Boy Wonder

Crossing the Finish Line!

Russell joyfully returned home last night around 7:30PM!  This was a very powerful round of medicines and he will continue to take some medicine at home in the coming days, but the intrathecal and IV medicines are finished.  Because this round was so strong, Russell is feeling a little weak and his mouth is a little sore.  Nana is with him today and has reported to me that he is doing well, but is tired (well enough, in fact, that he put his Nana in "Time Out" for a bit this afternoon;))!  As always, he is strong and brave and totally compliant with his medical routines.  Russell, we are so proud of you!

Russell will need to stay at home for about a month while his system recovers.  We will let you know when Russell's immune system is up and he is ready to accept visitors and play with other children.  Hopefully it won't be long before he is back to being a busy little preschooler!  We know he and his parents will welcome the fun and freedom that awaits!

Thank you, as always, for your love and support and concern for Russell and his parents.  It has meant so much to know that you all have been there, cheering them on and supporting them with care packages, food, friendship and prayers!  Please continue to pray for clean cancer screens in the year to come!  You should know that the one year mark from the end of treatment is the "cured" point for Burkitt's Lymphoma.  So, he will be watched closely during that time to ensure that there are no traces of cancer returning.  We already know that he has an excellent team of doctors, who will see him through to that finish line.  We will keep you posted on the blog with any developments, in the coming year, and have every hope that we will greet you with good news in March 2010!

Final Round of Chemo!

Russell is back at Sutter Memorial this week for his final round of chemo.  Leslie & Jeff has been back & forth to the clinic the last couple of weeks having Russell's counts checked to get the word on when he'd be admitted for this final round.  Counts were back up high enough and he was admitted yesterday for his intrathecal spinal chemo procedure, which he reportedly handled like a champ!  Leslie & Jeff are both forced to juggle work and being with Russell right now, so Nana headed up there this morning to help out.  This round should be short, but it is also a powerful group of medicines being given. 

Your thoughts and prayers are so appreciated as we wish with all our might that this is it!  That the cancer has been banished forever and that Russell will soon join his friends at school and life can get somewhat back to normal!  Russell, you and your parents have been so strong and brave....we are all so proud of you!

Inspiration Austin!

Russell has been enjoying the last several days at home as he gears up for another round of chemo scheduled to begin on February 5th!   He continues to be so strong and brave.  This last time in the hospital, Russell was lucky enough to room with his buddy Austin for a few nights.  Austin is a handsome big kid, 10 years old, and is an role model for Russell and an inspiration for the rest of us.  He has been courageously battling his cancer off and on for the past few years, unfortunately lost his eye to it and is currently undergoing further treatments.  Austin loves to share his passions for skateboarding and rodeo! He plays patiently with Russell and does an awesome job of encouraging Russell when the going gets tough.  Austin's battle with cancer has made him into one compassionate and wise young man!  Kids with cancer and their families share a very special bond and we are thankful to get to know Austin and his great family. 

In the Hospital for Round 4!

Russell and the fam returned to the hospital yesterday morning for Round 4 of Chemo.   In case you are wondering, Russell recovered well from the blood infection and did return home on the evening of his birthday.  He was able to stay home from the 9th through the 15th--way to go, Russell!  Russell is making the most of being back in the hospital and is taking advantage of the playroom and hanging with his buddy Austin.  Russell loves Austin so much that the two even moved in and are sharing a room since last night.  Nana is there visiting and helping out and says she can't get over how strong Russell is.  He hasn't lost any weight so far and still a big strong boy--so amazing!  This round will last 7 days and the hospital stay may only be 7 days or a little longer depending on any issues that could arise over the course of treatment.

Please continue to leave your great comments for Russell and the family.  They are so appreciative and remind us that there are so many of you out there praying for Russell and wishing him well!

I'll keep you posted.....

The Birthday Boy!

