Update on Connor

After a close call with septic shock and the loss of all his hair, I am happy to report that Connor is in remission!! Hooray for you, little man!!

Now the task before us is to find a bone marrow donor that is a match for Connor. We are working on doing a community "blood drive" where people will be tested as possible donors. Even if I am not a match for Connor, I might be a match for some other child who is in need!

All it takes is giving a simple blood sample to know if you are a donor match for someone on the list. There are so many children in need of donors and so few willing to go through the momentary discomforts of giving that life saving marrow that the kids so desperately need.

We thank you all for your prayers and good wishes, but now we need your bone marrow...LOL! I'll be one of the first in line to donate. I hope many of you will do the same.

God bless and keep all the children battling Leukemia tonight!

The Grandbabies...Campout!

What fun! A weekend with the grandbabies at Cedar Lake! Hubby and I pulled our travel trailer to this lake near our home and had the grandbabies spend time with us there this weekend. Gwynnie was off on a vacation with her parents (our daughter and her hubby) in south Houston and we missed having her with us, but our sons' children are close by. And we love spending time with all of them.

Most people think of Oklahoma as flat, prairie land that is quite boring. But we live in southeast Oklahoma where there are amazing lakes and mountains. It's beautiful country! Cedar Lake is just 20 miles from our home and is nestled in the Ouachita Mountains near Talimena drive. This photo of hubby and me with the "grands" was taken on Talimena Drive.

So we got set up at our campsite on Friday after laying in a supply of all the favorite foods our grandchildren would require. By friday afternoon at about 4pm we were anxiously awating the arrival of our "babies". Hubby and I were walking a short distance from our campsite when we heard a chorus of voices..."Mamaw, Papaw!" They came running toward us as though they hadn't seen us in years (when, in fact, we had seen them only last week).

I can't express with words how it feels to have someone be that glad to see me! It's so awesome!

We hugged and all of us talked at the same time. It was one of those happy family moments that you enjoy now, and remember later with such sweetness. And the weekend was off to a great start.

I began to feel young and carefree immediatly. My energy level shot through the roof! I played and laughed and forgot everything except the joy of the moment.

Oh my! This grandmother experience is so liberating! When I was a parent, I had to discipline, fret, worry, as well as love and direct my children. It was a wonderful experience but stressful, at times. But with grandchildren, it's so different.

I can spoil them, love them, play with them, and then...send them home to their parents for all the other stuff. How fun is that?!! It's a lot of fun! And I revelled in it this weekend. We played games, went fishing, built a bonfire, roasted weiners, went hiking, watched movies as late as they wanted, ate junk food, and basically broke all the rules. I loved it!

There is a magic that goes along with being a grandparent. It comes from having these lovely young souls believe in us, love us, so completely. I'm always mindful that what I say to them will probably be remembered, so I am careful to speak truth and encouragement to them. But, mostly, I just love them. And I let them know that they are loved without question.

I'm back home with hubby now and we are both totally exhausted. Happy, but exhausted! It's very quiet in our house tonight, but the sound of their laughter still rings in my ears and I feel young....so very young!

Empty nest...Not me!

When our youngest child moved out I was faced with an ugly little thing called "empty nest syndrome." I tried working extra hours at my nursing job, took up a couple of hobbies (I still can't crochet to this day) and basically settled into a state of loneliness and despair that I didn't understand.

During all those years raising my children, my greatest complaint was that I had no free time. I had no time for myself. How I longed, in those days, for a leisurely bubble bath without a little hand knocking on the door and saying "I have to potty and I can't wait." Or maybe an hour when I could read a book without having to break up a fight in the next room. Or maybe sleeping the night thru with no little voices interrupting me with complaints of bad dreams. The mothers reading this will know what I am talking about, I'm sure.

So here I was with all the unfettered, free time in the world...and I was totally lost. I was depressed, lonely and unsure what I should do with myself. My sweet husband was kind and understanding during this time and tried his best to distract me but he had never been the primary caregiver for our kids...so he was a bit baffled by my depression, I think.

Bottom line...I needed something to take care of! So I asked my hubby if we could get a pet. I wanted a puppy. We were traveling because of my husband's work at the time and he made the very sensible argument that a pet might not be a good idea with our present lifestyle. But I didn't want sensible. I wanted something to love and care for. Frankly, I wanted another baby but since a human baby was not possible, I would adopt a puppy instead!

So we contacted a breeder with some unwanted puppies and that is where we found Dickens. Dickens was a Brussels Griffon mix breed puppy that no one wanted. And he was my salvation. What a sweetheart he was! We bonded immediately. It was love at first sight for Dickens and me... and he has been my best buddy and constant companion for 11 years now!

His vision is getting worse, just as mine is, and his joints ache on cold, damp days, just as mine do, but there is nothing more wonderful than the love and devotion of this little dog. He is my baby!

