Colin Loves Tractors » oncology

I’m Considering, I’m Considering…

Mom — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 04:42:56 +0000

Colorblind James Experience is much more obscure than Paul Simon, but fortunately they have a MySpace page, so anyone unfamiliar with the band can find their tune “Considering a Move to Memphis” online. Not surprisingly, the refrain chants:

I’m considering I’m considering A move to Memphis A move to Memphis

Perhaps the one lesson that we have learned from this [...]

New Belly Button

Mom — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 02:11:11 +0000

On Monday, Colin had surgery to install a G-tube (a second bionic belly button next to the organic original) and perform a fundoplication, which serves to prevent reflux. Over the weekend, Colin appeared to suffer from symptoms of a run of the mill virus and had a few bouts of vomiting.

Though we suspected that the [...]

Awaiting the G-Tube

Mom — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 04:23:24 +0000

On Wednesday, Colin was scheduled to repeat the swallow study, though it was widely thought that he would likely fail. Melissa, who did the first swallow study, sensed this and asked to visit him clinically before conducting a study. She suggested that he needed at least a week before retesting.

However, we realized that the question [...]

Morning Post-Op Recovery

Mom — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:34:26 +0000

Colin continues to do well post-operatively. As we have experienced in the past, he comes out of sedation very quickly, so they administered fentanyl in order to keep him quiet. However, the fentanyl is a longer-acting medication that is not ideal to have in his system when they try to extubate him.

Right now, they are [...]

Bound for the Big Apple

Mom — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 04:31:10 +0000

Today, we made a big decision regarding Colin’s treatment: we will be taking him to New York City for surgery on Wednesday by Dr. Jeffrey Wisoff of NYU. This may be an abrupt change in plans for many who have been following Colin’s care.

We had anticipated receiving a second opinion from Dana Farber/Boston Children’s Hospital’s [...]

New Digs

Mom — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 02:52:00 +0000

The weekend was a blur, with several visitors and the excitement of a pending move “upstairs” to the regular pediatric area. Saturday morning represented Colin’s 48-hour challenge for the drain, which he passed with flying colors. His intracranial pressure remained good during that period and he received a conditional thumbs up to leave the PICU, [...]

We Don’t Need Roads

Mom — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:06:01 +0000

A treatment plan involving chemotherapy, additional neurosurgery and radiation starts to take shape and, as Colin gradually [...]

Weekend Visitors

Mom — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:50:45 +0000

Information on the general course of chemotherapy treatment and Aidan's anxiety about his brother's [...]

I Can Breathe!

Mom — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 23:00:33 +0000

Thoughts on Colin's diagnosis and the effects of the tumor on his behavior, past and [...]