Journal History

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Friday, February 9, 2007 8:02 PM CST

WELL,
HERE IT IS, 2 YEARS NOW SINCE RYAN HAS LEFT US. IT HAS BEEN A LONG 2 YEARS. WE MISS RYAN SO SO MUCH, BUT ARE LEARNING TO LIVE WITH THE LOSS. THANKS FOR CHECKING IN WITH US, I KNOW I HAVEN'T UPDATED IN A YEAR, BUT I REALLY DON'T SEE THE POINT ANYMORE. I WOULD LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE HELD A BOOK COLLECTION AGAIN THIS YEAR AND WE RECIEVED 1700 BOOKS!!! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? WE DONATED THE BOOKS TO THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL ON RYAN'S BIRTHDAY. WE HOPE TO DO THIS EVERY YEAR FOR HIS BIRTHDAY. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR DONATIONS, I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE HELPED TO MAKE A LOT OF CHILDREN'S VISITS TO THE HOSPITAL A LITTLE EASIER AND A LOT LESS BORING!!!
LISA

Sunday, June 11, 2006 9:46 AM CDT

I am so sorry it has taken me so long to update. But thank you all so much for your donations to the book drive. With your help we collected over 1200 books! I was amazed. I was hoping for a hundred or two, but 1200, that's amazing! It turned out wo well that I will probably do it again next year, but a bit earlier, so that I can actually give the books to the hospital on Ryan's Angel Anniversary. So don't throw away any of those childrens books and if you ever have some and you want to get rid of them , you can send them to me at any time, I already have some put away for the next one!
Thank you all for those of you who still check in and think of Ryan. It's good to know that we're not the only ones still thinking of him and missing him.

Friday, March 3, 2006 3:24 PM CST

BOOK DRIVE

We are collecting new and gently used books - ages birth to 4th grade reading level - to be donated to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in Ryan's memory.

Books can be dropped off at or mailed to the Prospect Park Public Library - 720 Maryland Ave; Prospect Park, PA; 19076
Or sent to the Hamrick house - 519 9th Ave - Prospect Park, PA 19076, or sent in to the Prospect Park Elementary School.

Books need to be received by March 17.

email with any questions - mrshammerus@yahoo.com

Thank you all for your support!

Wednesday, February 1, 2006 3:27 PM CST

Well, here we are. I CAN NOT believe it has been one full year. Sometimes when I close my eyes and think back, it feels like just last night that I sat there and watched my Ryan pass away right before my eyes. Then when I think of when the last time I held his little hand, or kissed his forehead or heard his sweet voice, it seems like it's been a hundred years since I last saw him. The pain has eased some, but in other ways it gets a little harder, just knowing that another day has gone by without him. I miss him so so much. Christmas was difficult, new years was sad, but this is the hardest. My original plan was to stay home from work and watch videos and look at pictures and wallow in my greif. But my husband came up a good idea. Since "Home Alone - Lost in New York" was one of Ryan's all time favorite movies, we decided to go and get lost in New York. Hopefully it won't make me too sad, thinking how much Ryan would have enjoyed it.
Also the 2nd would have been Ryan's 12th birthday. Hopefully he is happier this year in heaven than he was on his last few birthdays.
Thank you to all of those who still give us support and check in on us.
Ryan's school will be coordinating a book drive to honor his first year gone from us. We will be collecting new children's books, from birth to age ten, and donating them to the oncology wing at CHOP. Anyone interested in donation a book can e mail me for info. Anyone can donate, not just the school kids.
Lastly, I saw on another child's website the following: I hope that this is the way things really are, it makes accepting what happened to Ryan a little easier.



The Brave Little Soul
by John Alessi



Not too long ago in Heaven there was a little soul who took wonder in observing the world. He especially enjoyed the love he saw there and often expressed this joy with God. One day however the little soul was sad, for on this day he saw suffering in the world. He approached God and sadly asked, “Why do bad things happen; why is there suffering in the world?”

God paused for a moment and replied, "Little soul, do not be sad, for the suffering you see, unlocks the love in people’s hearts.” The little soul was confused. “What do you mean,” he asked.” God replied, “Have you not noticed the goodness and love that is the offspring of that suffering? Look at how people come together, drop their differences and show their love and compassion for those who suffer. All their other motivations disappear and they become motivated by love alone.”

