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Brooke
02-05-2008, 04:14 PM
My hairdresser has just found out that her youngest son(4 years old) has some type of throat cancer. He was being treated for bronchitis last week and when he didn't respond to the medication he was referred to a specialist who took x-rays and found a mass on his esophagus causing breathing problems. He was rushed to St. Louis children's hospital where they are doing tests and treating him to help him breathe. They think it is treatable, but are awaiting tests to find out just how.

This young couple has 2 older sons (about 6 and 9) and to make matters even worse, the mother is 9 months pregnant and due any day with a daughter.

I don't know how she is able to even cope with all that is happening. She has made arrangements to have the baby there, of course, to be near her sick little son. I just can't even imagine her pain and anguish and for this to happen at such a time when she should be experiencing joy at having a little girl after having 3 boys.

The couple does have lots of friends and family close by, so I'm sure they are all helping as much as possible.

DonFan
02-05-2008, 06:05 PM
I am so sorry. I will definitely remember them in my prayers.

Glennsallnighter
02-05-2008, 06:30 PM
So will I. I really hope they have caught her little boy in time. Hopefully he will make a full recovery. And I really hope they can still take joy in the birth of their daughter. Please keep us posted Brooke.

Mrs Frey
02-06-2008, 04:13 AM
Oh, I'm SO sorry to read this Brooke! I will remember them in my prayers too. How awful for such a little boy to have to go through such physical pain and trauma, and for the family who are supposed to be celebrating the new arrival to be going through so much emotional pain. I just hope the little one pulls through.

glenneaglesfan
02-06-2008, 04:51 AM
Brooke, that is so sad. Poor little mite. My thoughts and prayers for your friend and all her family in the tough times ahead.

Brooke
02-06-2008, 11:23 AM
Thanks everyone. It's helping!

I just found out that my friend has delivered a healthy daughter and both are doing well! :D

The little boy is responding to steriod treatments and it is reducing the size of the tumor so he can breathe. They are hoping that all of them will be able to come home on Friday. He will have to undergo chemotherapy 3 times a week for which they will have to travel back to St.Louis (2 hours each way) for. Hopefully, they will be able to reduce the size of the tumor and will be able to take it out in a couple years. This seems like a long drawn out ordeal, but it seems there is hope he will make a full recovery. He is too little to operate on right now.

Good news! :D

Glennsallnighter
02-06-2008, 12:21 PM
Well congratulations to you friend and her lovely new baby. I hope they are all well enough to travel, and I hope their son responds to the treatment well.

Mrs Frey
02-07-2008, 02:16 AM
Brooke, I'm happy that both your friend and her baby daughter are healthy and doing well. Your friend will need all her strength for what lies ahead of her, and I hope that the whole family will be able to cope with the ordeal. I'm so glad that the situation is already looking positive.

glenneaglesfan
02-07-2008, 05:35 AM
Brooke, I'm so pleased that your friend has had a healthy baby girl, and it sounds a bit more positive about her litle son. Chemotherapy is an ordeal, but it does have good results in children so we'll all be hoping and praying for the best.

EasyFeeling
02-07-2008, 06:56 AM
I'm just reading this. :( I'm sorry to hear about that little boy but it seems he's doing better and hopefully it's possible to remove the tumor one day.
Glad to hear about the baby girl, at least one good thing at the moment in your friend's life. :D

tbs fanatic
02-07-2008, 11:22 AM
Oh my gosh, what a rollercoaster for that family. Sounds as though things are looking up though.

Molly
02-10-2008, 06:55 PM
Prayers for strength to your friend and her family, Brooke.

Keep us posted.

rcknalwys
02-12-2008, 11:58 AM
Let me add my prayers for your friends also. It's surprising the strength you can find when faced with so much. I will continue to keep them all in my prayers.

Brooke
02-12-2008, 03:19 PM
Thanks for all your prayers. It is much appreciated.

The family is home now and making trips 3 days a week for chemo. The little tyke has a long road ahead of him, but they are keeping their chins up. It is making him sick and he told them that maybe he just shouldn't eat, but of course, he has to and maybe his system will learn to tolerate. Baby girl is thriving.

Our community is having a benefit for them in a couple weeks to try to help out with their expenses.

Ive always been a dreamer
02-12-2008, 04:29 PM
Oh Brooke - I'm just now seeing this thread. My thoughts are also with your friend and her family as they face this long challenge. I'm also happy to hear that the infant baby girl seems to be thriving. Talk about mixed blessings - whew.

Glennsallnighter
02-12-2008, 05:29 PM
Well hope fully the treatment will work and he'll be back to normal soon. I hope the benefit goes well and raises plenty of $$. Is there any way we can contribute towards it Brooke?

Brooke
02-12-2008, 05:36 PM
That's so very sweet of you Ga. I will check with the sponsors and get back to you.

glenneaglesfan
02-12-2008, 06:41 PM
Add me to that list too, Brooke. Over here, we take it for granted that the NHS will cover costs, but for cancer treatment sometimes the health authorities refuse the use of the latest drugs because of cost.

