Journal History

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Wednesday, June 10, 2009 9:24 AM CDT

Hey everyone. I know I haven't updated in a while But you know how it is. There is not alot of things going on here. Curt thinks I should probably quit the updates since there is not alot to say but it makes me feel close to Shawn in a way. Strange things have been happening here. Like things get moved and Curt, Tyler, Corey or I have moved them and we heard strange noises at times. I think it is Shawn just letting us know that he is still here and watching over us. Or it could be my mom letting us know she is here also. I miss them both so much. I know I will see them again some day but that doesn't make me miss them any less. Well I better go and get dressed I just got up a little while ago and you never know who might show up. Love to you all. God bless Love Mel

Wednesday, April 15, 2009 12:46 AM CDT

Hi everyone. I hope you all had a great Easter. We went to Curt's parents house for dinner. I was nice to be all together. I am still waiting for Curt to get a vehicle running so I can go look for a job. I am getting tired of being home. I want to work. I still think about Shawn everyday. I never thought I would ever say I miss hearing the boys fight but I do. Well there is not much else going on here. Corey is in track and he had a track meet today. I really hope he does good because he is a little overweight and he doesn't run very fast. But he had to take track for his gym grade. It sucks but we only have one more year of him having to do football, basketball and track for gym. Well I better go and get something to eat for lunch. I wish ya'll a great day and God bless. Love to you all Mel

Friday, March 6, 2009 11:17 AM CST

Hello everyone. I know it has been a long time since I have updated but we were without the Internet for a long time. Everyone here is doing alright. Corey is doing alright in school and Tyler is still delivering the newspaper everyday. The Boys went to Lincoln for Dare to Share, it is when they go around to different neighborhoods and collect canned food for the food pantry in Lincoln and they talk to people about God. We thought it would be good for Corey because he is so shy. I think they had a good time and that left Curt and I home alone for a couple of days. It was kind of nice to have the boys gone. I love them but they can be a royale pain in the bottom. Well I better go and find something to eat for lunch. Love to you all. Love Mel
I hope to update sooner next time.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008 11:56 AM CDT

Well here I am again. I know I don't update that much but at least I am trying. Tomorrow Curt and I will be married for 15 years and in 3 weeks from tomorrow my sister Melissa and her husband Lonny will be married for 15 years also. Boy time sure flies sometimes. There is not a day that goes by that I don't think of Shawn and my Mom and grandparents. I miss them all so much it hurts sometimes. My grandpa has been gone for 19 years and my grandma has been gone for 9 years and my mom has been gone for a year and a half and Shawn has been gone for 5 and a half years. All of these people were big influences in my life. I lived with my grandparents most of my life and Shawn taught me that life is too short and you need to live life to the fullest while you are here. I am babysitting my nieces today and the boys are girls are driving my nuts but I guess I wouldn't want it any other way. I miss hearing Corey and Shawn fighting. I never thought I would say that but it is true. Well I better go and get the kids ready for vaction bible school. Love to your all and God Bless you. Love Mel

P.S. Aunt Wilma we are so proud of you for doing the relay for life and for your brave fight against breast cancer. We love you very much and Uncle Gary too!!!!!!!!!!

Saturday, May 17, 2008 10:25 AM CDT

Hello all. We have been really busy. Tyler graduated from high school on Mother's Day. We are really proud of him. He wants to go to school in Milford for diesel mechanics. We are trying to figure out how to pay for it though. Corey is out of school for the summer. If Shawn was still with us he would be going into the 5th grade next year. I miss him everyday. Well I am not sure I know what else to say right now. So until next time. Love to you all and God bless. Love Mel

Friday, January 11, 2008 5:13 PM CST

Hello all! I just thought I would update you all. Today is a really bad day for us. It has been 5 years today that Shawn left to go to Heaven. I know he is not in pain anymore but I still wish he was here with us. I want to see him again. But I know I can not until I go to Heaven myself. I am still looking for a job. Curt is still working but he doesn't get paid alot. In fact he got paid last night and it was only 279.69. That is for 1 month. It sucks. So I really need to find a job. Well I better go and fix dinner. Right now my guys are cutting up a deer that was given to us. Love to you all.

Love,
Mel

Jan. 19, 2008
I just wanted to ask everyone to say a prayer for my Father-in-law's cousin's family. His name is David and He passed away yesterday. I can't really go into details right now because I am not sure of anything right now but when I do I will let you know. Love Mel

Wednesday, November 21, 2007 1:26 PM CST

I just wanted to wish everyone a VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING. I have some things to be thankful for this year. My oldest son moved here from Colorado, I have my family and friends. Some bad things have happened lately. A friend of mine that lives in ARK. Well a friend of her husbands was wounded in Iraqu. Well he was airlifted to a hospital in Dallas,Texas so his wife and 3 kids were going from ARK to Texas and she got caught in a wind storm and flipped the SUV three times and the two youngest kids died at the scene and the oldest one was on life support and he later died also. I am asking that everyone keep this family in your prayers. They have been through so much.
We also have lost a young one in our family. It is kind of complacted to explain how she is related. But here goes. She is Curt's mom's cousin's granddaughter. Well she is either 10 or 11 she had a tumor and the doctors removed it and the tumor come back so the family decided not have the surgery because the doctor said that the tumor would come back again. Well she passed away on Saturday (Nov. 17th) and her funeral is today. So if you could also keep that family in your prayers that would be great. Well I better go because my brats are home from school. I Hope you all have a great weekend. Love Mel

Friday, September 14, 2007 8:59 PM CDT

Tomorrow is Shawn's birthday and so we thought we would have a little party (ice cream and cake) just to remember him. We miss him everyday but tomorrow is special.

I have to have surgery on the the 26th of September. I have been having problems with my periods so I have to have a hystorectomy. (I am not sure how to spell it). I am kind of scared because the hospital called yesterday and said that my blood is low so I have to have mmy blood drawn again on the 25th. and I might have to have a transfusion. I don't normally ask this but could you keep me in your prayers that the surgery goes alright? Well I better go and get something done. I am really tired tonight. I will update again soon I promise. Love to you all and GOD bless.

Love, Mel

Thursday, June 28, 2007 1:24 PM CDT

Hello all. I know It has been alwhile since I last updated. So here it is. My oldest son Tyler has moved from Colorado to Nebraska to live with us. He is 18 almost 19 (in Aug). He will be going to school here to finally graduate. Tuesday was Curt and my anniversary. We have been hitched for 14 years. I can't really see him for most of the day because Tyler and I went to the eye doctors and I can't really see after that. Corey is doing good but him and Ty fight all the time. Boys will be boys I guess but they drive me to drink and I don't even drink. Ha Ha I hope you are all having a great summer.. I am staying home with the boys right now But I am seriously thinking I need to go find a job soon. Well I better go and try to find something for me to eat.. Love to you all and God be with you.. Love Mel

Monday, March 26, 2007 9:44 AM CDT

Hello everyone. We finally got our phone back on. But we are having some problems with the dsl we keep getting booted offline. We they are supposed to be here today to fix it. they say it is the outside line. So hopefully they will get it fixed. Thank you all for the kind words when my passed away. It still hurts that I couldn't be there with her when she passed. My sister isn't talkling to me. I haven't talk to her since the night my mom died. Tyler tells me she is mad to me for some reason. Oh well I have to get over that. Well Curt is working now. He works for the Village of Alexandria. He cleans the sewers, fixes the roads, and mows and that kind of stuff. I am still working at the Country Store and Pioneers Inn. Corey is doing really good in school this year. He hasn't gotten in trouble this year. Tyler is moving out here when school gets out. For those who doesn't know who Tyler is he is my oldest son that lives in Colorado with his dad right now. He is 18 and Corey is 12. Well I better go and get dressed. Talk to you soon. Love Mel

March 30, 2007 12:16
I just thought I would let you all know that Curt was in the hospital the night before last with pain in his abdoman. As it turns out he needs to have his gallbladder taken out on April 10th. and he also found out he is diabetic. and We have NO insurance. when it rains it pours, Curt's Aunt Betty fell last Friday and cracked her pelvis in 2 places and she also found out she diabetic. Well I better go and get to bed it is late and I am tired. Love to all Love Mel

Thursday, January 4, 2007 3:55 PM CST

I know I just updated but I just wanted to let you all know that my Mom passed away on Dec. 28th. There will not be any services because she donated her body to science and she didn't want a memorial service or anything. I didn't get to see her before she passed but I still have my memories. My birthday kindof sucked because I knew I would not get a call from my mom but I was with family so I guess that is all that matters. Well I better go and get Corey from the bus and I need to get ready for work. Love to you all. Love Mel

Thursday, December 21, 2006 1:25 PM CST

Well I know that it has been a VERY LONG time since I updated this but I have been working 2 jobs and taking care of this house and Curt and Corey so I have been really busy. I can't get into Christmas this year for some reason. My Mom has brain and lung cancer and she is in hospice. I can't go see her because I don't have the money to go. I won't be able to see her after she is gone because she is donating her body to science. I am so depressed about it all. but I guess life goes on. Also My Aunt Wilma has breast cancer. Could you all do me a favor and say an extra prayer for my mom and Aunt Wilma. I almost forgot I have a birthday coming up in about a week. New Year's Eve actually. and I will be the BIG 4-0.
Well I better go I am babysitting my neice Gabey. She is 13 months old. And right now she is stinky. So love to you all and Have a happy holiday. Love Mel

Thursday, June 23, 2005 6:34 PM CDT

I thought it was about time I updated. I have been in a funk for about a month and a half now. I just miss Shawn so much and it has been 2 years and 5 months since he left us to go home to Heaven. Corey has been out of school for a month and a 5 days and he is driving me nuts I love him but he is just so active this summer always wanting to be gone with his cousins or one of his friends. Which he doesn't have many of here in town. We live a town of 240 people. We have a post office and a cafe and that is it. I have been depressed because SO MANY KIDS ARE STILL DYING FOR THIS DAMN DISEASE. I hate it but I can not cure them. If I could I would have cured Shawn. I'm sorry I am just in the pity pit right now. I have been unable to work because I have a fracture in my knee and I am supposed to stay off of it but I haven't really been staying off of it like I am supposed to. I am hoping to go back to work July 18th after I see the doctor. Well I have rambled on enough for tonight. I love you all very much. Thank you for always being here for us. P.S. Curt is NOT Working so we are really hurting for money right now. We are doing the Relay For Life again this year. Love to you all Mel

Friday, April 22, 2005 9:31 AM CDT

Hi everyone. I thought I should update on how we are all doing. We are doing alright. Corey is doing pretty good in school. We still have some problems with him wanting to fight with other kids but he is getting better at keeping his hands to himself. It has been 2 years and 3 months since Shawn passed but sometimes it feels like yesterday. I think about him everyday. I have gotten on a web site for people that have had someone that has had NB and it helps to know that there are other people out there that know what I am going through. I just wish we could find a cure for all types of cancer. We are doing the Relay for Life again this year and I am one of the Co-Captains. I am kind of nervous about it because I am not sure I know what I am doing but I guess I will do the best I can and hope it is good enough. Our teams names are Shawn's Angels I and II. We have so many people on our team that we had to make it into two teams. Well I better get going and get ready for work. I will update again soon I promise. Thank you for stopping by and checking on us. PLEASE SIGN THE GUESTBOOK. We love to hear from everyone. Take care and God be with you always. Love Mel

Monday, March 7, 2005 10:56 PM CST

Hello everyone I am so sorry I haven't updated before now but we have been having some problems of late. We haven't had a phone for a while and I lost my job at Walmart in November and almost 2 weeks ago I throw a rod through the engine in our car. So you can see that we havn't had the best few months around here. We do have some good news though. Corey had his Pinewood Derby for Cub Scouts last Sunday (Feb. 27th) and he came in first place. So he went to districts which was Saturday (March 5th). We are pretty proud of him. Well I better be going. I have to get Corey up at 7 in the morning for school. I will try to update more often. Love to everyone.

