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May 1/07 - Not A Happy Read...Again

6/12/2011

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Not A Happy Read...Again
Category: Life

Two weeks  ago we got the results back from Darrel's batch on scans done in 
mid-April.  After all that he, and the rest of us, have been through, you'd 
think that maybe we could be given some good news...but this was not the case 
again!  The December and January scans had shown that the cancer was still 
growing, despite all the procedures that had been attempted.  In March, Darrel 
began taking a low dose chemo pill, as he could not handle a full I.V. round, 
due to everything else that had happened (other blogs deal with this is more 
detail).  Although it zapped his energy from time to time, he seemed to be 
handling it pretty well.  Of course, this added to the utter dismay when Sick 
Kids called with the results.  Not only was there further "progressive" growth, 
but new spots had formed up by his neck, and along his spine.

Given the devastating findings, and the fact that the chemo was having no 
effect at all, we were given only two options: a) enroll him in any number of 
experimental treatments; or b) keep him comfortable at home.  Neither option 
offers anything of hope or substance for Darrel for the long term.  We have
been dealing with this for almost two years now, and though I don't want to say
there is nothing more we can do for him, regardless, that is the reality of the 
situation at this time.  An adult, under certain circumstances, could come to 
the conclusion that helping to move cancer research along by being part of
these  studies is a noble and selfless act and way to conclude their lives...but
we will not ask a 6 year old boy, who just wants to play every chance he has to 
spend the rest of his life stuck in a hospital, being an over-glorified lab 
rat!  Any of the studies would have involved non-stop trips to Toronto,  and
enough testing to drive anyone insane.  The information and data would no  doubt
be of possible benefit to someone down the road, but only more pain and 
suffering for Darrel. 

While it isn't proper to say it, our decision to keep him at home was made 
a bit easier by what another boy we often seen at the hospital in Toronto had 
been put through.  "Adam", who also had neuroblastoma, had been continually 
under-going more chemo for nearly five years.  The drugs were keeping him
alive, but was it a Life?  The chemo was slowing down the rate of the cancer 
spreading, but it was at the same time ravaging the rest of his body.  He was 
nearly blind and deaf, and stuck in a wheel-chair, as he had broken a leg a few 
years previous, and his body as not strong enough to heal itself.  Many times I 
had wondered how his parents could have allowed this to go on for so long, but 
the thoughts change drastically when it is your child.  Seeing what may and 
probably would lie ahead for my son if we went that route, keeping him at home 
seemed the much better of the two most unpleasant options presented to us.

The hospital has not given us a time-frame yet.  I'm not really sure it 
have that information would make things any easier or not.  We have tried to 
explain the situation to Darrel and the girls, but I don't think they really 
understand, but I don't think I really comprehend everything myself either.  
Darrel will be having his 7th birthday on May 26th.  We are hoping to take him 
to the Zoo and Canada's Wonderland if/when his health and the weather permit.  
He is now deciding what he wants for his birthday, and what to ask Santa for at
  Christmas.  Hopefully, he will be able to get all his wishes for both, and be
  able to have lots of time to enjoy the presents
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    The majority of all these entries were written by Darrel's father, Stephen.  For those that are not, efforts have been made to give proper credit where it is due.

    The bulk of the posts are in the June 2011 Archives Section, as that is when I transferred them over to this site.  Category Tags should allow you to find entries easier.

    I've tried to correct spacing issues on many of the entries, as most of the older ones have been copied from different sites I've used in the past. I apologize if some have been overlooked.

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