I do not have his address right now but I will post it when I get it, please remember him. I have been checking up on some other wonderful children with neuroblastoma and with great sadness today I found out that a little girl by the name Alex recieved her angel wings. I never had the chance to meet her but I know that she truly was a hero. She battled her disease for years, please remember her family during this difficult time. Her address is caringbridge.org/page/alexscott
There is also another family who is in need of prayers, there little girl,Shelby, is not doing very well and they are enjoying every second they have left with her, please remember her and her family. Her address is caringbridge.org/ga/shelbyprescott
Please take the time to visit these sites, there are so many children fighting this disease who need you support and I know from experience that when I read my guestbook each day I feel a little less alone. I have some other children who need your prayers, when I get their addresses I will post them.Again thank you for checking up on us, and once again PLEASE remember all of the children and say a prayer for them.
God Bless
Shawnna

Tuesday, July 27, 2004 6:07 PM CDT

hello everyone,
Sorry it has taken so long to write, but I wanted to leave my thank you's on here as long as possible. Isaac had chemo last week, hopefully his last chemo before his transplant. Things went really good, not to much excitment, Tuesday he had to have a blood transfusion. He is such a funny child when his counts are low he is so full of energy the nurse's and doctor's can't believe that he needs blood. We have sometimes joked around saying "No More Blood For Bubba" because he is so active normally and when he gets a transfusion he kind of goes thru the roof with energy. But we like to see him running around causing crazyness. We will be sticking around the house for the next four or five days since his white count is low he could catch something very easily, so except for Isaac's nurse coming on Thursday things should hopefully be pretty uneventfull. Our Make-a-wish volunteer is coming next week to give us our package for our trip to disney. I feel like I'm going to explode with excitement and Kayla is literally counting down the days, 19 days till we leave. I can't wait to see Isaac's face when we get there. I don't think he really understands what I'm talking about when we talk about our trip. We have some scans to do before we leave so I'm trying to put all my concentration on getting through them. I guess that is all of the lastest, I will write soon.

God Bless
Shawnna
P.S. Kayla is doing awesome in Gymnastics and cheering, she just loves them both. Talk to you soon.

Sunday, July 18, 2004 10:25 PM CDT

Hello everyone,
Well despite the rain the poker run was a complete sucess. The bike part of the event was cancelled but we still had a great time at the Hopedale legion. We sarted out with a really yummy dinner provided by the Ladies Auxiliary, had a really exciting auction and raffle drawing, and than ended the night with some terific music by DOUBLE SHOT.
I have alot of people to thank so bear with me. First and foremost I want to say thank you to Isaac's aunt Cathy and uncle Jim, they were the ones who got the whole thing started. They woked really hard on getting the fliers out and getting things going. Jim also did a wonderful job with the auction. I thank he should change professions!!Cathy did a great job collecting the money with out losing her mind.
Melissa, I want to thank you for all of your hard work getting things organized. I'm really grateful for you putting so much time and effort into something for people you didn't know until Saturday.
Thank you to Isaac's Grammie(Pam) for working overtime on getting donations for the auction.and also to her and Isaac's Alpa for making so many cool things for the auction and raffle. And also for handing out so many fliers.
Thank you also To Isaac's Grandpa(Rick) for getting some nice donations for the auction and also for helping with the fliers. Tammy thank you for all your help with passing the word around and also for getting the article in the news paper.
Thank you to Isaac's favorite rock band DOUBLE SHOT(Alpa, Chuck, Dodie, & Jimmy) for giving us some great music to dance to. It is always a good time when they are playing.
Mike and Ellie and Jimmy and Kristen for braving the nasty weather.(They were the only two bikes to ride despite the rain)And also to Mike for taking Isaac and Kayla on their very first motorcycle ride, they will never forget that.
Thank you to Dodie, Lynn, Darlene, Joanne, and all of the people and business who donated their time and talent in either getting donations or making items for donation.
I want to thank all of my family and friends for coming out and just simply for being you. and always being there for us.I hope someday I will be able to show you how much I love all of you, and to somehow repay you for you love and generosity.
I want to thank everyone who was making bids in the auction. And also buying the raffle tickets. Amy and Bob who won the 50/50 raffle chose to give the money back to us. I've never before seen so many being so willing to help others.
All together there was over $3200.00 rasied. Way more than I could have ever hoped and dreamed for. It gives me such a great feeling inside to know that there is so many people in our corner. I wish that everyone in the world could know what it fells like to be completely surrounded by people who love you. I'm trying to decide what there was more of that day, rain or tears, because I was so completly overwelmed with emotion. It was so nice to see everyone together having a good time. Isaac had a complete ball playing the games inside(thank you to everyone who was suppling him with his stash of quaters) while Kayla, who is usually so shy about dancing, was completly cutting a rug.
There has been talk about making this an annual event. I think that it is a really great idea, except for next year I would like to donate the money to another in need or maybe even to cancer research so that some day there won't be anymore sick kids in the world and they can once again be kids.
I want to thank one last group of people. I don't have any of there name's but there was some people who have donated money to us, and also for the group of people who was camping out at the legion(I've been told they call themselves the .5 mile jam) thank you so much for everything. This group of people were over the top generous with not only the auction but they also rasied money and gave Isaac a t-shirt, which he thinks was from a cowboy So thank you.
If I have forgotten anyone, please forgive me. I really can't say this enough THANK YOU!!!

