Alex's Story

Welcome to Alex's Web Page. It has been provided to keep people updated about my son, Alex. He was diagnosed with Leukemia on January 6, 2000.

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Please also notice that my email address has changed.

Journal

Sunday, December 30, 2001 at 08:54 PM (CST)

Hello!!!

I know it has been a while. Simply stating that things have been busy would be boring and uneventful. Let's see if I can summarize...I went to Kenya on a horseback riding safari for 3 weeks in June-July (life long dream), got back refreshed and in time for Alex's 4th birthday, the boys started school in August (Austin-2nd grade and Alex-Pre-K), kicked off a great school year, minor set back with Alex needing a blood transfusion due to very low blood counts and extreme fatigue, his doctor believes it was the result of a reaction to Parvo virus he probably had several months earlier, had a fun Halloween (Austin-dracula and Alex-skeleton), went camping for Thanksgiving, Austin learned how to squirrel hunt and Alex learned to ride his bike, Christmas was wonderful and now the new year is upon us.

Week 104...it's hard to believe that it has been exactly 2 years next week since diagnosis. It's been a long and challenging road but, we are on the down side now. Alex finishes chemo on the Fourth of July in 2002 and will turn 5 years old 5 days later. So, this will be quite a birthday celebration as you can imagine. I am already planning what fun and exciting things we are going to do.

Alex has his last spinal tap/chemo scheduled for January 10 and the follow-up treatment on the 17th. If all goes well, this will be the last of the spinal taps and chemo called Vincristine. This seems to be the hardest treatments for him so he is counting down too!

He still takes his oral chemo every night and stays on antibiotics to prevent pneumonia but, since he learned to swallow pills about 6 months ago life has gotten much easier. In fact, getting him to bed late the other night, I was tucking him and he said with his eyes still closed "I have to take my medicine". I was so struck by the significance of that event. I realized again, how much apart of his lifestyle that cancer has become. And, he knows enough to know that he takes this medicine so he can be well again and that is important to him.

Alex is fighting a skin rash that is the result of an allergy to his chemo however, he can't just not take the chemo so, we treat the skin symptoms. Some days it looks worse than others but, he doesn't complain too much. He really remains positive and excited about each and every day.

Today I am thankful for the gift of life, the magical spirit that surrounds a child, and Black Jack...Alex's imaginary friend who has guided him and made us all laugh when we really needed to laugh.

Thanks for checking in on us!!!

Look at past journal entries

Hospital Information:

Nemours Children's Clinic
83 West Columbia St.
Orlando, Fl 32806
407-650-7230

Email address  : terrianne1016@yahoo.com

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