11/24/2009
by Sherrie Wells Sherrie’s very random thoughts at 3am… Good morning to all of Brady’s readers. Brady has been a ball full of energy since 2am. He’s quite content playing in his crib with his Elmo cell phone and his “sick” baby bunny that came with a thermometer. He bounces up and down as he pretends to take the bunny’s temperature. This was a clever gift from John and Marion and has been very helpful to us in teaching him the “game” of temperature taking. Yesterday, Brady took his own temperature for the technician, and it was accurate! While we were in PICU Brady also learned how much fun it is to listen to his own heartbeat with a stethoscope. It is just adorable to watch. Dee, you had asked about being tested to be a bone marrow donor for Brady. Thank you does not begin to explain how grateful we are for this selfless gesture. I am being told that you need to register as a donor at: https://www.marrow.org/JOIN/Join_Now/join_now.html The initial screening process is done online and just takes a few minutes. Then they will send a kit to you in the mail (a cheek swab is needed). Brady has been “typed” weeks ago and we are still waiting for his results. It is not as simple as matching a blood donor so until you are typed we would not know if you are a match or not. After your results come back (you would need to call the registry in 4-6 weeks to see if they are complete) you are able to request that your typing information be sent to you. Then our doctors can see if you would be a match. Complicated and involved process and we have not even gotten to the actual transplant yet! FYI, the process is free of charge. Max, please let all of Brady’s friends at Gymboree know that we will have plenty of cake and ice cream for Brady’s second birthday party. Maybe even a visit from Gymbo the clown? Hmmm. Thanks for the prompt RSVP! Right now I am thinking about going home for Thanksgiving. I imagine myself sitting in the living room snuggling up in Brady’s new Giant’s blanket while he plays with his stuffed animals. A special thank you to Joe, Millie, Gianna, and Brandon for all of the great Giant’s gifts, including a blue jersey for Brady! Thank you to Sue and Bill Turetsky for your donation to Caring Bridge. This web site (funded by donations) has been very useful to us. Today, we received a beautiful fruit basket from the Daniel P. Ryan Foundation. What a nice surprise that was. People we don’t know or barely know just seem to be overwhelming us with their generosity these days. It’s very touching. Well, I am hopeful that Brady can go home Wednesday night. If so, they will give him all of his medicine one last time through his IV and then remove it for good! They will also give him part two of his flu shot to ward off all the bad seasonal bugs floating around! On a side note, I want to say thank you to Jay H. for offering to give me your flu shot (if they ever re-supply N.J.!). I am grateful. Brady wants to play now so I have to go. We promise to keep you posted on everything. As always, please keep Brady in your thoughts, prayers, and HUGS! FYI, we were informed via e-mail that one person gave away 19 hugs so far! Congratulations! Keep up the good work!by Michael Wells Miracles are in the beholder and right now as I sit in a Marriott Courtyard checking my emails I just received word from Sherrie that Brady is coming home today! To say the least, we are beyond excited and I can’t wait to see him this evening. Thank you all for all the support you’ve given us it is just overwhelming. Until next time; I have to get to back to earning a living – Please keep Brady in your thoughts, prayers and hugs…
It’s just after 8:00pm and I just put Brady to bed. He fell asleep in my arms while drinking his bottle just like he has done just about every night since he was born. Except somehow it was very special tonight and somehow it will be very special every night from now on. A very short journal entry tonight; we just want to say, thanks to every one of the true professionals at Bristol Meyer Squibb Children’s Hospital for taking such good care of our baby. He is home tonight because of you and the outstanding work each of you perform day in and day out. From Dr. Drachtman’s team to all the nurses, med techs, child life staff, and the tremendous group of house keepers we say Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Good night and please continue to keep our son in your thoughts, prayers and hugs…
“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.