When we adopted Dickens my nest was no longer empty. What a happy day for me! Since Dickens came into our lives, we have added 2 more lovely canine souls (Pippa and Gus) to our family; as well as a cockatiel we call Jodie Bird.

Our home is full of life and love 24 hours a day and the empty nest is a long forgotten thing of the past for me.

Sometimes I still long to hear a little voice calling to me at night. Sometimes I wish for a knock at the bathroom door to interrupt my private time. What once seemed an inconvenience is now a sweet memory.

But my nest isn't empty. I have my babies...even if they are covered with fur and feathers.

Update on Connor

Connor is back home tonight after having his chemotherapy. The doctors say that they will work to get him back into remission. Then they will send him to San Antonio, Texas for a bone marrow transplant. But several things have to happen before he can have the transplant.

First he must be in remission. Second, he will have to check in to the hospital in San Antonio where his bone marrow (and immune system) will be completely destroyed by agressive chemo and radiation. Then the transplant can be done. Connor and his family will then have to live in the Ronald McDonald house near the hospital for a period of several weeks, possibly months. The reason for this is so that the doctors can check Connor everyday. There will be many blood transfusions required, medications to keep his little body from rejecting the new bone marrow will also have to be given and monitored.

And before ANY of this can happen, a bone marrow donor must be found that matches Connor.

Connor continues to be the delightful little boy that he always has been. His mother tells me that his appetite is better this weekend and he is keeping his food down pretty well!

We will be planning fund raisers for Connor and his trip to San Antonio in the near future. We are also looking into a bone marrow screening for possible donors. This works much the same as a blood drive.

Connor's mother asked me to thank everyone for your prayers and good wishes. She was very touched when she read the comments here. Please continue to remember Connor and his family. They are facing a grueling ordeal that is going to be emotionally, physically, and financially draining.

God bless and keep you, Connor!

For Connor

There is an amazing little boy in my life that I'd like to tell you about. His name is Connor, he is eight years old, he is my great-nephew and he is in a battle for his life. You see, Connor is fighting an enemy called Leukemia.

Connor is quite a kid! He loves pirates and anything he finds can be "treasure" to him. (An old piece of jewelry can make him smile.) He loves magic tricks and practices them on all who are close to him. Magic fascinates him. And there is a magic in Connor that you see and feel when you meet him. It's in his eyes. It's in his smile. He also loves to go fishing and rafting (he loves the water) and loves to play his video games.

Connor was just like every other little kid you know...playing, going to school, you know, just being a kid. Then one day in November of 2008, Connor began to complain with some joint pain. He was seen by a doctor for his complaints with the diagnosis being a sprained wrist, then a sprained knee, etc. This went on for a week.

Then the next week his Mom took him to school as usual, but around noon, she got a call. The school requested that she come get Connor immediately. Apparently, he could not stand or put any weight on his legs without being in excruciating pain. He would scream in terrible pain when he tried to walk. That was the beginning of Connor's battle. Within the space of a week, his world was turned upside down. Within 24 hours, he was diagnosed with Leukemia.

Connor was sent to Arkansas Children's Hospital and treatment was begun immediately. And being the "trooper" that he is, Connor responded amazing well to the treatments. He lost his hair, was often violently sick. Many days he couldn't keep anything (food, drink) down. But he fought! And he won! Connor was in remission for over a year once his treatment was done. The doctors were quite hopeful and so were we.

Then a couple of weeks ago, Connor's routine check up revealed something alarming. Cancer cells had invaded his spinal fluid. And Connor's fight has been renewed. The cancer is back.

At Arkansas Children's Hospital, Connor continues his fight. The chemo they are giving him this time is called "Red Devil". It is a medication so toxic to human cells that it must be greatly diluted to enter his little body. And even in it's diluted form, it can cause burns if it comes into direct contact with the skin.

Yet Connor's spirit is unwavering and strong. He smiles, he plays, he fights his enemy tirelessly without complaint-and looks forward to the day when he will not have to go through any of this ever again. His skin is peeling from his body, he is so sick with nausea and vomiting that he can't eat, his body is bloated and swollen from the medications he must take and still he smiles! I am humbled by this little warrior.

When I think of Connor, I feel ashamed of my silly complaints. I have nothing to complain about compared to this little boy. I have lived 52 years and Connor, at 8 years of age, is simply fighting for his next birthday! You are my little hero, Connor...and I am going to fight with you in any way I can.

God bless the doctors and nurses at Arkansas Children's Hospital for your excellent care of our Connor. God bless and strengthen Connor in his fight against this insidious disease. God bless and help Connor's mother (my niece) and grandmother (my sister) as they help him fight his daily battles.

And God help me to remember that there are worse indignities in this life than growing old!

This entry is for Connor....fight on little warrior....our little pirate....our budding magician....

God bless and strengthen Connor.