The little soul began to understand and listened attentively as God continued, “The suffering soul unlocks the love in people’s hearts much like the sun and the rain unlock the flower within the seed. I created everyone with endless love in their heart, but unfortunately most people keep it locked up and hardly share it with anyone. They are afraid to let their love shine freely, because they are afraid of being hurt. But a suffering soul unlocks that love. I tell you this - it is the greatest miracle of all. Many souls have bravely chosen to go into the world and suffer - to unlock this love – to create this miracle - for the good of all humanity."

Just then the little soul got a wonderful idea and could hardly contain himself. With his wings fluttering, bouncing up and down, the little soul excitedly replied, "I am brave; let me go! I would like to go into the world and suffer so that I can unlock the goodness and love in people’s hearts! I want to create that miracle!"

God smiled and said, "You are a brave soul I know, and thus I will grant your request. But even though you are very brave you will not be able to do this alone. I have known since the beginning of time that you would ask for this and so I have carefully selected many souls to care for you on your journey. Those souls will help you create your miracle; however they will also share in your suffering. Two of these souls are most special and will care for you, help you and suffer along with you, far beyond the others. They have already chosen a name for you.”

God and the brave little soul shared a smile, and then embraced. In parting, God said, “Do not forget little soul that I will be with you always. Although you have agreed to bear the pain, you will do so through my strength. And if the time should come when you feel that you have suffered enough, just say the word, think the thought, and you will be healed.”

Thus at that moment the brave little soul was born into the world, and through his suffering and God’s strength, he unlocked the goodness and love in people’s hearts. For so many people dropped their differences and came together to show their love. Priorities became properly aligned. People gave from their hearts. Those that were always too busy found time. Many began new spiritual journeys – some regained lost faith – many came back to God. Parents hugged their children tighter. Friends and family grew closer. Old friends got together and new friendships were made. Distant family reunited, and every family spent more time together. Everyone prayed. Peace and love reigned. Lives changed forever. It was good. The world was a better place. The miracle had happened. God was pleased.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday, November 25, 2005 7:39 AM CST

Well, we made it through Halloween and Thanksgiving. We had a very nice Thanksgiving this year despite not having Ryan with us. I know he was with us anyway. On our way to my mom's there appeared a huge bright rainbow. It was so bright and so big - we could see the whole thing from one end to the other. I know that was our "Happy Thanksgiving" message from Ryan.
Things are going pretty good for us right now. I'm back to work. I'm working as a teachers assistant in Ryan's old school, for a third grade class. The first week or so was tough, I am on the floor that Ryan was on last year, so there was a lot of memories, but I did ok with it and now I love it. The kids are great. A lot of them either knew Ryan or knew OF him, and they ask me about him a lot. It's nice to talk about him with the kids. Plus I see a lot of his old friends in the hallways, and that is nice too.
We will be traveling to Washington D.C. in a few weeks. There is an organization that honors children who either have cancer, had cancer and survived, or passed away from cancer, by decorating a Christmas tree with gold ribbons in honor of each of the children. It is huge and is supposed to bring recognition to the problem of childhood cancer and hopefully get the government into action to give more money to research a cure. we will be going to see it this year. Also on December 11- it is "NATIONAL CHILDREN'S MEMORIAL DAY" It is a candle lighting event. We ask that each person light a candle that night from 7:00 PM to 8:00 pm in honor of Ryan and or any other child you know that has died(from anything). It occurs around the world and creats a virtual 24 hour light wave. We are going to a formal ceremony at CHOP this year, but we ask you to do it in your home to help us honor Ryan.
Thank you all so much for your support. I will remind you about the 11th and have a great holiday.

Sunday, October 2, 2005 10:24 PM CDT

Today is 8 months that God took Ryan away from me. I miss him so much, so much, so much. I don't understand why he had to go. Why did he get such acrappy life? How come all he could remember was pain and sickness? I wanted so much more for him. IT IS NOT FAIR! I want my baby back! How can he just be GONE? It just doesn't make any sense, how can you be here one minute and then gone the next? I try and I try to understand, but it's just not right. And what if there is no Heaven? What if it's just some story that we tell ourselves to make us feel better? Then what is the purpose? I know you all can't answer me and I don't expect you to try. Sometimes I just can't helping ask those questions. I love him so much and I just want him back I just want him back I just want him back Am I going to have these nights forever? When will I be able to think and talk about him without being sad? People say with time I will be able to have my memories and smile, but the memories just make me sadder. I used to think that a broken heart was just an expression - who knew it would hurt so much?

