Colin Loves Tractors » Target House

No, No, No, How are You Doing?

Mom — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 16:31:22 +0000

Perhaps I was naively unconcerned about Colin’s latest scan. We returned to Memphis after a month at home for a battery of follow-ups, most importantly the MRI of the brain and spine. The legendary furnace of early July in Memphis intimidated us, yet those first days turned out to be [...]

Survivor: Target House

Mom — Sun, 23 May 2010 13:10:43 +0000

There is no immunity challenge, and Jeff Probst doesn’t sit us around a campfire to discuss who is next to go, but living here is beginning to feel like a warped version of the Survivor reality show. So many families that were planning to leave after us are by now long gone.

The Simkins, who have [...]

Out of the Nest

Mom — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:20:12 +0000

Colin Mugging for the Camera at Le Bonheur (Post-Ops)

Our little fledgling has returned to Target House for good, following his last inpatient stay at St. Jude (barring unexpected events, of course).

While we will spend every week day at St. Jude, our trips to the second floor will be restricted to social calls. This milestone [...]

I’m In!

Mom — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 17:40:38 +0000

The news of the impending loss of Colin’s port was sobering, but we put it behind us as we launched into the holiday weekend.

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Even at St. Jude, things slow down over three-day weekends, and during this period we only had one appointment, a lab check on Sunday to see how his magnesium was doing.

On [...]

Eyes on the Prize

Mom — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 06:30:00 +0000

[imagebrowser id=13]Colin’s habit of throwing us for a loop has continued unabated. Although blood cultures from the 12th did not produce anything, cultures from the 13th did. In a nutshell, Dr. Boop will not do a surgery, especially one that is long and complicated like Colin’s, without assurance that he is not harboring an infection.

Therefore, [...]

One-Upmanship

Mom — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 17:53:49 +0000

After Thursday’s flood of good news, it seemed impossible that the trend would continue.

However, Colin wasn’t having any of that. Friday’s first big event was the transesophogeal echocardiogram, which was quick but required sedation.

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Dr. Joshi #1 (the cardiologist) came to take another look at the vegetation in Colin’s heart. Predictably, it took longer to [...]

Last Stop, Pukesville!

Mom — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 08:19:24 +0000

The chemo train is taking Colin on a trip to Pukesville. Next station, Emesis Valley. Making local stops at East Heavetown and Upper Hurlbury! Discounted fare available with Zofran, Benadryl, Ativan and Reglan.

Cisplatin is the usual suspect with severe nausea and vomiting, and we have been bracing ourselves for this since the end of the last [...]

Expressing Thanks

Mom — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:40:06 +0000

Every year, Thanksgiving is an opportunity for many things, the most honorable of which is the recognition of what we as individuals are thankful for and humility for having so much when there are people who have so little.

This is even more true this year than it ever has been.

Obviously, we are extremely thankful [...]

Twelve Hours

Mom — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 08:11:45 +0000

Colin has set a new record for readmission, though fortunately not because of a sudden deterioration of his condition. On Wednesday afternoon, I drove Dad and Aidan to the airport for a quick trip home to see family and friends. After returning to the hospital, I packed up Colin and brought him back to Target [...]

This Tuna’s Not Going to Japan

Mom — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:10:29 +0000

Many years ago (well in excess of a decade), there was a magazine article about tuna fishing and the process of selecting the premium fish caught here in the North Atlantic that would fly to Japan. It is possibly “Those Wild Tuna Guys” by Anthony Tillett in Harper’s Magazine, published in 1987. However, I am [...]