It was back to the hospital on Monday as Russell was running a fever and the doctor found that his White Blood Cell counts were extremely low, leaving him with little to no immune system to fight off illness.  Midweek, we found out that Russell had a Sepsis, a blood infection, but has been treated with antibiotics, a blood transfusion and a platelet transfusion and his counts are steadily rising.  Although, he has been weak and must be isolated, he has managed to squeeze in some play time.  He has been eating very well, though he is bothered by mouth sores from the chemo.  We hoping he will go home very soon and have a few days at home before returning to the hospital for chemo on January 15th!  Pray for high counts and clear cultures!  (There were some technical problems this week that kept me from posting this info sooner--I do apologize)

Russell turns 3 on Friday, January 9th, and his fantastic parents have thrown him a birthday party in the Neutrapenic Playroom at Sutter Memorial, inviting other neutrapenic kids that Russell has befriended in the last few weeks!  With a few excited kiddos, pizza and cupcakes, Thomas balloons and decorations, buckets of candy, Russell partied like a pint-size rock star and was completely sacked out and sleeping by 3PM!  The party was also a special treat for the other hospitalized kids, their parents and the staff.  Leslie and Jeff, you sure know how to make lemons out of lemonade, making Russell's birthday special in spite of the circumstances and bringing a little joy to the other kiddos fighting cancer alongside your little man--WAY TO GO MOM & DAD!

******Unfortunately, Russell is not able to have visitors for his birthday due to his compromised immune system.  Everything you all have done for Russell and his parents thus far has been more than enough and so deeply appreciated!  We know that you all celebrate Russell's birthday with us!  Only because several people have requested to know what Russell may be wishing for his birthday am I sharing the information that he has a little saved up already, but it saving his pennies and pottery barn kids gift cards to be able to get a Play Kitchen.  There is a particular one (a manly one;)) that he is wanting from the catalog.  The store has even agreed to let him come in one hour before they open to play and personally pick up his kitchen when he as has saved enough and is healthy enough to go out.  Please do not feel obligated to send Russell a birthday gift, but for those who are asking and would like to know exactly what Russell would like, I am providing the information:)************

So Far So Good!

After a speedy recovery from the Broviac Port surgery on Monday of last week and a wonderful Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at home, Russell returned to Sutter Memorial on Friday, December 26th to begin chemotherapy.  On Christmas Eve, Leslie and Jeff received news that Russell's primary cancerous growth that nearly filled his abdomen has responded to the chemo and is almost completely gone.  They will continue to attack any dormant cell to ensure that Burkitt's is given the permanent BOOT from Russell's boday with upcoming chemo treatments.  Ryssell is already four days into this 5 day treatment and is taking it like a champ!  Russell is so strong and we are just amazed that his little body has handled the chemo medicines and medicines to counteract the bad side effects so well.  He is so strong and your thoughts and prayers must be making a difference!  Tomorrow afternoon, Russell will receive the intrathecal chemo treatment that is injected into his spine and will hopefully return home within a couple of days.  Once again, they will be monitoring his white blood cell count to determine how weak the chemo might have made his immune system.  Please continue to pray that his counts stay up this time!

I will post some darling pictures of Russell celebrating Christmas as soon as I return home from being out of town for the holidays.  Thanks for checking in on Russell....we know how much you are care and definitely feel your love and concern for our family!  Have a Happy New Year!

Surgery a Success!

I failed to mention this sooner (being wrapped up in the excitement of Russell returning home and doing so well), but surgery was scheduled for this morning at Sutter Memorial to have Russell's Broviac port installed.  A Broviac port is designed for long-term central venous access for adminstering medications/chemotherapy directly to the blood stream, for blood transfusions and drawing blood for lab work.  The procedure today entailed inserting a catheter under the skin in Russell's chest to run a tube through a large vein directly to his heart. Leslie reported to me at 12:30PM today, that Russell was out of surgery, everyhthing went well and his pain is under control.

Please keep Russell in your prayers for a very speedy recovery from this surgical procedure so that he might have a couple of happy days at home before he returns to the hospital for Round 2 of Chemo on Friday.  Russell has been thoroughly enjoying the sights, sounds, and tastes of Christmas thus far and already been enjoying some of his gifts, eating cookies and helped Mom and Dad decorate their fabulous tree! 

