07/04/2010
by Michael Wells
Saturday was a very special day. My brother Richard, his friend Donna and my Mom drove from North Haven, Connecticut to visit Brady. It was great to see all of them and I was extremely happy my 91 year old mother got to visit with her 21st grandchild. It was very touching.
Today is also a very special day, as it is not only Independence Day; it is my daughter Jennifer’s birthday.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JENN!!!
Sherrie and I hope you enjoy the day and we look forward to seeing you soon.
Life in a hospital during a holiday period takes on a very eerie nature. The hallways are quieter, the unit appears to be half full, and there are fewer people. I hope this is our last holiday at the hospital and that we will celebrate the next 4th of July with a birthday party for Jennifer.
In the meantime; Brady continues to do as well as anyone can expect. His white blood count is now at 0.3 and soon we will know just how aggressive his cancer is growing. All his other vital signs are within normal ranges and he has gotten back his appetite as he is eating just about anything. He has developed quite a love for Munchkins, Tootsie Rolls and Diet Coke. Sherrie and I continue to believe we will improve his diet once we are on the road to recovery. At least that’s was we are telling each other. It was a “good” day!
Once again, we spent quite a large part of yesterday going for “walks.” Brady is such a particular child; everything must be just “perfect” for his walks; the correct hat, the sunglasses, the entourage of stuffed animals and now it seems he likes to carry a Munchkin in one of his hands while we are walking. I really don’t understand the Munchkin but he will drive you crazy repeating the word a million times if you don’t give him one to carry. As I said; it was “good” day!
Sherrie spent last night in the hospital and I returned home for a decent (if not oxymoronic) night’s sleep. Our house is a simple, small ranch style home and yet without Sherrie and Brady it feels just so empty. I miss my family and our little eccentricities of life. I pray we get through this nightmare and we can enjoy our simple pleasures. It’s a holiday week-end and I am not cooking breakfast or planning a party or watching fireworks; cancer just doesn’t get it! Brady is beating this beast and we will return to our magnificent paradise we call “home.”
Until then, your prayers, hugs and good thoughts are the thread that holds the fabric of our family together; please continue them…
We had a truly wonderful 4th of July. Brady continues to respond extremely well in regards to removing him from his steroids. So far his vitals are excellent, white blood count is back to 0.2, his blood pressure and temperature are in normal ranges. He’s doing very well and we are continuing to stay focused on the positive side of this ordeal.
Today, like most American families we celebrated the 4th of July with a BBQ. We had an unofficial, unauthorized cook out in the courtyard and it was just delightful. Brady enjoyed his cheeseburger and hot dog along with chips and diet coke. Grandma & Grandpa Sivco did an outstanding job in arranging a very special day. It really was fun and yes, we surprised the entire staff but we truly honored Independence Day!
Sherrie went home tonight as I thought it was a good idea to give her a chance to catch up on some rest. She’s such a wonderful mother, she should of had 10 children. She is just the most attentive Mom imaginable. Brady and I just love her beyond words!!!
So, as my son snores away, I am going to try to catch a few hours of sleep. Please continue with all your prayers, good thoughts and hugs; I am convinced they are a major reason for Brady’s success.
“8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer” is a series of posts revisiting the journal kept by Sherrie and Michael Wells during the cancer diagnosis and treatment of their son, Brady Michael. Hopefully these entires will provide an understanding of the journey families face when dealing with these horrific diseases and of the important work the Hugs for Brady Foundation does.