Mel

Thursday, September 16, 2004 10:13 AM CDT

I know I should have done this yesterday but things weren't going too good. Not only was it Shawn's Birthday but I went to work and I almost got fired. I have until Monday to decide what I want to do about work. So how was your day. HAHA. Corey is doing better in school this year. He got his progress report the other day and he got 3 B's and 4 A's we are very proud of him. We have some more good news in our family, Shawn's Aunt Chris (Allie's Mom) and her boyfriend Bob are engaged. We are all very happy for them. I will let you know when they decide to do this. I just wanted to let you all know that we are doing alright. Well I better go. WE LOVE YOU ALL VERY MUCH. I will update you again soon I promise. Love Mel

Friday, May 14, 2004 10:34 AM CDT

I thought I should update again. We are doing the Relay For Life again this year in memory of Shawn. Our team name is Shawn's Angels. I am still working at Wal-Mart and Curt is not working right now. Corey has been a handful this year. He has been getting in to trouble at school. He even got suspended from school for 2 days. I really don't know what to do with him anymore. If any of you have any ideas PLEASE let me know. I am at my wits end with him and school. We I better go and get ready for work. I will update again soon I promise. Love to all. God bless and take care. Love Mel

Wednesday, March 10, 2004 6:31 PM CST

Hello everyone. I thought I should update you all. We FINALLY got our phone turned back on. It has been tough at times without Shawn here but we are getting by. Corey had his Pinewood Derby for Cub Scouts on Feb. 22nd and he came in 1st so he got to go to districts on March 6th and he did pretty good. Mom and Dad are so very PROUD of him. He is not happy because he didn't got a trophy but I think he did good anyway. We are doing the Relay For Life again this year. It will be July 16th. I hope we can raise more money then we did last year. Our team name is "Shawn's Angels". I thought this was a good name for our team. I am still working at Walmart. Curt's job is questionable again. He has applied for some other jobs though. So hopefully he will find a new job soon.

We want to THANK YOU all for all your support and emails. I don't think we could have made it through this last year without all of you. Thank You again.

Love from the Disneys Mel, Curt, Corey, and Angel Shawn.

Wednesday, January 7, 2004 10:41 AM CST

Hello everyone. I know it has been a LONG time since I have updated. I am still working at Wal-Mart but have gotten my hours cut. I am only working MAYBE 2 days a weeek if I am lucky. Curt is FINALLY working also. He works on motorcycles. He is only working part-time also. We still don't have a phone. Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa I can check my emails and check this site. I can't believe Sunday will be a year since Shawn died. It has been a really hard year but we are making it though. Yesterday was Corey's Birthday. He is 9 years old now. My Birthday was New Year's Eve. But I am not telling how old I am. I Promise I will update more often. I just haven't had the heart to look at Shawn's picture's. I guess I should go for now. I wish you a GREAT New Year. Love Mel

Friday, July 25, 2003 1:19 PM CDT

I know I know I haven't updated recently but I have been working. I work at Wal Mart in Fairbury. I started the 13th of June. We did the Relay for Life in Hebron on the 20th of June, Our team name was Shawn's Angels.

Corey went to church camp a couple of weeks ago with Grandma and Grandpa and Allison. They are having Vacation Bible School this week. Tonight they are having a potluck. We are doing alright, just wish I could get my phone turned back on and then I could check my email at my house more often.

Well I better go and get home and finish cleaning the house. My son Tyler will be here tomorrow and he will be staying for about a week or so. I really hope to hear from you all soon.


Love to all
Melanie

Friday, May 16, 2003 6:59 PM CDT

Hi everyone I thought I should update this. I had surgery about 2 weeks ago. I had Gall Stones. They took out my Gall Bladder. It was really nasty. So I am starting to recover. We got our phone shut off about a month ago and with Curt and I not working we couldn't pay the phone bill But You can't find a job without a phone I called them and they said that if we pay 253.00 that we can get it turned back on. So we are trying to get the money to get it turned back on. Well I can't think of anything else right at the moment to say so I will go But I will update again later. Love to all.

Thursday, March 20, 2003 9:48 AM CST

Hello all -
I know it has been awhile since I last updated but it is so hard for me to look at the pictures of Shawn smiling and I know I won't get to see that smiling face until I can be with him again. We are doing alright. Some days are better then others but we are getting through this as best we can.

We got a different car. Our car kind of quit wanting to work so Curt's cousin in IL. got us a car and it is a nice car. The folks at his church paid for the car for us and we appeciate it more then they will ever know. We are both still looking for jobs. I would like to work at home so I can be home for Corey but I don't know where to even begin to start looking for a job like that.

Chris I want to THANK YOU for everything you have done for us. Without you I don't know what I would have done. I consider you my friend and I always will. And I hope someday we can meet face to face. If I ever get rich I will make it to CT to see you and Gooch.

We went fishing last weekend and we didn't catch anything but it was nice to just relax a little. It was hard at first because Shawn loved to fish. I thought about him all the time we were fishing and thinking "Boy Shawn would probably be catching fish right now". I think he is in Heaven fishing with his great grandpa and talking to Dale Earnhart and his other great grandpa is playing the accordion for them.

Well I better get off here and get dressed and got to Fairbury and look for a job. Love to you all.

Take Care
Mel

Sunday, February 23, 2003 10:46 PM CST

I thought I should update. Corey did really good at the pinewood derby today.
He came in 3rd. But they only give trophies for 1st and 2nd. Maybe next year. He had a fast car, but not fast enough I guess. I am still proud of him.

We have had a fun filled week. Corey webt to the eye doctor's and he had to have glasses. He thinks it is great that he has to wear glasses. His opinion will change. He got his glasses on Friday and he wants to wear them all the time. He has to wear them for school and when he is reading and when he is on the computer. So he has been wanting to read all the time, which is a good thing. Hut He only wants to read so he can wear his glasses I wish he wanted to read because he likes reading but I guess any reason he reads is good enough. As long as he is reading. We got some snow today. It is really cold here. The temp is 5 right now. But it feeling more like -5. I got some bad news on Friday my Grandma died on Thursday. She lived in New York. So now neither Curt or I have any Grandparents left. They are all died. It has been a hell of a year so far and it has just started. I really don't want to know what is going to happen the rest of the year. Well I better go I just wanted to update you all on what is happening in our lives these days. Corey is doing good in school. Curt and I are doing alright. I just miss Shawn so much, we all do. I just keep thinking about what he would be doing right now if he was still here. I will miss going fishing with him and all the other things he loved to do. It is getting a little better but I am just not ready to get over it yet. I have a really hard time looking at this site because I look at Shawn's pictures and it makes me miss him even more. I know it will get better.

Love to all

Mel

Monday, February 10, 2003 7:34 PM CST

Hello to all I thought it was time for an update. We are all doing okay. We have days when we don't want to do anything I should say I have those days. Curt and Corey are dealing with this in their own ways. Corey and Curt are making a pinewood derby car for cub scouts and it is looking pretty good. Corey has his race on Feb. 23rd. I will let you all know how he did. He is SO EXCITED about doing something with his dad. Well I can't think of anything else to say right now so I think I need to go do something even if it is wrong. I will update again soon. Love Mel

Thursday, January 23, 2003 at 10:45 PM (CST)

I wanted to share with you an article that my next door neighbor wrote about Shawn.

OFFGRAIN MATERIAL
BY SHARI APKING

It's too cold for the neighborhood kids to play outside, but when warm weather returns a small boy
will be missing from the group. He won't be playing with his brother and cousin on the rope swing
in my back yard, or riding his Big Wheel up and down the sidewalk or asking when
Maddie and Abby are coming to visit me.

Shawn was five, barely five, and his memorial service was last Wednesday in the
Presbyterian Church, just across the alley from the empty swing. I've attended
more funerals than I can possibly count in that church during the past four decades,
including some for people who were far too young to die. But this was my first,
and I fervently hope the last, for a child who hadn't even started kindergarten.

Medical science has progressed marvelously since the turn of the 20th century,
to a point where cemeteries no longer routinely gain several new graves of little ones every season,
children lost to their families through epidemics and birth defects. Even cancer,
the scourge that ended Shawn's brief life, is not quite as virulent as it used to be.
The progress is encouraging, but doesn't give much consolation in the face of an immediate loss.
Services are often termed "Celebrations of Life" and there were events to clebrate.
The past year wasn't wall-to-wall misery for him, by any means. He was a remarkably resilient
and stoic tot, who maintained a good appetite in spite of chemotherapy and blood transfusions.
When I watched him play, even right after coming home from treatment,
it was hard to imagine there was a serious health problem.
He attended Headstart, and loved every minute of his "school" experience.
He went to a special camp in Iowa last summer. 2002 was mostly good until the final weeks
when he began to fail. There is a new stuffed animal standing on a cosole table in my living room.
Shawn received Tigger for Christmas, but was unable to play with him. Now the toy
waits for Maddie, a gift for her to keep as a remembrance. Somehow,
and so far I can't imagine how, I'm going to have to explain that her playmate
isn't here with us. She's already been told he was very sick, and she has a vague concept of
Grandpa Bill being in Heaven with Jesus, but translating the vague concept about an adult
she never knew into reality about a friend won't be easy.

I needed to share that with you. I do have some good news. Corey made the Honor Roll for Dec.
for caring. See every month the school has an honor roll for the Grade school and every month
Corey has been on it. We are very proud of him. Tonight he was having a hard time going to
sleep because he misses Shawn so much. Even Shawn yelling at him.
I held him for a while and he went to sleep. And Allison (Our Niece) doesn't want to come to our house because Shawn isn't here. She is 2 months and 10 days younger than Shawn. It has been really hard
on her too. She didn't what to come to my house before Shawn passed away because she was
afraid that Shawn would died when she was here. Well I better go I just wanted to let you all know
that we are doing okay we have times when we cry our eyes out but we are getting by one day at a time.

Love to all.

Love Mel, Curt, and Corey.

