Sick & delays

Bonjour everyone.

Well, the chemo has been delayed for the last 3 weeks due to fevers and flues. Ben had a fever of 40ºC and we had to take him to emergency. He had to be admitted for 4 days with rounds of antibiotics. While he was in the hospital with his mom Pam, his sister Stephanie was at home with dad. She had the stomach flu and was vomiting.

When Ben and mom returned, mom had the stomach flu and was throwing up as well. Then Ben got it too. Dad was immune, for now, but had to run from room to room, cleaning up and tending to everyone. Dad then took Ben back to emergency as his fever returned and he was neutropenic (he had a fever and his blood counts were too low to fight off any disease). There he had another round of antibiotics and there dad got the stomach flu and was vomiting. Now everyone else is “fine” but dad is in bed with the stomach flu. Not fun.

Ben was asked to draw a picture for the cover of a national French Immersion journal out very soon. He will be sending it out soon. His calendar has been raising funds for Children’s Hospital. Ben likes his “Ben 10” figurines. “Ben 10” is a kids’ show on once a week. He loves it. Ben continues to draw and write books. He is on his 15th book. His

grandfather was a journalist and a writer. i wonder where Ben got it from?

Ben’s chemo should continue this Wednesday as his counts should be back to acceptable levels for chemo. After all the flues and fevers, he’ll be back to the hospital for more chemo. Ben is also due for radiation to his whole body and radiation to his brain before August. This will try to eliminate any leukemic cells in his nervous system and his brain. We (and he) are not looking forward to that! At the very least, it can cause learning diYculties. He is a very intelligent and creative little boy. We pray the radiation won’t aMect him too much, though he will feel noxious for weeks after.

We continue to carry on and his smiles and laughter give us that energy.