I'm very glad to hear that your friend's little daughter is doing well.

Glennsallnighter
02-12-2008, 07:07 PM
Over here the situation is similar to the UK. The HSE funds the treatment if you don't have private health care (and if they consider it appropriate)due to cost. I've heard of people taking out mortgages to fund hospital treatment. Again, as Kate said some new and possibly very good drugs are refused. However nobody funds the costs associated with travelling that kind of distance, possibly needing to overnight, babysitting other members of the family, meals grabbed on the go, and other sundries which can make a hospital stay or trip more comfortable for the person who is ill. Those things usually have to be met by the person or their families. Hence the fund.

sodascouts
02-12-2008, 11:11 PM
What an ordeal! I'm glad to hear that there is hope now, even if the poor little boy has to endure something as harsh as chemo. I'll be praying for the family, too.

Brooke
02-13-2008, 10:24 AM
I have no idea how all of this works here, but I'm sure it's going to be very expensive and they will need all the help they can get. I'm not even sure that they have any insurance at all. I know from personal experience that the traveling to and fro is bad enough.

I do have info on the fund for him. If anyone wants to make a donation, pm me and I will send you the address.

Glennsallnighter
02-13-2008, 12:26 PM
OK Brooke, will do!

Brooke
09-25-2008, 11:01 AM
I have an update on my little friend. He is doing really well and got to start pre-school last week!

He has been diagnosed with t-cell lymphoma. The tumer cannot be removed at this time, but has shrunk considerably and shows no cancer cells, so, the chemo is working! His blood cell count is up so they let him go to school. He is so happy about that and getting to meet new friends.

Those prayers are working! :yay:

ticky
09-25-2008, 11:09 AM
Brooke, Thank God! He'll stay in my thoughts and prayers *G*

Ive always been a dreamer
09-25-2008, 11:13 AM
Those prayers are working! :yay:

That is just wonderful news, Brooke. We will definitely continue to wish him health and happiness.

Mrs Henley
09-25-2008, 12:24 PM
That's great news!
I wish him goodluck and keep strong and I will pray for him!!

sodascouts
09-25-2008, 03:12 PM
Thanks for the update, Brooke! What wonderful news!

GlennLover
09-25-2008, 11:15 PM
I just read about this family. Hope all goes well for them in the coming months & years.

glenneaglesfan
09-26-2008, 09:46 AM
Brooke, that's great news about your friend's little boy. Thanks for the update, and we'll keep him in our thoughts.

Glennsallnighter
09-26-2008, 10:57 AM
Brooke that is fantastic news. I will pray for his continued recovery.

Brooke
11-12-2009, 03:43 PM
It's good to have good news! My little friend is now cancer free and in school and acting just like any little kid. Doing great! The tumor cannot be removed now, but maybe someday. It's been a long battle, but he's a tough little boy.

Thanks for all the prayers for him. I do believe that in this case, it definitely helped.

sodascouts
11-12-2009, 05:25 PM
Wonderful to hear, Brooke!

Troubadour
11-12-2009, 05:46 PM
Amazing! I am so thrilled for the little guy and his family.

Prettymaid
11-12-2009, 06:28 PM
That is good news Brooke.

cynd1231
11-12-2009, 07:42 PM
I'm always thrilled to learn of such a success story. I pray for his continued good fortune.

Sadly, for every positive...I learned lastnight that my girlfriends 11-year-old grandson passed away yesterday after a 3-year battle with cancer. And my son informed me that his step-sister is undergoing chemo for a recurrence of breast cancer. I was crushed to learn that she isn't doing well at all...late 30's, single Mom of a 14-year-old son and a survivor of Hodgkin's in her teens. This has been a rough few weeks, having lost uncles on October 3rd and October 30th...now this. But I remind myself that it's out of our control and continue to pray for all of them.

glenneaglesfan
11-12-2009, 08:02 PM
Cyndi, I'm so sad to hear about your friend losing her grandson. I can't imagine how devastating that must be. I'll be thinking of your son's step-sister as well.

Brooke, that is really good news about your friend's little boy. Thanks for the update.

sodascouts
11-12-2009, 08:32 PM
Wow, I'm sorry, Cynd. They're in my prayers, too.

GlennLover
11-13-2009, 12:22 AM
Mine too, Cynd!

TimothyBFan
11-13-2009, 09:07 AM
Wow Cynd---Your family is in my thoughts.

Brooke
11-13-2009, 10:36 AM
Mine, too, Cynd. How sad.

Koala
11-13-2009, 01:19 PM
I'm so sorry to hear that, Cynd.

anne-o-gg
11-13-2009, 01:59 PM
It's been a while for me but I just had to post and say Cyndi, your family will be in my thoughts and prayers! God is still a big God and I will be praying for her healing!! And peace, strenth and courage for you in this trying time... <3