Thursday, January 16, 2003 at 03:00 PM (CST)

I wanted to thank you all for everything you have done for us, emails and just everything.
Shawn's service yesterday was very beautiful. There was ALOT of people there.
We had balloons for the kids to let go of when we were at the cemetery.
I know that Shawn will live in everyone's heart but I just wish I still had him here with us.
I know that is not possible so I will have to learn to live without him until I can be with him again.
I just wanted to say THANK YOU. I will update again and let you all know how we are doing.

Love to all,
Mel

Sunday Jan 12, 2002

Here is information about Shawn's funeral:

Viewing late Monday & Tuesday from 9:00am-9:00pm at Gerdes-Meyer Funeral home 2414 H Fairbury.
The funeral is Wednesday at 2:00 at the Alexandria United
Presbyterian Church 311 West 4th and Burial at Alexandria Cemetery




Saturday, January 11, 2003 at 11:35 PM


I wanted to tell you all that heaven has another angel. Shawn passed away
at home tonight at 8:00 pm, but his hospice nurse pronounced it at 9:22.
This is the hardest thing I have ever had to write. I never thought
in a million years that I would have to say that my son is in heaven.

Corey was at his Grandparents house when Shawn left us. I am so glad
that he was not here to see that because it was not a good thing to see.
I am sorry I am just rambling on about nothing. I am truly sorry.
I just can't understand why all this kids have to die. I will close
for now but I will update again sometime soon.


Love to all,
The Disney Family

Saturday, January 11, 2003 at 02:38 PM (CST)

I thought I should give you all an update. Shawn is having a really hard time breathing. He is in alot of pain. We have had to increase the morphine. He gets it about every two hours and he is getting more at that time. I just wish he wasn't in pain. I could handle him being cranky but I can't handle him being in pain. It hurts me to know I can't take the pain away. I would if I could. Corey is at Grandma and Grandpa's because I didn't think I wanted Corey to see Shawn in so much pain. I really don't think it will be long before heaven has another angel. I don't know what else to write right now so I will go but I will update again. Love to all. Love Mel

Saturday, January 11, 2003 at 02:38 PM (CST)

I thought I should give you all an update. Shawn is having a really hard time breathing. He is in alot of pain. We have had to increase the morphine. He gets it about every two hours and he is getting more at that time. I just wish he wasn't in pain. I could handle him being cranky but I can't handle him being in pain. It hurts me to know I can't take the pain away. I would if I could. Corey is at Grandma and Grandpa's because I didn't think I wanted Corey to see Shawn in so much pain. I really don't think it will be long because heaven has another angel. I don't know what else to write right now so I will go but I will update again. Love to all. Love Mel

Tuesday, January 07, 2003 at 08:07 PM (CST)

I figured you all needed an update. Well Shawn is taking Roxanol (Morphine) for pain because the Tylenol with codeine was not working. He is really jaundiced (yellow) today. He was hurting alot more until I gave him the Roxanol. He has been really cranky. Sometimes he is having a hard time talking. It is hard to understand him at times. He was up A LOT last night so I was too. Corey almost missed the bus this morning because I was so tired I shut off the alarm and went back to sleep but I woke up in time to get him dressed and he made it to the bus in time. He was dressed in like 5 minutes. I know this is short but I really need to get back in the bedroom with Shawn and try to get Corey dressed for bed and try to get him to sleep.
Love to all.

Will update again later.
Mel

Friday, January 03, 2003 at 03:03 PM (CST)

I know I know it has been a while since I updated this but Shawn doesn't like for Mom to be on the computer. He wants me all the time. He is doing okay he is still have a hard time breathing at times and he is VERY CRANKY. He doesn't take his pain meds vey much. He lets me know when he needs it. We went to the Mortuary a week ago and that was a very hard thing to do but we thought it would be better to get it done before we couldn't remember what we want to have at the funeral. I really don't know what else to say right now so I think I will go and try to get some rest before Shawn wakes up and wants me again. Love to you all and I wanted to say thank you to everyone I don't know what we would do without all of you. Love Mel

Tuesday, December 24, 2002 at 09:53 AM (CST)

I just wanted to update you all and it is not easy to do this, but here it is anyway. Shawn went to Omaha to get his port taken out and the Dr. couldn't take it out because Shawn is in conjestive heart failure. He has fluid around his heart and in his lungs. So in short, He will NOT be able to go to St. Jude's in January as was planned, and he doesn't have much more time on this earth.

I know this is short but I can't seem to be able to type this morning. By the way Santa came to visit Shawn, Corey and Allison last night at Grandma and Grandpa's. Shawn had Santa help me open his presents. THANK YOU TONYA Santa will be visiting them again tonight at G & G's and then we are going to the Christmas program to the church and Shawn is going to be baptized tonight. I will update again if anything happens.

Love to all and take care.
WE LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH.

Saturday, December 21, 2002 at 10:23 AM (CST)

Hello to all. Well this what we know so far. Shawn is having surgery on Monday to take the port out. He will have a shunt in his hand for IV antibiotics for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Then on the 30th he will wirther get another port or a broviac put in and then on the 6th of Jan he will be at St. Jude for tests to see if he meets the criteria for the study they are doing and if he does then he will go though the study. I think he will be there for 3 weeks but don't quote me on that right now. I am still a little fuzzy on the details. I will let you all know when I can figure out whats what. I hope you all have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year. The bad thing about going to St. Jude on the 6th is it is Corey's birthday. He will be 8. I hope he understands that we can't be here for his birthday. Love to all and take care.

Tuesday, December 17, 2002 at 12:20 PM (CST)

Just a little update. Shawn IS going to St. Judes but we are not sure when I am hoping after christmas I don't want him at the hospital for christmas. He is going to get his port taken out and then he has to take antibiotics orally then he will get another port put in for when he goes to St. Judes. I want you all to pray that this will work and that Shawn will get better and hopefully NO MORE CANCER. Well I better go and try to get Shawn to eat something. He isn't eating very much but he is drinking more then he was. Love to all and take care.

Wednesday, December 11, 2002 at 07:20 PM (CST)

Hello to you all. I just wanted to update you all on Shawn. He had a really good day today. We get him in Hospice Care and the social worker came to see us today and Shawn wouldn't come out of my room. He was being a real stinker. He got blood yesterday so he was feeling a little better. Well we finally got him to come out and he was playing with his race car track that he got from his camp companion Lynn for christmas. We let Corey, Shawn and Allie open them early. He is doing a little better today but he still isn't eating. He still has some fight in him. He has to go to Fairbury tomorrow for labs so I will let you know how that goes. My Mom and Shawn's big brother Tyler are here from Colorado. The have to go back on Sunday so we are trying to get as much out of this visit as we can. I will talk to you later. Love to all.

Saturday Dec. 14, 2002

Shawn got blood again today. He has been playing alittle bit. We found out that Dr. Gordon did call St. Jude and he is waiting for them to call him back. I really don't know what to say right now. He is doing a little better but he is not close to what he was before. I just keep praying that this is all a bad dream and I will wake up from it soon. But I know in my head that Shawn really is that sick but my heart doesn't want to believe it yet. Shawn has a friend at school that doesn't live far from us that has sent him a couple of cards and all the caring in the world. It means alot to all of us that Jacob is Shawn's friend and all of his friends that he has mean everything to us. I don't know what we would do without you. THANK YOU FOR BEING OUR FRIENDS. I better go before I start to cry. Love to all and take care I will update agian when we know anything.

Friday, December 06, 2002 at 07:50 AM (CST)

Well we had some bad news ysterday. Dr Gordon did another ct scan and Shawn has ALOT of cancer in his little body. He has a tumor right next to his heart and his has some in his abdominal, in his chest and in his bone marrow. We are still trying to get him in to St. Jude but don't know if they will take him because of all the cancer he has right now. Dr. Gordon said there isn't much more he can do here for Shawn except radiation. He is on Morphine so his in the hospital right now. We are trying to see if we can go home today. Dr. Gordon said that he has about a month to less then a year to live but we are not giving up hope just yet. I better get upstairs with Shawn I will update again when we know anymore. Love to all.

Friday night.
We are home. Shawn is on Tylenol with Codain for pain and he is on fliuds at night since he doesn't want to eat and he is on Vencomyicin for an infection in his port which they might have to take out because of the infection it con't get it cleared up. They have done cultures everyday and they all come back positive for bacteria. We have to take him everyday to Fairbury for cultures and to check his venco levels and if they are too low then they have to change the dosage. Corey and Shawn were fighting a little while ago. I wouldn';t want it any other way. Corey wouldn't leave Shawn alone and Shawn wouldn't leave Corey alone. I fact I better go check and see if they ever went to sleep like I told them to. Love to all and I will update again when we know more. There is still the chance he could go to St. Judes. I will let you all know what we find out.

Friday, December 06, 2002 at 07:50 AM (CST)

Well we had some bad news ysterday. Dr Gordon did another ct scan and Shawn has ALOT of cancer in his little body. He has a tumor right next to his heart and his has some in his abdominal, in his chest and in his bone marrow. We are still trying to get him in to St. Jude but don't know if they will take him because of all the cancer he has right now. Dr. Gordon said there isn't much more he can do here for Shawn except radiation. He is on Morphine so his in the hospital right now. We are trying to see if we can go home today. Dr. Gordon said that he has about a month to less then a year to live but we are not giving up hope just yet. I better get upstairs with Shawn I will update again when we know anymore. Love to all.

Monday, December 02, 2002 at 11:19 PM (CST)

I know I said I would update after he got blood but it has been really hectic around here.
The BOYS (that includes Curt) decided to decorate the Christmas tree Thanksgiving night and we are still adding things here and there. Shawn finished chemo last night.

We also ended up at the hospital in Fairbury last night Shawn was running a fever of 101.9 and wouldn't you know it when we got to the hospital it was down to 100.0. Well they do cultures from his port and from his hand. we still haven't heard anything from that. He has been complaining that his right side hurts so he has to go to Omaha on Wednesday and see Dr. Gordon and see if they can do anything about his side. I will try to update you then I am not making any promises now because as soon as I do then something always comes up and I can't do it.

I hope everyone is having a GREAT Holiday season. I was kind of upset about not being able to afford to buy the boys Christmas presents this year but I figure that we are all together and Shawn is still with us and the is present enough for us and besides a family in Omaha adapted us for christmas and so the boys will get some christmas presents.

I will keep you all in my prayers this Christmas I know it is depressing for some. I better go before I start getting really mushy and I make someone cry. That is not what I want to do so I will go. Take care until next time.

