7 years ago

7 years ago I was sitting in the pediatric ward at Balboa. Gabe had been admitted following his CT scan because his blood pressure was through the roof. Both Savannah (age 4) and Gabe (age 2) were very antsy because they hadn't been able to play all day. I was on my own with these 2 and 5 months preg with Chris. Walter was on deployment and in a port visit in Sasebo. I knew that they had found a tumor on his left kidney at this point and that was what was messing with his blood pressure. My online friends were my saving grace till Walter got home. We hadn't lived in San Diego long, so I didn't have too many friends. And family (both sides) were half a country away. Women that I had never met, would call and check in on me, let me vent, cry, etc. They wouldn't know me from Jane on the street, but they were there for me. Thank you guys!

The next morning, 4/1/04 at 5am, I would meet Dr Lande (oncologist) and Dr Vasquez (peds surgeon) for the first time. It would be the first time that I heard the words cancer and Gabe in the same sentence. At this point, no one knew what type it was. We wouldn't know till after the biopsy which was scheduled for 3 days later. What they did know was that his left kidney was completely encased in tumor, there was a tumor thrombus that had snaked down his renal vein and was halfway up his IVC to heart and that his lungs were covered in tumors. 

We would eventually find out that he was stage IV with wilm's. He would then do 24 weeks of chemo (3 different chemo meds), 8 days of radiation and 4 surgeries (1 of which we almost lost him). It's been a long road since then, but as I watch him face what life has in store for him, I am amazed at how he handles everything. Sometimes it feels like yesterday since all this happened and others it feels like it's been a lifetime. He doesnt remember too much of that time. Other than that "he should be scared of dr's", but he is slowly overcoming that with good checkups and child life specialists that help him through everything. I so wish that program had existed when he was going through actual treatment.

9 days after surgery to remove his kidney/tumor. Day 1 of radiation. 7th week of chemo.

Gabe 2nd grade spring pic

But the point of this post...... WOW! Its been 7 years!!!!

Enjoying life

Things have been going good. So far all of Gabe's appts have ended with good results. He has his follow up for the brain/spine MRI on Monday. Then we see the GI dr on Wed. Then only one more appt left for him to do and that is the beginning of April to see Nuerology about his headaches.

FRG is going good. I have stepped up the President position and am finally get the rest of the board positions filled in. We have so many plans that we want to do and are getting the approval from the command to do them, YAY!

Underways are back in full swing again. But I cant complain too much since we got confirmation yesterday that we will be PCS'ing at the end of summer. Which means we will get through 3 years of sea duty without a deployment. :o)

So far, so good...

Finally got Gabe's lab work back. Everything came back normal! WOO HOO!!!! 6.5 years in remission! Oncologist wants him to see neurology for the "headaches" he has. He is thinking that they are treatment induced migraines. So I have to call tomorrow to make that appt. The neurosurgeon wants him to do the MRI of his brain and spine to see how things are. She wants to be sure that his "headaches" aren't being caused by the Chiari. So, have to call and schedule that tomorrow as well. Dentist went good! No cavities and it a piece of a baby tooth that is still hanging out in his gums. So unless it falls out on it's own in the next month, he will go back and get it pulled. Cardiology next week and GI the week after that, plus the neurology, MRI and then follow up to the MRI.

Doc wants hubby to see ortho for his back, so need to call and get that scheduled on Monday. He took the E6 exam today. Hopefully, fingers and toes crossed, that he has enough points to get him over the lack of PNA and time in rank points to push him over and pick it up.

Dinner tonight for FRG stuff and for me to relax a bit. Cant wait! I am ready for life to slow back down again.