Tyler - 17 year old fighting cancer!

Tyler - 17 year old fighting cancer!
Ready for Battle!

Thursday, May 9, 2013

A rough week

I think coming up with a title for these posts is often difficult. I'm not sure what to name this one. I guard my words, constantly, trying not to be too negative or overly excited about the glimpses of positive. There isn't any really bad news today. Tyler has just had a couple of bad days. He's not feeling good at all. He's had some opportunities to go outside and get some sunshine, still, but just overall not feeling good this week.

Also, his j-tube (drain for the stomach) isn't working properly. So, he can't have drinks again (UGH!) or have half of his meds, including one of the cancer treatments. We are waiting to hear from surgery on the plan to put it back in the right place.

Please keep him in your prayers, as always. Thank you!

Some encouragement from 1 Peter 1 for my fellow believers in Jesus Christ:
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Monday, May 6, 2013

Sunshine and Motivation

We're finally getting some nice weather here in Michigan and that has allowed for Tyler to get outside a couple of times. He went outside on Thursday afternoon, but PT made him work a bit. He had to walk to his wheelchair and then wheel it to the elevator. That was A LOT of work for him to get outside. He was completely exhausted after that.

On Saturday, his nurse asked him if he wanted to go out and he said no. He didn't want to have to work that hard again. Andrew, his nurse, told him he wouldn't make him work at all...he would just take him out there because it was so beautiful. Tyler agreed. He went out for 15-20 minutes and just soaked up the sunshine. It was still a little work, because just sitting in his wheelchair is work for him. But, he enjoyed it. They could only stay out a bit because he is sensitive to the sun, due to the chemo. But, for the first time in 7 months, he got to go outside, and enjoy some sunshine!

On Sunday morning he woke up and said, "Bring me my chair, I'm not sitting in this bed all day!". Michelle and I had to laugh. We had not seen him that motivated before. So we started joking with him...asking if he was going to train to run a marathon or something. He said he's just sick of the hospital. If that's not an understatement, I don't know what is!

So, he got up and sat in his chair for nearly an hour. When he was tired, he got back in bed, but while he was working on getting back in, he said, "I'm going to get back in there in a little bit". I've watched the effort it takes for him to get up and in and out of the chair and the bed. I assure you it is the equivalent of me running a mile. It is work and it takes effort and concentration and endurance. After about a 20 minute rest, he asked for his chair again and got back in. This kid continues to amaze me!

On another note, he FINALLY gets to have something to drink. In the last 30 days, he's only had 3-4 days where he could drink something. On Saturday, he was allowed to have 8 oz a day. On Sunday, Michelle went to the regular daily rounds, ready to fight to get him 2 more ounces. :) She even bragged about all the work he was doing, sitting in his chair and going outside. She said she was going to hang a sign on his door that says "Will work for drinks!". The doctor realized this drink was very important to him. I saw this moment of compassion in him and he told the resident to go talk to surgery about being more liberal with his drinks. He said, "Let's give him his Coke!". Because I'm a total sap, I started crying after I thanked the doctor. I was just so overwhelmed because this drink IS important to him and I was so happy to hear that the doctors finally saw that! Let's hope surgery has as much compassion!

Finally, I received a text from Michelle later yesterday, after I had left. She let me know that Tyler walked much further than he had in the past. He probably doubled the length he has done in the past. He's motivated. He's strong and tenacious. I just love that kid! He inspires me to never ever give up. No matter how tired and sick he is...he's still fighting.