Tuesday, November 26, 2002 at 10:03 AM (CST)

Well Shawn's labs were alright yesterday. His platelet count was 96 and his white blood was 4.3 and his hemeglobin was 8.4 so tomorrow he has to get blood. and they are going to do the labs again to see what his platelet count is and he might have to get platelets also this week. He is almost done with chemo at home. Sunday with be the last day for a week unless he can harvest his stem cells then they will havest his stem cells if they can get enough from him. Dr. Gordon isn't sure if he can get enough stem cells or not But I guess he will try anyway. and If they don't get the approval from Medicaid to do the harvest then he will be doing chemo again after the week. HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL OF YOU. I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving and TRY not to eat too much. I know that sounds impossible but it can be done. Shawn is not eat really good and I told Sue about it yesterday and she said it is from the VP16. My sister in law Chris and I made homemade chicken and noodles and he loves them but he didn't eat very much. I hope he will start eating again after he is done with chemo. I will update again Monday after he has labs done again. I will add some to this one tomorrow after we get back from the hospital in Fairbury and let you know what his labs are. Take care and God Bless

Tuesday, November 19, 2002 at 10:33 AM (CST)

Hello to all! Shawn got his labs done yesterday and they are really good. Even though he is doing chemo at home his platelet count was 115 when he had his counts done the Monday before his platelet count was 154. So it hasn't went down too much. I will be glad when he doesn't have to do chemo at home. It makes me really nervous to do this but I have done it for a week now and I guess I am doing it right because he is doing alright with it. He doesn't get sick (throw up). I doesn't have to get labs done again until next Monday. And he is still going to school. Which is a good thing because if he was home all the time I think I would have to move out because he has really bad mood swings when he is on chemo. I keep saying he is worse than a woman with PMS. That is no lie. I hate his mood swings. He is a bear to live with at time but I still love him. I guess I should be used to it by now but I'm not. Well I hope you all have a great week and I will update again next week unless something comes up and then I will update sooner. I almost forgot to tell you all that Corey was on the HONOR ROLL in October.. We are so proud of him. I hope you all like the new pictures of Shawn on here. They were taken at Camp Quality in Iowa in June. It is a camp for kids with cancer and next year Corey can go with Shawn. We got the applacation too late to get Corey in this year so we are going to make sure we get it alot sooner this year.

Monday, November 11, 2002 at 09:36 PM (CST)

Hello to all. Well Shawn was supposed to be doing chemo in Omaha this week but the Dr. Gordon decided to have him do chemo at home instead. He is on VP 16 or etopiside which ever way you want to say it. I am very nervous about doing this but if that is what the doctor wants us to do then I guess I have to do it. Dr. Gordon did say we have a couple of options though. He might get to go to St. Judes for a Phase 1 research. Where he would get experiental drugs to see what happens when he takes the drugs. Or he might get to do some research thing from San Fransisco CA. Dr. Gordon is talking about maybe trying to harvest some more stem cells for the tests in CA. But if Shawn does do the one from S.F then he might be able to still do it in Omaha, He might not have to go to CA. We will know more about the stem cell harvesting in 3 weeks. When he is done with this course of chemo. I have to give him the chemo everynight for 21 days. And we had to postpone the hearing aide tests again until he goes back up to Omaha again because he was supposed to get it done on this Thrusday but since we had to come home we decided not to make a second trip this week to Omaha. So he will get it done when he goes back in maybe 3 weeks.

I just wanted to let everyone know that Shawn made a friend in Omaha and his friend is not doing too good right now. His name is Nick and he lives in Michigan well he had a small bowel transplant and he has leukemia. He is immunesurpressed. His body is trying to reject the new small bowel and he can not take the antirejection meds he needs because of his immune system so he is not doing so good. So could you all say an extra prayer for him and his family. Please keep them in your prayers. I know I will. Well I better go and get some sleep I don't know if Shawn will be waking up throwing up or not but I still have to get up with Corey in the morningand get him ready for school. I hope you all have a good week and I will update you when we know anything else.

Love to all and take care

Tuesday Nov. 12, 2002

I forgot a couple of things in yesterdays update. First I forgot to tell you that On Saturday Shawn, Corey and Allie was at Grandma and Grandpa's and the kids were helping Grandpa rake leaves well they decided to play in the leaves instead of picking them up. It was really cute to watch them. And Today is Curt's birthday.

About 3 weeks ago Curt woke up not feeling very good and then Allie got sick and so we had to send Shawn to Grandma and Grandpa's He was so excited about staying over there because he has never stayed there without mom and dad before. It was just him and grandma and grandpa. He loved it. Well I better go and fix the kids some lunch. I will update again soon. Mel .

Saturday, November 02, 2002 at 04:27 PM (CST)

I know, I know it has been a while since I have updated but Shawn and Corey keep me pretty busy. We were all sick with colds and now Shawn has a sinus infection and he was supposed to see the doctor in Omaha on Monday and now he can't. It has been a long couple of weeks. Our hot water heater went out and blow our fuss box with it and we got another hot water heater but we couldn't get the fuss box fixed and now it is all fixed and we have hot water now. We were without for 2 weeks. It was real fun around here when we had to boil the water to take a bath or do dishes. I did find out that Shawn WILL NOT be going to St. Judes because they are not doing any research on Neuroblastomia relapses right now so that is out. I really wish I knew what the doctor has planned now. I guess we will find out when he going to Omaha and sees him. He will also be getting yet another hearing test done but this time it is at Boys Town where they will fit his hearing aides. Well I better get going and try to figure out what we are going to have for dinner. Take care and love to all.

P.S. Chris I hope your move was okay. We are thinking about you all.

Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2002 at 10:12 p.m.

Shawn will be going to Omaha next week for chemo. We will be talking to Dr.Gordon and he wants to talk about what we are going to do next. and then he will be going to Boys Town for his hearing aide tests and then back to the hospital for chemo. Dr. Gordon wants to do one more course of the chemo he has been getting and then I guess start something different. (WE GUESS) We will let you all know more next Monday ofter we talk to Dr. Gordon and he his done with his hearing aide tests. By the way our aunt wanted me to tell you all a little story. The boys like to say their prayers at night and they used to say " NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP I PRAY THE LORD MY SOULE TO KEEP IF I SHOULD DIE BEFORE I WAKE I PRAY THE LORD MY SOLE TO TAKE." Well we have had a problem with that one so we have changed it a little. here is the new one. We hope you like it. " NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP I PRAY THE LORD MY SOLE TO KEEP MAY ANGELS GUIDE ME THOUGH THE NIGHT AND WAKE ME WITH THE MORNING LIGHT, GOD BLESS MY FAMILY AND MY FRIENDS ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT HAVE CANCER AND ESPECIALLY GOOCH". Thank you. That is all for now. talk to you all soon.

Saturday, October 12, 2002 at 03:53 PM (CDT)

Shawn had to get platelets again today. At least this time it was the ones he needed so he didn't have a get a shot today. He is doing good right now. He has been going to school and he loves it. He hates missing school. We are still waiting for the doctor to get ahold of St. Jude. We are hoping that they might be able to help in some way. Shawn has counts done again on Monday so I will update you all then. I will also let you all know if we hear anything about St. Jude. Love to all and take care.

Friday, October 04, 2002 at 08:58 PM (CDT)

Hello all. I just wanted to update you all. Shawn got his counts done today. His platelets are low again so he has to get platelets tomorrow. But his ANC is up. It was 500 on Tuesday and today it was 4000 so he can go back to school on Tuesday. He doesn't have school on Mondays. He is excited he wants to go back he Loves school. He still has to get his shots though. His white count is 5.5 but still not high enough to stop the shots. Well I better go and try and get the kids to settle down for the night and maybe then I can get some sleep tonight. I will update again on Tuesday. Love to all and take care.

Saturday. Oct. 5th
I just wanted to let you all know that Shawn got his pletlets today and they only had A rh + and he is rh - so he had to get a shot in the behind. It is called rhogin (I think that is how you spell it). So he doesn't get any antibodies for the platelets. And if he has to get blood it will show up on the type and cross matching so they will have to send it to Lincoln to do that. Well I better go and get the kids to sleep. They are being little pains tonight. Love to all and take care.

Tuesday, October 01, 2002 at 11:05 PM (CDT)

I was just checking this site and I realized I should probably update it for everyone. Shawn is doing okay. He tells me alot that he doesn't feel good but I think some of the time it is because he wants me to carry him. Little stinker. Corey is having some problems in school. he keeps getting in trouble. Not enough trouble to be sent to the principal or anything like that but he does little things like today he punched a classmate in the nose. He said it was an accident. He said he was putting away a book and when he turned around she was standing there and he accidently hit her in the nose. He is supposed to go see a counseler on the 14 of Oct. so maybe he will be able to talk to him about what is going on in his world that is making him act up in school. Shawn's counts went down alot since the chemo. Last Monday the last day of chemo before we came home his platelet count was 158 and on Friday it was 29. and his hemeglobin was really low also so he had to get blood and platelets this last weekend. And still today his platelet count was 58. It didn't go up very much. He can't go to school because his ANC is 500. So he is mad at Mom because he wants to go to school and I won't let him. Take care and Love to all. Mel

Thursday, September 19, 2002 at 01:29 PM (CDT)

I am so very sorry for not updating before now but things have been a little crazy. Shawn had a hearing test done on Tuesday and a Bone Marrow Test and bone scan done yesterday. He started chemo again today. and we will get to go home on Monday. The bone scan is NO different then the last time they did it. So I guess that is good. Shawn had a good birthday. We just went to Grandma and Grandpa's for cake and ice cream. But he had fun anyway. Well I better get back up with Shawn He is probably wondering where I am. I will update again soon. Love to all

Saturday September 21, 2002

The results of the bone marrow test were not too good. He has a little bit of cancer cells in his bone marrow on the right side but not the left. So they are probably going to change his chemo. We will have to see what happens after Dr. Gordon talks to the Drs. in S.F. Calif. I just wanted to let you all know what is going on with him. Please keep praying for him. Love to all.

Sunday, September 01, 2002 at 10:26 PM (CDT)

Hello everyone. Shawn had to get blood and platelets this weekend. I should say all weekend. He got blood and platlets yesterday and platelets today. His hemeglobin was 8.5 and his platelets were 40 but he was bruising alot so I ask if he could get platelets. Friday night we went to Lincoln for the WWE Wrestling matches. It was so much fun but Shawn and Curt just sat there just taking it all in and Corey and I sat there yelling and having a good time. We didn't get home until 1 in the morning and then we had to get up early to take Shawn to the hospital in Fairbury for the blood and platelets. Today we kind of fun too. Shawn finally got his call from the Rock. I don't think he knew what to say he was being a little shy but he did talk to him though and then when he was done talking he hands me the phone and says I'm done now so I talk to him for a few minutes and it was so great I am still freaking out that Shawn got to talk to the Rock. Well I better go. Like I said it has been a long weekend and I need to get to bed. Take care and Please keep check on Shawn he loves to hear from all of you. I think that is part of what keeps him going. Love to all. God Bless.

Tuesday, August 27, 2002 at 02:27 PM (CDT)

Sorry I haven't updated before now but with the 2 boys and my niece Allison they can get to be a handful. Shawn is doing okay right now. His counts keep going up and down. Right now is white counts is 3.2 and last Thursday it was 5.5 go figure. He is still doing the shots of the growth factor. I don't understand why it went down instead of up. I will never figure the disease out. I don't know of any of us that will. I better go I am watching my cousins 2 little boys. Tragun is 3 and Timothy is 8 months. Well Timothy wants my attention. I better go for now I will update again real soon. By the way Shawn still hasn't gotten his phone call from the Rock yet, Maybe soon. Love to all.

