A Life of Crime and Chocolate

lizmonster · Jun 19, 2013

French, I'm so sorry to hear this.

Thinking of you all. :Hug2:

Shakesbear · Jun 19, 2013

Barbara R. said:
OR, I can offer an alternative: Come leave in the Republic of Writers, where politicians exist to serve writers. As Queen of the Republic, I am prepared to make you Poet Laureate.

How very flattering! However, could you please outline my duties and salary (if any) for my consideration. How many 'poems' a year would I be expected to ~~turn out~~
compose?

French Maiden said:
Absolutely devastated! Blake's MRI was scheduled for Friday but got brought forward to today. If the tumors were stable or showed shrinkage we were going to start round 3 of his chemo this evening.

We arent starting round 3. Infact we've stopped all chemo as it has done diddly squat. The tumor in his spine has trippled in size in 2 months. Both Blake's oncologist and neurosurgeon are amazed he still has function of his legs, bladder and bowel. They are suprised he isnt paralized.

He is having surgery to try to debulk the tumor (which is wrapped around his spinal cord) on Friday or Monday, depending on when they have an ICU bed available.

I'm trying to convince myself it's just a bump in the road, but reality is we are one step closer to losing him!

(((((((( French )))))))) there are no words... will be thinking of you and sending healing vibes.

Namatu · Jun 19, 2013

French, I am so, so sorry. That is such scary news. How is Blake feeling? Please give him a big hug from us all, and you hang in there. You can do this. Your love for Blake gives you strength, and we're all here for you.

French Maiden · Jun 19, 2013

Blake is really good. I'm going to tell him tomorrow he has to have more surgery. He doesnt fully understand yet what is wrong with him so it's really hard to explain.
I mean how do you tell a 6yr old something like that?

lizmonster · Jun 19, 2013

French, I don't know what to say. I wish this wasn't happening to you.

You are Blake's mama, and he loves you, and he knows how much you love him. However you handle this - he always knows that.

Please take care of yourself, too. :Hug2:

asroc · Jun 19, 2013

Oh wow, French, I am so sorry.

Seconding Liz, take care of yourself, okay?

onesecondglance · Jun 19, 2013

I don't know what to say, French. :Hug2:

Barbara R. · Jun 19, 2013

French Maiden said:
Absolutely devastated! Blake's MRI was scheduled for Friday but got brought forward to today. If the tumors were stable or showed shrinkage we were going to start round 3 of his chemo this evening.

We arent starting round 3. Infact we've stopped all chemo as it has done diddly squat. The tumor in his spine has trippled in size in 2 months. Both Blake's oncologist and neurosurgeon are amazed he still has function of his legs, bladder and bowel. They are suprised he isnt paralized.

He is having surgery to try to debulk the tumor (which is wrapped around his spinal cord) on Friday or Monday, depending on when they have an ICU bed available.

I'm trying to convince myself it's just a bump in the road, but reality is we are one step closer to losing him!

I'm so sorry to hear this.

Barbara R. · Jun 19, 2013

Shakesbear said:
How very flattering! However, could you please outline my duties and salary (if any) for my consideration. How many 'poems' a year would I be expected to ~~turn out~~
compose?.

The usual duties: anthems, inaugural events, occasional paeans to the queen. Payment in the national currency, which is chocolate, naturally.

Shakesbear · Jun 19, 2013

Barbara R. said:
The usual duties: anthems, inaugural events, occasional paeans to the queen. Payment in the national currency, which is chocolate, naturally.

Sounds good to me! *thinks: should I run this past the bewares and background checks?* As long as it is dark chocolate. AND - would you like an Historian? I would love to be the Historian and rummage in the archives (if there aren't any I can create them). Paeans to the Queen? Would that be Elizabeth II?

heyjude · Jun 19, 2013

Ah, French.

I'm so very, very sorry. Not the news we were hoping for. You're in our prayers and thoughts, my friend.

Introversion · Jun 19, 2013

I'm so, sorry sorry to hear this, French Maiden.

vagough · Jun 19, 2013

French Maiden said:
Absolutely devastated! Blake's MRI was scheduled for Friday but got brought forward to today. If the tumors were stable or showed shrinkage we were going to start round 3 of his chemo this evening.

