Tyler continues to make progress with his stomach recovery. He looks so much better!! I'm not sure if it's because he's moving and awake, or because some of his hair is growing back, but the difference is amazing!! He is working very hard. Most days, they have him busy with physical therapy from 8:00 - 5:00. So, he's pretty exhausted too.
Tonight he is heading back to the ICU to get his trach removed, another step in the right direction! He should only be in there for 24 hours while they monitor him after the removal.
Still no word on a treatment plan for the cancer or tumor. We are so happy at the progress he's making with this recovery though. Thank you for your continued support and prayers!
Tyler - 17 year old fighting cancer!
Ready for Battle!
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Out of the ICU!!!
The New Year is starting off in the right direction. After 3 long months, Tyler has been moved OUT OF THE ICU!!! Woo Hoo!!
He is now on the rehabilitation floor. It will be a lot of hard work over these next few weeks, but we know Tyler can do it. On the road to heading home...
The above picture is a snapshot from some T-shirts we have leftover from the fundraiser. We only have about 20 and they are various sizes of L, XL and 2XL. If you're interested in getting one, we're asking for a $10 donation that directly benefits Tyler and Michelle. You can make the donation by clicking here: http://www.gofundme.com/1drbvk. Then, send me an email at jetfields@yahoo.com with your size preference. I'll do my best to get it out to you in the size you requested, but can't make any guarantees since we have limited quantities. Thanks for your continued support!!
He is now on the rehabilitation floor. It will be a lot of hard work over these next few weeks, but we know Tyler can do it. On the road to heading home...
Sunday, December 30, 2012
The last stomach surgery!
Well Friday's surgery went well. They were able to put the mesh in as they had planned. Baring any emergencies or complications, that is his last planned stomach surgery. Now the rest of the healing begins.
The doctors weren't lying about the painful recovery. Tyler is in a lot of pain right now. He's saying he's at level 9 even with all of the pain meds they are giving him!! Last night when I was with him, he was refusing to get his trach suctioned because he knew it would cause him to cough, which would hurt his stomach. And when the nurse told him he had to get a bath, a look of pain and anguish came over his face! The poor kid! He made it through and got suctioned before going to bed, though.
He had a bit of throwing up in the middle of the night and a lot of coughing, which didn't make for a good full night's sleep. But he was resting when I saw him this morning.
If the recovery goes as planned, we are looking at February before he gets to go home. Of course, that is only the stomach healing and not the cancer. Still no plan has been presented for the cancer.
Thank you for continuing to pray for Tyler. Looking back on these 3 months, I can say it is a miracle that he has made it this far! We are continuing to put our trust in the One true God! May His will be done in Tyler's life!!
The doctors weren't lying about the painful recovery. Tyler is in a lot of pain right now. He's saying he's at level 9 even with all of the pain meds they are giving him!! Last night when I was with him, he was refusing to get his trach suctioned because he knew it would cause him to cough, which would hurt his stomach. And when the nurse told him he had to get a bath, a look of pain and anguish came over his face! The poor kid! He made it through and got suctioned before going to bed, though.
He had a bit of throwing up in the middle of the night and a lot of coughing, which didn't make for a good full night's sleep. But he was resting when I saw him this morning.
If the recovery goes as planned, we are looking at February before he gets to go home. Of course, that is only the stomach healing and not the cancer. Still no plan has been presented for the cancer.
Thank you for continuing to pray for Tyler. Looking back on these 3 months, I can say it is a miracle that he has made it this far! We are continuing to put our trust in the One true God! May His will be done in Tyler's life!!
Thursday, December 27, 2012
A Pretty Rough Week
Tyler has had a rough week. He's pretty much been sleeping since his surgery last Thursday. He wasn't breathing deeply enough and his carbon dioxide levels were too high. So, they put him back on the cpap (not the ventilator, but the step down that helps wean him off of the ventilator.). Michelle knew something wasn't right the other night, with his breathing, and alerted the doctors and the nurses. They caught it in time (way to go mom!) to prevent him from having to go back on the ventilator, but he's still not happy about being on this thing.
He had another surgery Christmas morning. They cinched his stomach again and drained some fluid from his lungs. They feel that they cannot pull his stomach together any more. So, tomorrow, they are planning to put a mesh in his stomach. They said it's a very painful surgery and so he will be put under and have an epidural for the pain. The next 5-7 days after the surgery will bring him a lot of pain as well.
I wish I could be bringing you more uplifting news, but this is the reality of it for now. Tyler has now been in the ICU for nearly 3 months, at UofM for 4 of those weeks already. This battle is much longer and much harder than any of us had anticipated that it would be, but we're continuing to take 1 day at a time.
Please pray for a successful surgery tomorrow and for Tyler's pain levels as he heals. Also continue to pray that he will be a favorable candidate for one of these cancer trials, as he will be embarking on that battle after his stomach heals.
He had another surgery Christmas morning. They cinched his stomach again and drained some fluid from his lungs. They feel that they cannot pull his stomach together any more. So, tomorrow, they are planning to put a mesh in his stomach. They said it's a very painful surgery and so he will be put under and have an epidural for the pain. The next 5-7 days after the surgery will bring him a lot of pain as well.