Tuesday, August 20, 2002 at 12:07 AM (CDT)

Hello everyone. We are doing alright for now. Shawn's counts are hopefully coming back up. Hs platelet count was 63 today. Last Thursday they were 18 so he got blood and platelets last Friday. It has been a LONG week.
Corey starts school on Friday. Corey had a accident tonight. He was outside playing and he wasn't wearing any shoes and he stepped on some glass and cut his foot really bad. So we took him to the hospital and he had to get 9 stitches. He is really hurting tonight. I gave him something for the pain and I pit some ice on it to help with the swelling.
Hopefully he can sleep all night.
I just wanted to update you all and tell you all that we don't know what we would do without all of you.
And by the way THANK YOU Chris for putting the new pictures of Shawn on here for us.

Take care and I will keep you all in my prayers.
Love Mel

Tuesday, August 13, 2002 at 11:02 AM (CDT)

This is going to be a short one but I just wanted to let you all know that Shawn is doing good right now. He is being a pain in the behind. But after everything he has went though I guess he can be a pain once in a while. He has his counts done again on Thursday. I will let you all know what his counts are then. He did really good with the chemo again this time. The doctor said he is not sure if Shawn has LIVE cancer cells still or not but he wants to do a test on him called a MIBG and we would have to go to Denver for that because right now they don't have the machines in Omaha for it. Or they could stop his chemo and see if the tumors start growing. I would rather do the MIBG. I don't want them to stop the chemo and the cancer start to grow again and then they can't stop it. Well Shawn is in the water in the bathroom so I better go and get him out of there.
I will update again on Thursday.
Love to all.

Thursday, August 08, 2002 at 06:42 PM (CDT)

We are in Omaha for chemo and he is doing good. He will be done on Saturday. Shawn is supposed to get a call from the Rock-one of the WWE Wrestlers. Shawn is on ShareaCard this month. That is how he is getting a call from the Rock. Yesterday he had to stay in the treatment center for 11 hours. After he was done with chemo then he got blood. So it was a really long day and he didn't go to sleep until 1 in the morning because he didn't get out of the treatment center until 10. So mom and dad and Shawn are tired tonight. I better go and try to get him to settle down he is like a little monster tonight. He has been throwing fits ever since he was done with chemo today. I will try to update you all again soon. He gets counts done again on Thursday. A week from today.

Saturday, August 03, 2002 at 05:07 PM (CDT)

Shawn did the Ralay For Life last night. He did really good. He walked at least 11 laps (not all at once). He had to walk with his Aunt Betty, he wouldn't walk with anyone else for a while. He gets counts done again tomorrow and then if his counts are good then we go to Omaha Monday and he has chemo. He will miss VBS but we can't help that. I know this is short but I will update you tomorrow on his counts.

Sunday, July 28, 2002 at 11:34 PM (CDT)

Shawn had to get blood on Saturday. That makes 3 weekends in a row that he had to get blood, platelets ot both. If you will check out the photo page Shawn has some new pictures on there. Curt's aunt put them on there. But I am sending some to a good friend of mine and she has graciously agreed to put some more on for us. Thank you Chris. Shawn goes for counts again tomorrow. He will NOT be going to Omaha for chemo this week. We will try for next week. It all depends on his counts. Well I better go and get some sleep I am very tired. I will try to let you know what his counts are tomorrow. Until then.

Tuesday, July 23, 2002 at 09:11 PM (CDT)

Well here it is folks. Shawn's CT Scan has NOT changed since his last one. So that means he will probably be going to Omaha for chemo again. That is if his counts are good on Thursday. Remember his platelet count on Friday was 39 so he got platelets on Saturday well when they did his counts on Monday his platelet count was 60. It didn't go up very much. I am kind of concerned that his platelet count didn't go up very much and the scan was no better then the last time. Well I better go and get the kids ready for bed. I am really tired because I didn't go to sleep until after 1 but that was my fault. and I was up at 6 so I could get Shawn dressed to go for his CT Scan. So I will say good night and sleep tight. Until Thurday.

Thursday July 25, 2002

Well his counts were pretty crumby. His platelet count was 41 So he has to go Fairbury again tomorrow for counts again. and if they are lower then he has to go for platelets on Saturday but if they are the same then he has counts done again on Monday. It is really flustrating I don't know what to think anymore. Well That is all for tonight I will let you all know tomorrow what his count is. Until then.

Friday, July 19, 2002 at 10:48 PM (CDT)

Shawn is doing all right. His platelet count is a little low. it was 39 today. So we will be spending part of the day tomorrow at the hospital for platelets. Then Monday we are going to Omaha. Tuesday he will be having a CT Scan and a Bone Scan. And then if the scans are the same or better then the last time then Shawn will be going for chemo a week from Monday. Well that is all for this entry. I will update when we know more about the tests. Love to all and take care.

Tuesday, July 16, 2002 at 04:49 PM (CDT)

Well his counts are up today. His platelets are 86 and is white count is 5.2 and his hemeglobin is 11.2. He is being a real pain in the behind today. He is having a PMS day. When we got to the hospital for his counts he started crying and said "I'm not going in". The was throwing a fit when they got his blood for counts. We went to the store after the hospital and he was throwing a fit in the store. He has been acting up all day. Well I better go and start dinner. Thank you very much for all your support and emails. It is what is getting us though all this. Please keep the emails coming. Mel

Wednesday, July 10, 2002 at 11:16 AM (CDT)

Shawn did really good with the surgery. In fact right after he woke up from surgery they had us take him to the treatment center for chemo. He is doing good right now. He is getting alot of bruises though. I think his platelets are low. We started the GCFS shots again on Monday. I know he hates that but I have to do it so his white count will go back up faster. We are waiting for the tape to come off before he can go swimming or take a bath but they are coming off. He is getting excited. Right now he is sitting in the living room eating cereal. He is such a goof. But I still love him. LOL. Corey has been having some problems dealing with all this. We had a nice talk and we hope he will be able to handle it now. I told him that We are going to do everything we can for Shawn and if God decides that he wants Shawn with him that that would be okay because Shawn will still be with us in our hearts, and memories. Last night I told Corey to think about all the good times we have had with Shawn and then maybe he would be able to sleep. He had slept with me for 2 nights because he couldn't sleep. He did sleep in his bed lsst night until it got too hot upstairs and then Shawn, Corey and Allie all came down to sleep with me so I slept on the couch. It was cooler down here. Shawn goes to Fairbury for counts on Friday. I will update you again then. Love to all and THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

Friday, July 12, 2002

Well Shawn's platelets and red cells are low today. We go to Fairbury tomorrow for blood and platelets. He is doing okay. He is really getting tired easy lately. I just wanted to let you all know what is going on with Shawn. I will never know how much all your emails and prayers and support have meant to us. I do not have the words to express how it makes us feel everytime you send an email. We are not giving up hope we will try everything possible for Shawn. I do believe Shawn still has a fighting chance of beating this. Well I better go and get the kids from Story Time. I will update again on Tuesday that is when he does counts again. Love to all and take care. GOD BLESS YOU.

Monday, July 01, 2002 at 07:46 PM (CDT)

Well hello everyone. We are going to Omaha tomorrow for chemo. Shawn's ANC was 1200 or 1400 Sue couldn't remember and his platelet count was 128 so his counts are high enough for chemo. Shawn had a great time at camp. Our car is still messed up Curt has been trying to fix it but it is still not right. Hopfully It will be fixed soon. Grandma and Grandpa had to take me to get Shawn from camp in Iowa. That was a real fun ride. Well I should go and finish packing for Omaha. Love to all.


Thursday, July 4,2002

Well we got some depressing news the other day. I talked to the doctor and he told me that he doesn't think Shawn will be cured of the damn disease. He said we could try experimental drugs but that might not work. So he said he might have 6 months or even up to 2 years but He thinks he will die from this. The chemo Shawn is getting right now is so the cancer doesn't grow very fast. And maybe it will shrink but it will not kill all of the cancer. On a lighter note Shawn is getting his Broviac taken out tomorrow and they are going to put in a port instead. Then Shawn can be more like a normal 4 year old and take regular baths instead of a sponge bath and he can go swimming and all that. Well I better go Shawn is acting up. HAPPY 4TH OF JULY. Love to all.

Wednesday, June 26, 2002 at 10:22 PM (CDT)

Hello everyone. Shawn's counts were not good enough for him to get chemo but the bright side is he is at camp right now. He left today for camp. I know he will have fun. I don't know what I will do for 5 days without him. I am so used to flushing his lines and changing his dressing that I will be lost without him for 5 days. He comes home on Sunday. We have to go pick him up at camp. which is in Iowa. He will have his counts done in Fairbury on Monday and then we will find out if he can go for chemo or not. His platelet count came up to 104 but his ANC is still at 700 and they want it at 750. Well I better go and get to bed I am really tired tonight. I will update you again on Monday. Today is Curt's and my Anniversary. Great present to send Shawn to camp. HAHAHAHAHA. Love to all

Tuesday, June 11, 2002 at 01:03 PM (CDT)

Hello to all. Well we are home because Shawn's platelet count was too low for chemo but not low enough for a transfusion. Go figure. They want his platelets at at least 75 but they are at 44. We drove all the way to Omaha for them to tell us he could do the chemo this week. He did have his hearing test done though. The girl that did his test said he is a candidate for hearing aides. She was going to type up the report and send it to Dr. Gordon. Shawn does counts again on Thursday. Then I will talk to Sue and I am going to ask her what we are going to do about SHawn's hearing loss. I will update again on Thursday. Love to all and take care.

Thursday June 13, 2002 at 02:04 P.M.
I just wanted to let you all know that his platelet count is still 44. So he has to go for counts in Fairbury on Monday and if his platelets are up to at least 75 he will be going to Omaha for chemo next week. If they are still not up to 75 then I am not sure what we are going to have to do. He is supposed to go to camp on the 26th. So I am not sure what we are going to do right now. Take care and love to all.

Wednesday, May 29, 2002 at 10:13 PM (CDT)

Just a quick update. Shawn's counts are better than last time. wbc-3.3 platelets-58. He seems to be getting tired alot lately. He has a lot of bruises from falls and from bumping into things. He goes for counts again on Friday. Hopefully his white count is up even more and then maybe we can stop the shots. I hate giving him shots. I fell like a real mean mom but if it helps his counts then I guess I have to do it. He was crowned PRINCE in the parade on Sunday. It was a fun day. A really full day. Games and all kinds of things for the kids to do. Well I better go and get the kids to bed They are upstairs fighting right now. They are driving me crazy today. Take care and God be with you all. Love to all.

