11/14/2009
by Michael Wells …”But the one thing I am learning through this experience is nothing really is what you think it is”; I got a first hand example of this tonight. Everything was going so smoothly, we had finished dinner, we were eating Aunt Peg’s cinnamon nut rolls, (unbelievably good) Sherrie had gone home to get a good night sleep, Brady and I were watching TV and then the fun began. Vomit everywhere! I didn’t know a toddler could hold so much stuff in his stomach. I think Brady didn’t know either because whatever was in there came out. Now cleaning this up is messy enough but Brady is attached to more wires, hoses, and tubes than a space ship. You cannot clean him up alone; but now I have to wait for the nurse to suit-up in her gloves, mask, and protective gown before she can enter our room. Oh, what fun as Brady is screaming, he’s covered in barf as I’m trying to keep his stuffed animals out of the hurl and to top it off, Brady also blessed me with a leaky diarrhea diaper. Yes, I had up-chuck and crap all over the place. You cannot imagine the smells; it could make a grown man weep. Come to think of it; I think it did at one point. Thank goodness, tonight’s nurse is competent because I needed all the help I could get. 15 minutes later, the bed is changed, the stuffed animals are in the laundry bags, Brady has a sponge bath, changed and once again smells like a baby should. He’s trying to go back to sleep, and I think I too am going to get some rest. Not so fast; Brady now needs his meds which takes 30 minutes to administer and then his pump starts to beep. So, let’s wait another half hour and then I can get some sleep; oh no, he needs a second dose! So, finally 3 hours later; Brady is asleep and calm, he has received all his meds, it’s after 1:00am and I am wide awake! Which is why I am learning…Nothing really is what you think it is…? Until next time; Keep Brady in your thoughts, prayers and hugs – we all need them…Today has been one of Brady’s best days since coming into the PICU. He has been playing, laughing and just being wonderful. He just had his sponge bath and I must say Sherrie does a much better job than I do. We’re waiting for his dinner to arrive and then it’s hopefully an early night for Brady; I’ll keep my fingers crossed. Grandma Jan and Grandpa Gary just left and I have just one rather amusing story to share. Brady likes bubbles so Jan trying to make the best of everything for Brady wants to blow bubbles for him. There is only one small problem; Jan has on a surgical mask and obviously cannot blow bubbles. But this little inconvenience doesn’t deter Jan, she just continues trying to blow bubbles; unbelievably funny!!! You’ve gotta just love this woman! So, dinner has arrived and I am going to say good bye for now and hopefully tonight will be easy on Brady. Until next time; keep Brady in your thoughts, prayers, hugs and smiles…
“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.