I wish I could be bringing you more uplifting news, but this is the reality of it for now. Tyler has now been in the ICU for nearly 3 months, at UofM for 4 of those weeks already. This battle is much longer and much harder than any of us had anticipated that it would be, but we're continuing to take 1 day at a time.
Please pray for a successful surgery tomorrow and for Tyler's pain levels as he heals. Also continue to pray that he will be a favorable candidate for one of these cancer trials, as he will be embarking on that battle after his stomach heals.
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Some News from the Oncologist
Finally, after so many weeks with nothing, we do have some news from the surgical oncologist today. It's not the news we were hoping for, however. The surgeon has met with the adult cancer surgeons and the pediatric surgeons. The tumor is not operable at this point. They said it is like cement on all of his organs.
They are trying to get him into a trial. They need to do some more biopsies in order to see if he can be a candidate for the trial they have in mind. If that doesn't work, they will try another one.
Please pray for Tyler. I know you are already, but today's news is so disheartening. We are all emotionally and physically drained. Tyler (and his mom...and the rest of us) need renewed strength and hope. Please pray that he will be a match for the right trial. Please pray that they will find a breakthrough for him. Our family is continually grateful for your thoughts and prayers these last few months.
They are trying to get him into a trial. They need to do some more biopsies in order to see if he can be a candidate for the trial they have in mind. If that doesn't work, they will try another one.
Please pray for Tyler. I know you are already, but today's news is so disheartening. We are all emotionally and physically drained. Tyler (and his mom...and the rest of us) need renewed strength and hope. Please pray that he will be a match for the right trial. Please pray that they will find a breakthrough for him. Our family is continually grateful for your thoughts and prayers these last few months.
Monday, December 17, 2012
No big changes
Sorry for the lack of updates. There haven't been many big changes going on. Tyler is still in the PICU. He's still making progress in terms of his stomach closing. He has about 10 centimeters to go still until it is closed. So, he goes to the O.R. every couple of days and gets "cinched" together a little more. You can imagine it's pretty painful. So, he has his good days and his bad days with the pain.
They are also continuing to push him on his physical therapy. He sat up for a couple of hours in a wheelchair last week. Although painful and exhausting, he did it.
He has been running a fever and been throwing up a bit too. They think that may be due to clamping his G-tube (drain from his stomach). They are trying to get his stomach back to working on its own, so this is part of the painful process.
We do have a praise report. Michelle received a letter that his insurance coverage will continue until at least November of next year. We are so grateful! I cannot even imagine what his hospital bills would look like at this point. I'm sure we're approaching $1million, if he hasn't already gone over that amount.
Another praise report has to be the Ronald McDonald house. What a huge blessing they have been to the family. They have made a room available for us every night since he has been there. Local charities bring food in every night for all of the 29 families that are there. And, since they know we'll be there celebrating for Christmas, they have already offered us up one of the common areas to reserve for our family. So amazing! Now if only we can wheel Tyler over there to join us. I doubt it, but I can be hopeful until then!
I can't thank you enough for your prayers. Tyler is so blessed by them too! When his grandma mentioned to him that she was praying for him, he jokingly said back to her, "You need to get people praying for you, I have tons of people praying for me already!" So, thanks again.
We are still overwhelmed by your care, concern and generosity. But, we still need your prayers too. Thank you for continuing to keep Tyler in your prayers. We're still believing in our Healer for a full recovery and a plan to take care of that nasty cancer tumor!
They are also continuing to push him on his physical therapy. He sat up for a couple of hours in a wheelchair last week. Although painful and exhausting, he did it.
He has been running a fever and been throwing up a bit too. They think that may be due to clamping his G-tube (drain from his stomach). They are trying to get his stomach back to working on its own, so this is part of the painful process.
We do have a praise report. Michelle received a letter that his insurance coverage will continue until at least November of next year. We are so grateful! I cannot even imagine what his hospital bills would look like at this point. I'm sure we're approaching $1million, if he hasn't already gone over that amount.
Another praise report has to be the Ronald McDonald house. What a huge blessing they have been to the family. They have made a room available for us every night since he has been there. Local charities bring food in every night for all of the 29 families that are there. And, since they know we'll be there celebrating for Christmas, they have already offered us up one of the common areas to reserve for our family. So amazing! Now if only we can wheel Tyler over there to join us. I doubt it, but I can be hopeful until then!
I can't thank you enough for your prayers. Tyler is so blessed by them too! When his grandma mentioned to him that she was praying for him, he jokingly said back to her, "You need to get people praying for you, I have tons of people praying for me already!" So, thanks again.
We are still overwhelmed by your care, concern and generosity. But, we still need your prayers too. Thank you for continuing to keep Tyler in your prayers. We're still believing in our Healer for a full recovery and a plan to take care of that nasty cancer tumor!
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Praying for a plan
Tyler had another procedure yesterday where they wash his belly out and do the cinching together of his stomach. He's in some pain, but otherwise everything is the same.
The surgeons are suppose to meet tonight about his case and then tomorrow they are suppose to review his cancer case again with the cancer board. We're praying that a plan will be revealed for his cancer treatment. Please join us in praying for some good news and a clear plan for Tyler's case.
The surgeons are suppose to meet tonight about his case and then tomorrow they are suppose to review his cancer case again with the cancer board. We're praying that a plan will be revealed for his cancer treatment. Please join us in praying for some good news and a clear plan for Tyler's case.
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