11-22-93...Curt's WBC came up to 3.8 but should be up to 5.0 before he can return to school. Energy level very high so Dad and Curt played baseball for awhile. Rod Keller called and said the Rockets lost 3-1 last Saturday morning.
11-24-93...Weather turning cold and icy so Grandma and Grandpa coming down today.
11-25-93...Thanksgiving spent with us Grandma and Grandpa Stevie, and Uncle Kenny. All except Mommy go to Cowboy Classic basketball tournament where Beccone beats Liberal and Rangers. Texas beats the Conqs.
Holidays...and illness...are like oil and water...no one's heart was truly there that Thanksgiving...
11-26-93...Daddy works all day but that night back to the Cowboy Classic where Rangers beat Liberal and the Conqs beat Baccone, Okla.
11-27-93...Dad works again then Rangers beat Baccone and the Conqs beat Liberal.
11-28-93...Mommy, Dad, and Curt head back for Wichita at 2 p.m. We arrive at Grandma and Grandpa's house at 5:15 p.m.
11-29-93...Curt is back at St. Francis at 10 a.m. We run into Donna from Liberal and find out Barbara has been here for past 3 weeks. She has received her bone marrow transplant but they have found cancer in her spinal fluid. At 3:30 p.m. Curt gets 2 I.V sites and a sedative to prepare him for an MRI. MRI over at 5 p.m. and ready to start hydration prior to chemo. Hydration started at 6:40 p.m.
As the hospital stays continue...you become familiar with the other kids and families in the unit...it's inevitable that you become emotionally involved in what's going on with the Barbara's...but you maintain the attitude that what's going "wrong" in their treatments are not foreshadowing your childs treatments...and when you ultimately hear that a Barbara has 'not made it'....you face the fact that...your child could be next...it's a slap of reality in the face...and your face stings for days...
11-30-93...Night went fairly well except for numerous interruptions for vital signs and taking a pee. Visited with Dr. Rosen at 9:45 a.m.; he said tumor was stabilized by showing no growth and that it was too early in treatment to show shrinkage so this is what was hoped for. When Curt's AGC is above 500 it is safe for him to return to school. Curt drew a Chief's helmet on cloth square for a quilt to be sold on the next Children's Miracle NetWork Telethon. We visited with Alistair for awhile and later Curt won a coffee mug playing patient bingo. At 9 p.m. Curt became very hot and sweaty and then vomited in the hall. He was over the nausea very quickly. He and Mommy slept well.
12-1-93...Aunt Cathy stays with Curt for a couple of hours and mommy and daddy do some Christmas Shopping. Curt hangs some ornaments on the Pediatric units Christmas tree. Curt and mommy didn't get very much sleep because I.V. pumps kept goofin' up.
12-2-93...Day starts out with Curt pretty tired from lack of sleep. Judy gets Curt to go down to the playroom and make some buttons. Dr. Rosen said it will be alright to leave tonight when his VP-16 runs out. His room mate Joey and Joey's mother Josie, left at about 2:30 p.m. Curt won a 'magic' writing tablet in patient bingo. At 9:15 p.m. Curt's I.V.s are removed and we check out of St. Francis and spend the night at Grandma and Grandpa Hubbard's house.
going 'down' to the play room...wall to wall bald headed little kids....busy in their business...coloring, painting, playing...the room buzzed...with a sense of norm. These were just kids being kids...forgetting their treatments...momentarily lost in fun. Kids have a beautiful way of prioritizing the here and now. Their resiliency never ceased to amaze me.
12-3-93...We leave Wichita at 10:30 a.m. and start for Dodge City. We stop at Pratt to see the wild life museum and arrive in Dodge at 5 p.m.
12-4-93...We get Grandma Stevie's UMW Book done for Oakley at 12:30 p.m. Later we eat at the Golden Corral and then go to the AMBUCS Christmas party at the Sheridan Center. Curt plays basketball for quite awhile.
12-5-93...Curt gets caught up on quite a bit of homework. Dad goes to the Emergency Room a hospital because of infection in leg.
12-6-93....First day back in school for Curt goes well. Curt and Krissy bring home fliers from school concerning a bake sale the school is giving for us. Dad sees Dr. McIlhinney.
The community in which we live did so much for Curt and us as a family. We were overwhelmed with their generosity....and felt their love and concern daily.....so many wanted to DO...whatever they could...we just really never had to ask for anything. Someone was always a step ahead of us in knowing our needs. It moves me to this day...remembering how giving and generous people were.
12-7-93...Dad finds out he is to have out-patient surgery Friday morning at 7:30.
12-8-93...Sunnyside holds a bake sale for Curt today and Dad and Curt play basketball for an hour in Sunnyside's gym after school. Curt whines and whines and will not do his make-up work.
12-9-93...Curt invites Rodney Miller to go to the Demon's basketball game Sat. night. Dad gets his tests and physical over with and is scheduled for surgery at 11 a.m. tomorrow.
12-10-93...Curt's WBC is only .7 which makes his AGC = 91; so Curt will not be able to attend school next week. Dad had surgery on his thigh and is spending the night in the Hospital.
12-11-93...We had planned to go watch the Demons play Newton but due to Curt's WBC and Dad's thigh we stay at home. Dad gets home from Hospitel at 11:30 a.m.
