OCT 1st - 20th

Oct 1st-   All GREAT news today.   MB just called from the hospital.   The results of the scan showed that the masses in his belly, liver, and kidney were gone.    His lymph nodes were enlarged, but the doctor was not concerned about this. Ryan actually gets to spend 6 days at home with no trips to the hospital and then he starts the next phase of chemo, which will hopefully take care of the nodes and prevent the tumor from reoccurring.  We also have a lead on people up North being able to donate blood and are just finding out the details before we post it.  The next phase of chemo will last for a minimum of 55 days, but we feel like we turned an important corner in the induction  phase of chemo in that it did destroy the tumor in the way it was intended.  Now we just have to make sure it does not come back.  It's Gary's birthday today and he just got the best present he ever could!!!!!! chemo, which will hopefully take care of the nodes and prevent the tumor from reoccurring.  We also have a lead on people up North being able to donate blood and are just finding out the details before we post it.  The next phase of chemo will last for a minimum of 55 days, but we feel like we turned an important corner in the induction  phase of chemo in that it did destroy the tumor in the way it was intended.  Now we just have to make sure it does not come back.  It's Gary's birthday today and he just got the best present he ever could!!!!!!

Oct 2nd-   Ryan is enjoying relaxing at home without getting poked and prodded all day long.   The plan now is just to let him relax and enjoy himself until Thursday when he starts the chemo again.  He will have a similar  treatment to what he had when this first started in Tampa, so it will probably make him pretty sick.  He will also be hospitalized for quite a bit with it.   Hopefully we won't have too much news until Thursday as he should just be playing and having fun until then.   Should have new pictures later today

Oct 6th- Well everyone is getting ready for the next stay in the hospital which begins tomorrow.  We should have more frequent updates with him getting the next treatment. During the last few days of quiet time Granny accomplished her mission of looking into the blood donation for anyone not in Fort Myers.    Please see giving blood link to find out the details on this. 

Oct 7th-   Ryan is back in the hospital and not happy about it.   He keeps telling everyone that he is going home to sleep and was not going to stay there.  When Granny walked into the room he told her to get her keys because she was taking him home!  He informed MB that he didn't care if his belly ached again as long as he didn't have to stay there.  I can't imagine how bad it is going to get when the chemo kicks in.   Poor MB and Gary!

Oct 8th-    Ryan is like a new kid today. He is doing great with this round so far and is happy as can be. They gave him a wagon so that he can get his IV and ride around the hospital at the same time.   He doesn't have much of an appetite but so far has not been vomiting from the chemo.  Hopefully the next few days can be as good. He has turned over a new leaf and is sharing all of his junk food with the nurses and other patients.  We should get a pedometer for MaryBeth!  He told granny he would stay for three nights. He was very happy to see Taylor and Katie and did not want them to leave. Kimberly and Gary will be coming after school. nights. He was very happy to see Taylor and Katie and did not want them to leave. Kimberly and Gary will be coming after school.

Oct 12th-  Ryan is home again.  This round of chemo completed without any major incidents.   He went in for testing this morning and MB and Gary thought probably a transfusion but they said he was still good and didn't need one.  Unless he runs a fever he should be home until Monday morning.

Oct 18th-  Ryan went to the hospital this morning for some outpatient chemo.  He had a great week last week.  He was swimming and playing with his cousins- Taylor, Katherine, Savannah, Delaney, and of course his sister Kim.   The blood mobile for Sanibel is this Wednesday.  Anyone local please make sure to check the details under blood donation.  

Oct 20th-  Ryan is starting to get a cold so Mb and Gary are keeping a close eye on it to see if he needs to go in for tests or develops any fever from it.