We arent starting round 3. Infact we've stopped all chemo as it has done diddly squat. The tumor in his spine has trippled in size in 2 months. Both Blake's oncologist and neurosurgeon are amazed he still has function of his legs, bladder and bowel. They are suprised he isnt paralized.

He is having surgery to try to debulk the tumor (which is wrapped around his spinal cord) on Friday or Monday, depending on when they have an ICU bed available.

I'm trying to convince myself it's just a bump in the road, but reality is we are one step closer to losing him!

Oh, gosh, French, my prayers are with you.

French Maiden · Jun 19, 2013

Thanks everone. I took the boys to hte park this morning and we had a lovely little picnic. Their dad is coming over today to spend some time with them before surgery. Still dont know the day. Will get a call later today tell us.

French Maiden · Jun 19, 2013

I got the call! Surgery is sceduled for tomorrow afternoon. There is an 80% change it's going to go ahead, it all depends on ICU beds. I'm really excited to this done.

GailD · Jun 20, 2013

French!

I'm so sorry to hear that you've got to go through this again. You're all in my thoughts and prayers.

Shakesbear · Jun 20, 2013

French you are in my thoughts. I do hope the surgery goes ahead as quickly as possible.

Mr Mitchell · Jun 20, 2013

My computer will have to go to the shops, as I expected. But hey, the libray has computers, so that is the place where I'll be writing.

Edit: French, I'm so, so sorry to hear it. I hope Blake will get through it. You're are in my prayers.

Silver-Midnight · Jun 21, 2013

French, I really hope it all goes well. :Hug2:

onesecondglance · Jun 21, 2013

French and Blake

It's Friday, so time for our weekly dose of silliness from deepest darkest Somerset:

http://www.centralsomersetgazette.c...ht-penis-man/story-19328715-detail/story.html

(the story is even better than the headline - which is saying something!)

heyjude · Jun 21, 2013

onesecondglance said:
French and Blake

It's Friday, so time for our weekly dose of silliness from deepest darkest Somerset:

http://www.centralsomersetgazette.c...ht-penis-man/story-19328715-detail/story.html

(the story is even better than the headline - which is saying something!)

I don't... how do they... what?!! :Wha:

onesecondglance · Jun 21, 2013

heyjude said:
I don't... how do they... what?!!

Pretty much my reaction

onuilmar · Jun 21, 2013

^^^^ Wow. Seconding HJ and OSG. *giggle*

Introversion · Jun 21, 2013

Heh heh. "Giant penar saved by giant vagoo; news at Eleven."

That journalist should just hang it up and go flip burgers. He'll never get a better/weirder story than that. :tongue

French Maiden · Jun 21, 2013

Blake's surgery was today. He was excited to get a new scar to add to his impressive collection. He went to sleep well and was happy to go ahead with it.

After 3 long hours of waiting - his shortest surgery yet - we got a call from the surgeon.

Results: GTR!!!! Meaning, Grand total resection. They got it all!!!!
Best result ever! He is in the ICU and we still have to watch out for any CSF (cerebral spinal fluid) leaks from the incision site.

If all is good tonight he is being moved to hte ward tomorrow morning.

He is moving both his arms and legs (YAY, he's not paralized), trying to roll over and even sit up. He's talking and making the nurses laugh t every turn.
He said to the nurse 'Can I have some water please? Water is good for your kidneys, that's what my mum says.' Hehe, love this boy.

So incredibly happy with this result, better than anyone ever thought possibe. New action plan: Radiation and then another experimental drug, but one thats known to target Ependymoma (Blake's cancer).
thank everyone for all you support, I really appreciate it.

A Life of Crime and Chocolate

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Mom

knows a hawk from a handsaw

Lost in mental space.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Mom

Alex

pretending to be awake

Old Hand in the Biz

Old Hand in the Biz

knows a hawk from a handsaw

Making my own sunshine

Pie aren't squared, pie are round!

Traveling down the Query Road...

Still chasing plot bunnies.

knows a hawk from a handsaw

pretending to be awake

Making my own sunshine

pretending to be awake

(w)ride like the wind

Pie aren't squared, pie are round!