Sunday, May 19, 2002 at 03:45 PM (CDT)

Hello all. We are home. Shawn did really good again with the chemo. He gets his counts done on Friday. Shawn seen Dr. Gordon on Monday. He said he is responding to the chemo really well. He will have one more course of chemo and then he will do the CT Scan and all the other tests again and see if the chemo is still working or not. We did find out that there is no cancer cells in the bone marrow. I will update you all when he gets his counts done on Friday. Take care and THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING THERE FOR US. Mel

Sunday, May 12, 2002 at 11:27 PM (CDT)

Corey's track meet went really well. he only has 3 days left. Tomorrow, Tuesday and Wednesday. We will be in Omaha until Friday. So he will be staying with Grandma and Grandpa. Shawn's counts went up. His platelet count was 73 and white count was 2.5. So he starts chemo tomorrow. By the way, Check out Shawn's smile quilt. You have to go to www.smilequilt.com and click on Shawn's name and check it out it is really cool. He loves it so far. Well I will try to update while we are in Omaha. I can check email there. So keep writing and I will keep reading them to him. He loves getting email. Love to all and take care. HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL THE MOTHERS OUT THERE. HAVE A GREAT DAY.

Friday, May 03, 2002 at 11:04 PM (CDT)

Here is the update you know you have all been waiting for. Well the cancer HAS SHRUNK. The doctor has decided to keep Shawn on the same chemo he has been getting. I think we have talked the doctor in to let us wait a week to start chemo. He was supposed to start on the 8th but Corey has a track meet (it's like field day) on the 10th so we want to be there. We will miss his last dat of school though. Missing Corey's last day of school is better than missing his track meet at school. I will let you all know what is going on with Shawn and Corey often. Right now Shawn is full of energy and full of SOMETHING ELSE too but I won't tell you what that is right now. He is being a real pain in the BUTT. but I guess I wouldn't want he any other way. Well I better go and try to get some sleep. The kids like to get up early. I haven't been sleeping real good lately so I am going to try and get some sleep. Love to all and take care.
Tuesday, May 7, 2002 at 10:56 p.m. (CDT)

Well are going to Omaha on Monday and he will start chemo on Monday. Corey is very excited about us going to his track meet on Friday. Then he only has three more days of school. He goes Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and then he is out for the summer. I don't know what I am going to do with them this summer because Corey wants to play in the water and Shawn can't unless I tape him all up so his lines don't get wet. It should be a real fun time. But I guess we will deal with it when it happens. By the way Shawn's counts are up his white count is 1.5 that is the only one down. His platelet count was 65 that is up from the last time it was done. I will update again when we get counts done again. Which is Friday. Until then. Love to all and take care.

Friday, April 26, 2002 at 01:01 PM (CDT)

Well Shawn is doing good right now. He will not be a very happy little boy next week though. He is having some tests done. A bone marrow test, CT Scan and a bone scan. I really hate when he has a bone marrow test done. He is a sore for a few days after. His back hurts and bloods for a few days. I will be sure to update when we find out what the results are. He is supposed to start chemo again in two weeks but I am going to try and get the doctor to wait for a week. Corey has his track meet on the 10th and that is when the doctor wants Shawn to be at the hospital for chemo. Actually he will start chemo on the 8th if the tests are good. Corey's last day of school is the 15th of May. So he will have to stay with Grandma and Grandpa when Shawn is in Omaha this summer. I will update you when we know anything else.

Wednesday, April 17, 2002 at 04:02 PM (CDT)

Shawn just got out of the hospital with a staff infection in is central lines. He had a fever for about two days and we took him to the hospital Friday night for the fever and then he had to go to the hospital for blood and platelets on Saturday and then on Sunday we had to take him back for counts but after we got home he had a fever of 103.5 so back to the hospital we went and they put him in the hospital on antibiotics I.V. And he came home today. He is still on antibiotics but by mouth. Well I better fgo and try to do something with Shawn. He is really acting up today. I will probably update on Firday when he gets his counts done again.

Saturday April 20, 2002 at 10:21 A.M.

Here are Shawn's counts from yesterday.
WBC 2.5
RBC 3.0
HEMOGLOBIN 9.5
HEMATOCRIT 27.8
PLATELETS 22
So we have to go to Fairbury today for platelets. ANd maybe tomorrow also. depends on if the pletelets are concentated or not. Well I will update later.

Friday, April 12, 2002 at 12:26 PM (CDT)

Here we go again. Shawn's are really low this time. They are as follows.

wbc 0.2
rbc 2.15
hemoglobin 6.6
hematocrit 18.7
platelets 12

So tomorrow we have to take a trip to Fairbury for red blood and platelets. He gets counts done again on Tuesday. So hopefully the counts are up then. Well I know this is short but I need to get the kids some lunch and get some things done. I will update again on Tuesday. Love to all. Melanie

Saturday 13, 2002 at 11:06 p.m.

Well we spent 9 hours at the hospital for blood and platelets and they did his counts again and his platelets were 8 but that was before he got the platelets. We have to go back tomorrow for counts again and hopefully they are higher this time. He has been running a fever. Last night it was 101.5 so we had to go to the hsopital in Fairbury for cultures on his lines. We should find out something on that tomorrow when we go for counts. We I will update when I can. I am really tired tonight so I am going to go to bed and try to sleep.
Melanie

Friday, April 05, 2002 at 08:56 PM (CST)

Hello all Shawn is doing really good with chemo. He likes that he doesn't have to stay in the hospital. He is doing chemo outpatient. He has to be in the treatment center for about 7 hours a day. He doesn't like that but its that or he has to be put in the hospital. He gets to go home on Sunday after his chemo. Well I better go he wants my attention and I am not giving it to him right now because I am on the computer. So I will update again when we know more. Mel

Sunday April 7, 2001
We are home from Omaha and Shawn is doing really good. I just thought you might like to know that Shawn has a new picture on the photos. So check it out.
By the way the doctor said that They are going to repeat the CT Scan and bone marrow test and if the tumors are smaller then Shawn will keep getting the same chemo he has been getting and if they are not smaller then we will have to figure out a different type of treatment. I will let you all know when I find out anything Love to all. Mel

Monday, April 01, 2002 at 02:08 PM (CST)

Hello I am so sorry that I haven't updated until now but we just got our internet back on so I thought I would update you all now. Shawn still hasn't gotten another course of chemo yet. If his counts are up tomorrow then he might go to Omaha Wednesday to see the doctor and do chemo for 5 days. I hope everyone had a great Easter. We had a good day. We had dinner at Grandma and Grandpa's and the kids hunted for Easter eggs at Grandma and Grandpa's and at home. They had fun. Well I better go I will update you again when I can. Love to all. Mel

Here is a new update. Shawn is going to Omaha tomorrow. His white count was 6.4 and his platelets are at 91 so He can do the chemo now. I hope we can find out what course of treatment he is going to be getting and all that. We need to talk to the doctor tomorrow when we see him. Shawn has a really naughty cough right now The doctor might do a chest x-ray. We CAN NOT keep him out of the dirt. He is acting like a normal 4 year old boy I keep telling him he needs to stay out of the dirt but he is a stubborn little boy just like his Mom at times. We I will go again. I hope you all have a great week and I will update you when I can. Love to all and be good. Mel

Friday, March 15, 2002 at 08:21 PM (CST)

Hello to all. Shawn got his counts done today. His white count is 2.3 and his platelets are 32 so he has to get platelets tomorrow and Sunday. They can't concentrate them at the hoispital in .Fairbury so he has to get them in two days. If his counts hold on he will start chemo again on Wednesday but if his counts are not too good he will have to wait a few days. Well I will go for now I will update again when I know more. Love to all. Melanie

Saturday, March 02, 2002 at 05:37 PM (CST)

Hello everyone. We are home now. He did really good with his chemo this time. So hopefully next time he can do his chemo as an outpatient. We will stay at Nebraska House and he will go to the treatment center to do the chemo. The doctor did another chest x-ray today and he did he pneumonia. He is doing really good. He is being ROTTEN right now but I wouldn't have it any other way. I better go for now. I will update again when I know more. Love to all. Mel

Tuesday, February 26, 2002 at 10:16 AM (CST)

Hello everyone. Here is what is going on with Shawn. He got his Hickman put in and they did the bone marrow test and the cancer is in the bone marrow. He started chemo this morning. He is in really good spirits. He is eating really good also. He will be in the hospital until Sunday. Unless he gets a fever and then he will have to stay. Shawn slept really good last night but mom on the other hand did not. Shawn will have to go though 2 courses of chemo and then he will have another CT Scan and another bone marrow test. This is the chemo that Shawn is on right now. Cytoxan and Topoecan. He has had the Cytoxan before but the other he has not. Well I will update again when we know more. Love to all. Love Mel

Wednesday February 20, 2002 7:17 PM CST

Hello all. Well here we go again. The doctor thinks maybe the cancer is back. So Monday Shawn is having surgery to get new lines in and a bone marrow test. and then we will go from there. He might start chemo again or maybe a different type of treatment. We won't know until Monday after the bone marrow test. That is all we know for right now. I will update you whenever I can. Love to all and please pray for Shawn. Love Mel

Saturday February 9, 2002 0:21 AM CST

I just wanted to update you all on Shawn. He has a virus but he is getting better. He still has the cough and runny nose but he is feeling better. We got some bad news today. One of Shawn's friends he met when he was in the hospital in Columbia Missouri and she was also in the hospital in St. Louis when he had his BMT. She also had a BMT about a week after Shawn. Well she had a relapse and she passed away yesterday. If you could all say a prayer for her family. It would mean alot to us. I have heard of other kids that passed away from cancer but we really didn't know them. We knew Elizabeth. She was a pretty girl. She had leukemia. She had had 2 relapses and I guess her little body couldn't take it anymore. It makes me very sad that kids are dying from this damn disease. And there is not alot we can do about it.I am sorry I didn't mean to curse but it makes me so mad and upset to know that kids are dying and we are helpless in the fight of this terrible disease. Well I think I have said my peace for one night. I will update you again when we go back to the doctors. And right now I don't know when that will be. Love to all Melanie

Friday, January 11, 2002 at 12:08 AM (CST)

Hello everyone. I just thought you might like to know that Shawn is in REMISSION. He had a CT SCAN done on Wednesday and the doctor said that his scan was okay. So I asked if that meant that he is remission and they said that he is but we still have to watch him. His has been falling alot and the doctor watched him walk and said that he is walking like he is still taking vancristine. It was one of the chemo drugs he had when he was going though chemo. He said we need to watch him and if he gets headaches that make him stop playing or if the falling gets worse to let him know. We are still praying that he doesn't get a different type of cancer. He is a strong little boy but I don't know if I could stand it if he had a different type of cancer. He is dong great right now other then the falling and he has headaches every so often. But they are not bad enough to make him stop playing. Please keep praying for Shawn and I would also like to ask you if you will pray for all the kids that are fighting cancer or some kind of disease. Shawn has some friends he has met on the computer though his web page and I would like it if you could add them to your prayers. Thank you all for your love and support though all of this and I all pray for all of you too.