As always, a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has continued to submit cards for Russell's Holiday Card Book and for the continued love and support to the Stevens family through cards, calls, meals and care packages.  Each and every effort you all make is genuinely appreciated.  We will soon take the opportunity to call you all by name on this blog and spefically thank you for all you have done!

The Champ goes for Daddy & Me Haircuts!

Geez, if these two didn't look related before, they certainly do now!  Russell and his Daddy got matching haircuts after heading home yesterday as Russell was beginning to lose his hair from the chemotherapy.  Doesn't he look cute?  I am talking about Russell, but the Daddy looks pretty cute, too!   I suggested Mommy join in the fun, but she didn't bite--that's okay Leslie, you are still the very best Mom that Russell could imagine or ask for:) 

Dashing Through the Snow....(and NEW dinner dates for Round 2)!

It may not be snowing in Sacramento, CA, but Russell and his parents "dashed" home today for the Holidays!  Russell's White Blood Cell Count went from dangerously low to amazingly high in the last couple of days and he was released to go home this morning.  Even his doctor was stunned by the results of his blood tests yesterday!  He now has the cells he needs to fight off infections and viruses, but still needs to be pretty isolated at home.  The Stevens are now home for the holidays and I am sure Russell will be enjoying the festivities of the days to come! 

New Dinner Dates

Russell's parents have had Dinner My Way meals delivered to their home and will not be needing any meals until they return to the hospital on December 26th (thanks to all the generous folks who donated there in the last few weeks, they have many meals awaiting them).  I know I have had many requests to bring meals to the hospital, but am not sure if you are available during the particular dates of Chemo Round 2, so please contact me again at natalie_gwynn@yahoo.com and specify a day and I'll get you on the calendar for one of the following 6 nights! 

You all are amazing with  your speedy and generous response to the need for dinners for the Stevens--thank you for showing us your holiday spirit of friendship....It will be great for Leslie and Jeff to know that you all are supporting them when they return to the hospital next week!

Friday, December 26th--Cristina Anderson

Saturday, December 27th--Glenda Weber & Jon Harris

Sunday, December 28th--Scott and Christine Rau

Monday, December 29th--Guadalupe Cabanyog

Tuesday, December 30th--Toria Kaufman

Wednesday, December 31st--Delyse Gannaway

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What a miracle you are, Boy Wonder--giving us all something wonderful to believe in this holiday season! 

Home, Hospital, Home, Hospital ...

I am popping in for a quick update on Russell and the family.  The Stevens were able to return home late on Tuesday night and were so happy to be snug in their own beds!  The family spent a nice morning at home when they realized Russell needed to be checked out for constipation.  The chemo meds can cause this to become severe.  Russell was admitted back into the hospital on Wednesday, where he was given some medication, had an x-ray it was found that there was a quite a bowel obstruction but that the meds should help to relieve the situation.  This led to quite a long, messy night for Leslie and Russell!  (Jeff was forced to head home for the night since they did not have a private room).  Russell and his Mommy were so tough and survived all the yuckiness and Russell was feeling quite a bit better when they returned home on Thursday.  After spending all day at home Thursday and most of Friday, Leslie and Jeff noted that Russell wasn't feeling well and had a high fever, so it was back to the hospital on Friday night.  Doctors had instructed them to watch closely for changes in behavior and be regularly checking Russell's temperature.  Russell was again admitted and they are (luckily) in a private room right now at Sutter Memorial.  We don't know yet when they will return home.  Russell has Neutropenia, meaning his neutrophil count is low in Russell's blood, which can lead a low overall white blood cell count and make him more susceptible to infection.  This is a side effect of the chemotherapy and all patients will experience it to some degree, so it has to be monitored.  A high temperature is a warning sign of possible infection.  When the white blood cell count is low other typical signs of infection may not be present because those are caused by the white blood cells fighting off the germs, so the temperature and Russell's behavior may be all they have to go on to know if Russell is sick.  I'll keep you posted when I receive any more information about Russell's condition and whether he returns home.  For the time being, the hospital is a safe place for Russell's health to be monitored. 

Care packages and yummy dinners for the parents have continued to pour in.  They have been delightful for all!  Your continued thoughts, prayers and comments on this blog are so appreciated!