February 14th, 2008 - Treatment Plan
Cameron actually had a fairly good day today. He didn’t begin his first chemotherapy treatment until early this evening, while his friend Tyler was still visiting, so he not only got to enjoy that visit, but others earlier from Gran, Shane and Alison, Malarney and Mark, Neil Champion and of course his dear brother Carlton after school. However, today Carlton was more interested in playing with the PS2 that is attached to a mega size plasma television in the interactive play area on the ward. So he didn’t see much of Cameron, but was a blessing to someone else though, as he made a little friend who I understand has not been responding at all well to his cancer treatment for some time now and whose parents are sensing the end of the line. It’s so terribly sad and difficult not to be impacted by what we see these kids and their families going through.Looking through the video footage we’ve been collecting as part of Cameron’s video diary we really do have much to be grateful for even at this early stage, because he already looks so well compared with the way he looked during the first two days he spent in the ICU. Nevertheless, today the chemo show rolled into town and it’s a very surreal sight to see protective clothing and a mask being used by the nurse while she infuses this ?stuff? into Cameron’s heart.
Now that we have been formally inducted into the society of somewhat educated parents of a Hodgkins sufferer I am beginning to understand what this ?stuff? is and I feel an entirely new pharmaceutical vocabulary coming on. Drugs like Doxorubicin, Bleomycin (I and II), Vincristine, Etoposide and Cyclophosphomide are the ones that largely define the so-called ‘Big Guns’ of the chemotherapy treatment plan that Cameron began to follow today. Unfortunately I needed to get the kids home shortly after Cam had his first cocktail of 3 of these drugs, with more to follow in the hours following. Leigh told me about an hour ago that he was now sleeping and had taken the first round really well. The doctors and nursing staff have reminded us on a number of occasions that for some of the side effects they have a set of counter-measure options – more drugs they can use to minimise nausea, etc.. – some of which can themselves require counter-measures.
Anyway, seems Cameron is in for 4 more weeks on the ward and then he may be allowed out, but the oncologist has said that he is likely to be in a condition that requires him to be confined to the Brisbane area, which means he probably won’t be allowed home at that time, before he returns to the ward for the next treatment cycle. Let’s see if we can pray that limitation away, because in the midst of all the goings on with Cameron and the family shake-down we’re experiencing right now, we are so evidently blessed. God is here. We know this because He has sent so many friends and other people – including some we’ve never even met – to our rescue. Folks from the church as well as parents and staff of the school, have all been stepping in and offering to do stuff and in many cases just getting on with it without seeking permission. It’s really made me stop and ask myself “Where was I when stuff just like this was happening to other people around me?” From little things like a call to see how each of us are doing and a text message to say we’re thinking of and praying for you, to lovely cooked meals ready for the freezer – including KFC delivered just in time for dinner – all the way to offers of financial assistance. It’s all rather overwhelming to be honest. I do hope I live long enough to be such a blessing to at least the number of people who have touched our lives so deeply just in the past week or so.
Finally, I have to say that I have been thinking that this saga exemplifies the stuff that only ever happens to other people, especially when Cameron told me what he had wished for from the Make a Wish Foundation. All I can say to anyone out there who continues to think that these things only happen to others is… mate… get your house in order a.s.a.p. Look for and make peace with your God and by that I mean our God. You know, that non-denominational one that holds your conscience in the palm of his hand. Making peace with Him doesn’t mean preparing for the worst. On the contrary, it means preparing for the best, because you’ll discover as we are now, that no matter what is going on in your life, the best is always yet to come. It isn’t always easy living in that space between what we know and what we feel we should be doing, until we can walking in faith. The trick, I suppose, is not only to practice looking up, but to avoid the temptation to look down… Thank you to all you angels for helping us to keep doing that.
February 14th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
Dearest Cameron,
You are looking so handsome! You’re growing into a strong and handsome young man, you’re going to be a heartbreaker! I hear you’re keeping strong and very positive, your photo confirms this. My dearest friend, we are all so sorry that you have to go through this tough treatment, but we know you’re going to come out an even stronger and greater boy
than you already are. Everyone is thinking of you, Cameron, and
praying that you’ll get well soon, so make sure you fight hard and recover soon so we can all come and visit you and celebrate your recovery in Australia very soon!
Lots of love to a very special boy!
Sandra, Jim, Jimmy, Carmen and Maria