Melanie

Thursday, December 27, 2001 at 04:02 PM (CST)

Hello. I am sorry I haven't updated before now I have been busy with the kids. We had a great Christmas. We had dinner at Grandma and Grandpa's. Corey was in a christmas program at church. He was a shepard. they sang some songs. He did really good. The boys are out of school for christmas break. Shawn goes back Jan.3rd and Corey goes back Jan.4th. Corey would go back the 3th but he doesn't have school on Thursdays. And two days after he goes back to school Corey will be 7. His Birthday is Jan.6th. Shawn is doing good. He is being a normal 4 year old. A pain in the behind. HAHAHA. Well not much else is going on right now. Shawn has to back to see Dr. Gordon in Jan sometime. I will upate you all then if not before. I hope you all had a great Christmas and I wish you all A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR. My birthday is Dec 31st. I am not telling how old I will be though. LOL. Curt wanted me to have Corey on my birthday but Corey wasn't ready yet. He had to wait 6 days. LOL. Well I guess I will go for now. Love to all and try to stay healthy.
Love Melanie

Saturday, December 01, 2001 at 11:28 AM (CST)

Hello everyone. How was your Thanksgiving? Ours was good. Shawn and Corey are both getting really excited about Christmas. They can't wait for Santa. They wrote a letter to Santa on the computer and got an email back from him. It was really neat for them. Shawn is doing really good. We still have our times with fevers but now we can give him Tylenol. Since he doesn't have his lines anymore. He acts like a normal 4 year old. I couldn't be happier. He gets on my nerves but I am so happy he is here to do that. Well I better go and try to find something for the kids to eat for lunch. Love to all and be good Santa's watching. Love Melanie

Thursday, November 22, 2001 at 08:08 PM (CST)

Hello everyone. I just wanted to say hey and let you know we are all doing fine. Shawn doesn't have his stool problem anymore. the doctor gave him antibiotics and he is doing better now. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. Love Melanie

Tuesday, November 13, 2001 at 06:14 PM (CST)

Hello everyone. I hope this finds you all well. I just wanted to update you on Shawn. He is doing good. We have had some problems with him having really loose stools. The doctor did a culture on it and he doesn't have oany bug or anything but we are still conserned about it. It's been going on for about a month now. We got our pictures back from our trip. I hope to have some of them on the web page soon. Love Melanie

Tuesday, November 13, 2001 at 10:01 AM (CST)

Hello everyone. I thought I would update you on Shawn. He is doing good. He has had really loose stools for about a month now and We are waiting for the results of his stool culture. They did the culture on Friday and I called the doctors office today and they still don't have the results. I am starting to get a little angry about it. We really need to know what is wrong with he. If he has some kind of bug we can't send him to school, we don't wnat him to give it to the kids at school. Melanie

Tuesday, October 30, 2001 at 10:02 PM (CST)

Well we are back from Florida. We had a great time. We went to Magic Kingdom, MGM Studios and Sea World. The boys weren't ready to come home but it was time. The weather was great until the last two days we were there. It was really windy and the wind was cold. But other than that we had a great time. The boys got alot of autographs, They got Micky and Minnie and Goofy, Pluto, Alice, Bear in the big blue house. I can't remember all of them but they got a lot. We stayed at the Give Kids The World Village and that was great too. We always had something to do. Please Keep checking this web page. I will update again later. Shawn has to go see the doctor in Omaha on the 7th of November. So I will undate you all then.
Love Melanie

Wednesday, October 17, 2001 at 06:59 PM (CDT)

Well we will be in Florida a week from yesterday. Our week will be full of fun and adventure. We are going to Magic Kingdom, Sea World, Universal Studios and MGM Sudios. It should be a fun trip. We will be staying in Omaha on Monday night. And then leaving for Orlando on Tuesday morning really early. and the we will be staying in Omaha on Monday(Oct.28th) and come home in Tuesday sometime. I will try to take some good pictures while we are there. Take care and love to all. Love Mel

Wednesday, October 03, 2001 at 12:07 PM (CDT)

Shawn had a CT Scan done on Monday (Oct. 1st). and it was good hopefully no more tumors. We will be going to Florida on Oct.23rd-29th. Corey is going to be a crownbearer for homecoming. Hopefully I can get a picture of him on the web page also. Shawn had a great first day of school yesterday. I think he will do good in headstart. He was excited about being in school. Well I really have to go get my dishes done. Love to all and take care. Love Melanie P.S. I forgot to tell you his CT Scan came back good so hopefully no more cancer.

Saturday, September 22, 2001 at 08:57 PM (CDT)

Hello everyone I just wanted to let you know that we have some new pictures of Shawn on the web. Check them out they are very cute pictures. Shawn is doing good and so is Corey. We are going to Disneyworld on October 15th. I hope the Boys have fun in Florida. Shawn starts school on Thursday(Sept. 27th.) I hope he has fun in head start. Well I better go It is raining really hard here and we are in a thunderstorm warning right now. THANK YOU EVERYONE for the cards and letters that Shawn got for his Birthday. They mean alot to him. We love you all. Take care and God bless. Love Melanie

Friday, September 14, 2001 at 12:11 PM (CDT)

Hello everyone. I am sorry I haven't updated before now but the boys have been keeping me pretty busy lately. Shawn got into headstart. I am not sure when he starts but at least he got in. His last counts were good. His platelets were 84. Tomorrow is his birthday. He will be 4. We are having a party at Grandma and Grandpa's tomorrow evening. It should be a lot of fun. I want to THANK EVERYONE of you how have been emailing Shawn and praying for him. Without you I don't know if we would have made it this far. Well I better go and get the kids some lunch. KEEP EMAILING and take care. Love to all. Love Melanie

Saturday, September 01, 2001 at 11:09 AM (CDT)

I just wanted to update everyone. Shawn is done with all his treatments and now he only has to see the Dr. once a month. We are also supposed to be going to Disney World in the middle of Oct. He will be done with the Accutane by then. Well I better go because you know these boys are they think they need my attention all the time. I guess they just LOVE ME (HA HA HA). I will update when I know anything more. Love to all and take care. Love Melanie

Sunday, August 19, 2001 at 10:52 AM (CDT)

Hello everyone. I thought it was time I updated everyone. Shawn got his Hickman taken out last Thursday (August 9th). And his is doing good without it. They did his labs on Thursday and his cried a little bit but it was only because I was holding him down. His platelet count was 144 this week and las week his platelet count was 127. So it is coming up very nicely. He only has 2 more days of radiation left to go then he is done. We went to the Thayer County Fair yesterday and we went to the races and they had a contest to be a trophy person for the Dash for Cash contest. Well we entered Corey, Shawn and Allie. Well to make a long story short. Corey's car won and they called his name. He gave the driver his trophy and Corey got a trophy of his OWN. He was on cloud 9 after that. That really made his night. It made it really special for him. Well I will update when we get any more news of any kind. Well I better go The boys are wanting some attention. So will talk to yo all later. Take care and love to all. Love Melanie

Wednesday, August 08, 2001 at 10:33 AM (CDT)

Hello Everyone. Here we are at the hospital and doing good. Shawn has had 2 days of radiation. He is so full of energy I can hardly keep up with him. He is missing everyone at home. He is getting his Hickman out tomorrow. He was getting too many infections in it and around it. So we decided to have it taken out. I really hope we are making the right choice. He will have to be poked when he has to have his counts done but we think it will be better than having it hurting all the time. Well I will let you all know how he is doing. I better go Shawn is getting antsy. We love you all very much. Take care. Love Melanie

Tuesday, July 31, 2001 at 11:09 AM (CDT)

Hello everyone. I just wanted to let you know that Shawn is going to Omaha on Thrusday for his check-up with Dr. Gordon and then he gets his markings for Radiation. He is suppoed to start radiation on Monday. Wish us luck. We love all of you. And we are so lucky to have such Great friends and family. and even the people we have never met. We are lucky to know you thoough email. PLEASE KEEP EMAIL US. We love to hear from all of you. Take care and god be with you all. Love Melanie

Thursday, July 26, 2001 at 10:37 PM (CDT)

I know I should have done this yesterday but I have been really busy with the boys all day. The biopsy came back NEGATIVE. It was old cells. NO new cancer. NO new cells. The cells they found in his chest are dead. We are going to Omaha tomorrow to see the surgeon for a check-up after surgery. I am glad that is all over with now maybe they will start his radiation. Wish us luck tomorrow. Love to all and take care. Will update when I know more. Love Melanie

Saturday, July 21, 2001 at 09:31 PM (CDT)

Shawn is home and doing okay. He has pain once in a while. They did a chest x-ray yesterday. and took his chest tube out and then he got to come home. But Dr. Raynor asked why Shawn was in PICU he was supposed to go on the 6th floor not PICU. He (Dr. Raynor) seemed mad about it. All is done now we are home and more comfortable. Well I just wanted to let you all know we are home. We got home at 10:00 last night. Because no one knew what was going on yesterday. They didn't even do his chest x-ray until 4:30 in the afternoon. He was supposed to have it done in the morning. Well I will go for tonight. I will update again when we find something out. Love to all and take care. Love Melanie

Thursday, July 19, 2001 at 05:30 PM (CDT)

Hello everyone. I just wanted to update you on Shawn. He had surgery today. They remove one of the lumps to biopsy. The lumps are not in his lungs they are actually on the wall of his chest. We should know something next week. Dr. Raynor(the surgeon). Said it takes about 3 days for the results. His platelet count today was 105. Which is good. Well everyone that is enough for now. I better go see if they have gotten him to his room yet. He will be in PICU for tonight and then hopefully he can go home tomorrow. I will update you when I can. Take care and be good. Love Melanie

Saturday, July 14, 2001 at 11:11 PM (CDT)

I am sorry I haven't updated before now but There really is nothing new to report. The lumps or whatever they are in his lungs have moved but that is the only change. We are still waiting to find out if they are going to do a biopsy or not. Oh there is something new. His platelet count was 106. which I think is great. He hasn't been transfused in 2 months. Well I better go and try to get some sleep. I haven't been sleeping too well lately. Take and love to all. Love Melanie

Wednesday, July 04, 2001 at 10:18 AM (CDT)

Hello everyone. I just wanted update you. Shawn will be in Omaha on the 10th and the 11th. He has a CT Scan on the 10th and he sees the doctor on the 11th. Hopefully we will have some good news that day. They want another CT Scan to see if the lumps in his lungs are growing or now. I think the surgeon didn't think they were big enough to take out to look at. Well I better go. I will update when I know more. Shawn and Corey are both doing good. They are being normal boys. Happy 4th. Take care and be good. Love Melanie

Wednesday, June 27, 2001 at 04:51 PM (CDT)

Hello. I just wanted to update you all on what the doctor said. They are going to repeat the ct scan in 3 weeks to see if there is still something there. and then we will go from there I guess. I am really getting angry with the doctor. He doesn't seem to care about Shawn's care or anything. I am about ready to find a different doctor. I don't know what else to do at this point. I want doctors like he had in Columbia. They seemed to care. Well I better go. I am trying to fix dinner. I will update when I know more. Take care and love to all. Love Melanie