God Bless!!!!
Dan, Shawnna, Kayla, & Isaac

Wednesday, July 14, 2004 10:26 PM CDT

Hello everyone,
Well I've got some new information, Isaac will have to have some of his teeth worked on. Monday morning he woke up and the right side of his face was swollen. so we went to see the dentist and he wanted to do a root canal. I wasn't so sure about putting him through all of that. But luckily Dr. Orlando(Isaac' doctor in Pitt.) wanted him to go see a Ped. dentist at Children's Hospital. So we went to see him today, and he is going to have one tooth pulled and two small cavities filled on Friday. The good thing about that is it will be done all in one trip, and he will be sedated for the whole thing, rather than getting them horrible shots, which was how the first dentist was going to do the work. I'm really upset he has to go through all of this with everything else he has to put up with, but I guess we have been really lucky some people on chemo have a ton of trouble with their teeth since the chemo is so hard on your teeth. Just another reminder about the poker run on sat. It seems to be getting bigger and bigger. So incase you didn't get the info before I'll give it to you again>
**starts at TUCKERS TAVERN(formerly mohns)
**Sign ups at 11:00 a.m.
**first bike out at 12:00-Last bike out at 1:00p.m.
**Ends at HOPEDALE AMERICAN LEGION
all bikes back by 5:00 p.m.
**Entertainment by DOUBLE SHOT (6 p.m.-9 p.m.)
**50/50 raffle; also ather items to be raffled/auctioned
donated by local businesses and also friends.

**Food provided by HOPEDALE AMERICAN LEGION LADIES
AUXILIARY

Thank you all for checking up on us I'll try to write Friday to let you know how things go with Isaac's teeth.
I hope to see you Saturday it will be a really good time.

God bless!!!
Shawnna

P.S. There are some new pictures in the photo album if you haven't seen them yet, they are from Isaac's b-day party we had for him at the hospital on July 2nd.

Saturday, July 10, 2004 11:21 AM CDT

hello everyone,
It has been a really good week. Isaac had to go to the hospital on Wed. to get a platelet transfusion, but other than that it has been pretty quiet around here.
If you haven't heard about the benefit poker run for Isaac next week here is the info;

* Date:July 17th
* Starts at tuckers tavern(formerly mohns)
* Sign ups at 11:00 (first bike out at noon; last bike out at 1 pm) $10.00 per person
* Ends at hopedale american legion (all bikes back by 5pm)
*Enertainment by DOUBLE SHOT (6-9 pm)
* food and 50/50 raffles at the end of the ride.There has been alot of stuff from local business donated also to raffle off.
* bikes and cars are welcome; and also public is welcome to attend

I think it will be a really nice day. Everyone has been working really hard to get things together. There are no words to describe how thankful that I am. We are so blessed in so many ways. So thank you to everyone who has helped, I will forever be greatful.

God Bless!!
Shawnna
P.S. Thank you for checking up on us!!

Saturday, July 10, 2004 11:21 AM CDT

Tuesday, July 6, 2004 6:40 PM CDT

hello everyone,
We had a great weekend. Isaac's birthday was wonderful, he got so many gifts I'm not sure where we will fit them all. He is starting to slow down a little bit from the chemo bringing his counts down, but still full of energy. so we just have to watch for signs of infection. He is due for chemo again on july 19th. and then we will be getting ready for disney. I'm really glad we decided to change our date to go then wait till next year. I think getting away from everythung for awhile will be good for all of us. that is about all for now I'll write later on in the week to check in. Again thank you for everything and God Bless.

Shawnna

Friday, July 2, 2004 5:19 AM CDT

hello everyone,
For starters thanks again for checking up on us. we are on our last day of chemo for this week. and than we will have two weeks off. We saw Isaac's bone specialist yesterday (about the fracture on his right leg) he said his bone is healing very well and there will be no need at this time to do any surgery, so that is very good news and he also said as long as he isn't jumping off of anything like furniture, stairs, etc. that he can take his brace off. So I have met my goal, when we found out about the fracture i said my goal was to have it better by his birthday and he did it. (tomorrow is his 4th birthady) And we also heard from our make-a-wish volunteer that we are definitely going to get Isaac's trip to disney. We will be leaving on Aug 16th and come home on Aug. 22nd. I can't wait It'll be so nice to get away from things for a week. So that is all of the latest, we are going camping at our cabin this weekend for Isaac's birthday so I will try to write next week when we get back.

God Bless!!!
Shawnna

Tuesday, June 29, 2004 3:09 PM CDT

Hello everyone,
Thanks again for checking up on us. We are right in the middle of chemo, things are going great. Tomorrow Isaac will have to have a blood transfusion because he is kind of on the low side. It it is better for him to get the blood now before his counts really start to drop next week. Other than that it has been a pretty uneventful week. We will be having his birthday party on Sat. so I'm trying to get ready for that. I think it will be a really fun weekend. We are still waiting to hear if we will get to go to Disney in aug. I will let you know when I hear.
Again Thanks a bunch.

God bless!!!
Shawnna

Tuesday, June 29, 2004 3:09 PM CDT

Thursday, June 24th 11:00pm

Hello, and thank you for checking up on us. All is well. Isaac's home nurse came to the house today to do his lab work, and of course he gave her a hard time. He loves to help with everything. I think he may be either a doctor or a nurse when he grows up. Last week he was in the hospital for 5 days wuth a infection in his mediport. he has been on antibiotics for a litlle over a week to clear it up. We will start back on chemo on monday, for 5 days. and than one more treatment before he is retested to look at the tumor. We are really nervous about the results but we try not to think about it to much or else we would go crazy. Kayla is doing really well she starts cheerleading next month. It will keep her busy this summer. Make-a-wish will be sending us to disney in august. We all are really excited about that. So that is about all of the recent news. I will try to write every couple of days to keep everyone updated. And thank you again for your thoughts and prayers.

God Bless
Shawnna

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