Thursday, June 21, 2001 at 11:24 AM (CDT)

I just wanted to let everyone know what the doctor said about Shawn's tests. It appears the cells in his tummy are not growing which is great. But they found some things in his lungs that they don't know what they are . They could be scar tissue from some infection he has had or it could be cancer cells. They are really small but the doctor was going to talk to the surgeon and see if they are big enough to take out and check out what they are. I will let you know when I find out anything. Love to all and take care. Love Melanie

Wednesday, June 20, 2001 at 10:27 AM (CDT)

Hello everyone- We are here at the hospital and Shawn is doing great with the tests. He still has to see Dr. Gordon in a while and then the bone marrow test then we can go home. When they did his counts on Monday his platelets were at 88. Which is really good because he hasn't been transfused in almost 3 weeks. His counts are coming up on their own. I am really hoping he can start his treatments really soon. Keep praying that he can get done with his treatments very soon. Take care and be good. Melanie

Tuesday, June 12, 2001 at 01:34 PM (CDT)

I just wanted to let everyone know We are still here and doing great. Shawn is very active these days. He and Corey run all over the place. We are hoping he can get his treatments done very soon. So we can get it over with and then maybe he can go on his trip to DISNEYWORLD in Florida. That's what his wish was for the make-
a-wish fundation. Well I better go the boys are into something again. It's never ends. Take care and be good. I will update you next week after the tests are done. Love Melanie

Thursday, June 07, 2001 at 09:32 AM (CDT)

I just wanted to update you all. Shawn seen the doctor yesteday and his platelet count was 61. So no platelets yesterday. They are going to reepeat the bone marrow test and the scans in 2 weeks. Then hopefully we will find out when they will start radiation. Both the boys are doing good. Love to all and take care. Love Mel

Thursday, June 07, 2001 at 09:32 AM (CDT)

I just wanted to update you all. Shawn seen the doctor yesteday and his platelet count was 61. So no platelets yesterday. They are going to reepeat the bone marrow test and the scans in 2 weeks. Then hopefully we will find out when they will start radiation. Both the boys are doing good. Love to all and take care. Love Mel

Monday, June 04, 2001 at 10:35 AM (CDT)

Hello everyone, I just wanted to update you all. Shawn is doing good. His platelets are holding I hope. and hopefully we can start the treaments really soon. Corey is doing good also. Shawn passed his 100 day mark. we are now at 103 today. We will see what his counts are on Wednesday. Love to all and take care. Love Melanie

Tuesday, May 29, 2001 at 08:52 PM (CDT)

Shawn's platelet count was 61 today and his white count was 3.1 which is really good. Because it is coming up on it's own now. He hasn't had platelets for a week and a half now so he is doing really good. He started back on his accutane today. We shall see he he acts with it this time. I really hope he does better this time. He was a real pain last time. Love to all and take care. Love Melanie

Monday, May 28, 2001 at 10:21 AM (CDT)

I just wanted to let everyone know Shawn is doing good. He has to go to Fairbury tomorrow for his counts but other than that we are doing good. Corey is out of school and ready for the summer. Well that's all for now I will update you tomorrow about his counts. Love to all and take care. Love Melanie

Thursday, May 24, 2001 at 06:36 PM (CDT)

HELLO- SHAWN CAME HOME YESTERDAY. HE HAS TO GO TO FAIRBURY 3 TIMES A DAY FOR ANTIBIOTICS BUT AT LEAST WE ARE HOME. HE WILL BE DONE WITH THE ANTIBIOTICS SATURDAY MORNING AT 7, THAT'S HIS LAST DOSE. HOPFULLY HE WON'T HAVE TO GO TO OMAHA AGAIN UNTIL THE 6TH OF JUNE. TO SEE THE DOCTOR. WELL I BETTER GO AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE FOR DINNER. LOVE TO ALL AND TAKE CARE.
LOVE MELANIE

Tuesday, May 22, 2001 at 12:16 PM (CDT)

Hello everyone. Just wanted to update you on Shawn. We are still at the hospital but he is now outpatient. He has to go to the treatment center three times a day for his antibiotics. We are hoping to get to go home tomorrow but he will still have to be on IV antibiotics until at least Friday. So that is all that is going on right now. Will update if anything else comes up. love to all and take care. Love Melanie

Saturday, May 19, 2001 at 06:22 PM (CDT)

Hello everyone. Things are going all right so far. Shawn got a tooth pulled yesterday. He had chipped it when we lived in Colorado and it was rotting so they decided to pull it while he is on antibiotics. Right now he is being a real pain in the you know what. But I guess I have to live with that. Well I better go and get back to his room Curt is probably getting bored. We left him in Shawn's room by himself. Love to all and take car. Love Melanie

Friday, May 18, 2001 at 10:39 AM (CDT)

HELLO EVERYONE-
WELL THIS IS WHAT IS GOING ON SO FAR. SHAWN HAS AN INFECTION IN HIS LINES AND IN HIS BLOOD STREAM. THEY ARE TREATING IT WITH MEDATION. HE HAS TO STAY IN THE HOSPITAL FOR AT LEAST THE WEEKEND. WE ARE HOPING HE CAN GO HOME MONDAY. I WILL LET YOU ALL KNOW WHEN AND IF ANYTHING CHANGES. WE LOVE YOU ALL VERY MUCH. LOVE MELANIE

Thursday, May 17, 2001 at 08:42 AM (CDT)

Well we are in Omaha again and this time Shawn is in the hospital. He has an infection somewhere. and they don't know where right now. It could be in his blood or in his line. If it's in his line they are going to take out the Hickman. But if it's in his blood then I am guessing they will treat it with the antibioticis. i have to go and check on Shawn he was sleeping when I left his room. Love Melanie

Wednesday, May 16, 2001 at 07:34 AM (CDT)

I just wanted to update you. Shawn had to go to Omaha yesterday. He got platelets and red blood. If he gets a fever again he will probably end up in the hospital. We are hoping that doesn't happen. He is feeling good though. Corey has a track meet today. I hope he does good. By the way Corey won an award. He had to make something for school and he made a helicoper and he won 1st place for it. We are SO PROUD of him. I need to go. Take care and be good. Love Melanie

Tuesday, May 15, 2001 at 02:34 AM (CDT)

Well we are going to Omaha today. Shawn had a fever and we had to take him to the hospital in Fairbury and now are have to go to Omaha. I am pretty sure he will have to be put in the hospital for meds. I will try to keep you updated on his condition. Love to all. Love Melanie

Monday, May 14, 2001 at 12:44 PM (CDT)

Hello How is everyone doing? Fine I hope. Shawn is doing good. He has to go to Fairbury Wednesday for his counts. I am so glad that Shawn has so many people that care about him. I will update this again on Wednesday. Love to all
Love Melanie

Wednesday, May 09, 2001 at 10:38 PM (CDT)

HELLO EVERYONE-
WE WENT TO OMAHA TODAY AND THE DOCTOR DECIDED HE DIDN'T NEED RED BLOOD CELLS TODAY AND HIS PLATELET COUNT WAS 31. WHICH IS GOOD FOR HIM RIGHT NOW. BUT WE WERE WAITING FOR THE NURSE TO COME BACK WITH SHAWN'S NEXT APPOINTMENT DATE AND HIS NOSE WAS RUNNING AND I WIPED HIS NOSE WITH A TISSUE AND THE OTHER SIDE OF HIS NOSE STARTED TO BLEED A LITTLE SO WE SPENT THE NEXT 5 HOURS AT THE HOSPITAL SO HE COULD GET PLATELETS. IT TOOK THEM 4 HOURS JUST TO FIND HIS PLATELETS AND THE OTHER HOUR FOR HIM TO GET THE PLATELETS. SO Y0OU SEE WE HAD A REAL FUN DAY. WE JUST GOT HOME ABOUT 40 MINUTES AGO. LOVE MELANIE

Tuesday, May 08, 2001 at 01:51 PM (CDT)

JUST WANTED TO LET EVERYONE KNOW SHAWN IS DOING GOOD. HIS PLATELET COUNT WAS 32 YESTERDAY. HE HASN'T GOTTEN ANY PLATELETS IN 2 WEEKS. WHICH IS GOOD. WE GO TO OMAHA TOMORROW TO SEE THE DOCTOR AND FOR COUNTS. HE WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO HAVE RED BLOOD TOMORROW. BUT WE CAN LIVE THAT. I BETTER GO. I WILL TRY TO UPDATE THIS TOMORROW AFTER WE GET BACK FROM OMAHA. LOVE TO ALL. LOVE MELANIE

Friday, May 04, 2001 at 04:33 PM (CDT)

I just wanted to update you. Shawn's white count was 1.3 and his platelet count was 32. So we didn't have to go to Omaha today but he will have to be transfussed sometime soon. Maybe on Monday. He is still being a real pain but I don't think I want it any other way. I am glad to see him doing sooooo good. Thanks to everyone for all the love and support. You don't know what it means to us to know so many people love and care about Shawn. Well I better go and fix dinner. We are getting ALOT of rain today and I really don't want to blow up my computer if it starts thundering and lighting. Take care and love to all. LOVE MELANIE

Friday, May 04, 2001 at 09:55 AM (CDT)

Shawn is doing good. Making trouble as always. No fever lately. We have to go to Fairbury for counts today. We shall see if his counts are holding or not. Right now he is trying to plug up a light, like I said getting in to trouble. He has a bit of a cough. Well I better go I will try to update this a little later today and let you know how his counts are and all that. Love to all and take care. Love Melanie

Wednesday, May 02, 2001 at 11:06 PM (CDT)

Hello everyone. How are all of you? Shawn had to go to Omaha today because he has a fever this morning. When he woke up this morning his temp was 103.2 then I took it again and it was 101.4. So we went to Omaha. They gave him some stuff in his lines and hopefully he won't have to have any more I.V. meds. His counts are holding for now. Not saying they will stay that way. But for now they are doing okay. Well everybody I am very tired so I will go for tonight and update you whenever I can.
Love to all and take care. Love Melanie

Tuesday, May 01, 2001 at 07:54 AM (CDT)

Shawn has to go to Omaha today. they want to do his counts again and then he might have to have red blood and platelets. Yesterday his platelet count was 26. Last Wednesday it was 40. His cells still are not taking hold. Well I better go and get Curt up. take care everyone and be good. Thank You for all your prayers I think it has helped. Melanie

Monday, April 30, 2001 at 10:54 AM (CDT)

Hello Everyone! I just wanted to write a short note to let you know everything is going okay. Shawn is doing okay. I think he is getting a little bit of a cold thought. He won't be having his radiation treatments for about a month. His counts are still too low. Hopefully they will start coming up and staying up. He has to get counts today. So we will see. He hasn't had to have platelets for a week now. Well I better go. Take Care and we are thinking about all of you. Love Melanie

Monday, April 30, 2001 at 10:46 AM (CDT)

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