Thursday, August 18, 2005 9:07 AM CDT

I don't know if anyone checks in her anymore, but I figured I'd post anyway.
It's been an interesting summer. It has basically been the summer of "yes" Pretty much anything the boys ask us to do, we say yes, making up for all the "no's" over the past five years I guess.Matt and Robert are both really into skateboarding now and we've spent a few afternoons driving into Jersey to go to a skatepark that they spend hours and hours at. It's fun to watch them, as long as it doesn't get too hot out!
We went to Ocean City Maryland for vacation. It was tough without Ryan there. I missed him so much. We tried to do some different thing this year, thing that Ryan wouldn't have done. Of course we know he was there with us. At both of his favorite place down there - Martys arcarde and Put-Put - we heard his song "Buttercup" playing. And of course Grnadpop found his dimes that Ryan always seems to leave behind for him.
Getting ready for shcool will be hard. It just doesn't have the same excitement that Ryan always brought to it. I'm sure I'll be seeing all kinds of things in the store that I will want to pick up for him, but...
Matt is entering High School. Big year for him.
Robert is going into 4th grade - not so exciting!
He is playing football again this year. Hoping that will be fun for us all!
Somebody sent me this and I thought I would share it with you, it is so appropriate and so true:

MY MOM IS A SURVIVOR, OR SO I'VE HEARD IT SAID.
BUT I HEAR HER CRYING AT NIGHT WHEN ALL OTHERS ARE IN BED.
I WATCH HER LAY AWAKE AT NIGHT AND GO TO HOLD HER HAND.
SHE DOESN'T KNOW I'M WITH HER TO HELP HER UNDERSTAND.
BUT, LIKE THE SANDS ON THE BEACH THAT NEVER WASH AWAY....
I WATCH OVER MY SURVIVING MOM, WHO THINKS OF ME EACH DAY.
SHE WEARS A SMILE FOR OTHERS..A SMILE OF DISGUISE.
BUT THROUGH HEAVEN'S DOOR, I SEE TEARS FLOWING FROM HER EYES.
MY MOM TRIES TO COPE WITH DEATH TO KEEP MY MEMORY ALIVE.
BUT ANYONE WHO KNOWS HER KNOWS IT IS HER WAY TO SURVIVE.
AS I WATCH OVER MY SURVIVING MOM...THROUGH HEAVENS OPEN DOOR
I TRY TO TELL HER THAT ANGLES PROTECT ME FOREVER MORE.
BUT I KNOW THAT DOESN'T HELP HER EASE THE BURDEN THAT SHE BEARS.
SO IF YOU GET A CHANCE, GO VISIT HER AND SHOW HER THAT YOU CARE.
FOR NO MATTER WHAT SHE SAYS, NO MATTER WHAT SHE FEELS
MY SURVIVING MOM HAS A BROKEN HEART THAT TIME WON'T EVER HEAL.

AUTHOR UNKNOWN, BUT COULD BE WRITTEN BY RYAN

Saturday, April 2, 2005 10:48 AM CST


BALLOON RELEASE IN HONOR
OF RYAN HAMRICK



Please help us in our next step in celebrating Ryan's life!


The Hamrick family is hosting a balloon release on May 15 at 4:00 at Witmer
Field in Prospect Park. Please help us make this a special event. There is no
charge for the balloons. We will hand out the balloons and you can write a
special message to Ryan on it, then we will release them simultaniously. This
won't take long and it would mean a lot to us if anyone who has been touched
by Ryan's life would be there with us. If you have any questions you can e-m
mail me at balloons4ryan@yahoo.com.

Thank you,
Lisa Hamrick

Thursday, March 24, 2005 2:30 PM CST

I WISH....

I WISH THAT RYAN HAD NEVER GOTTEN CANCER

I WISH THAT RYAN HAD NOT DIED

I WISH THAT RYAN COULD HAVE HAD AT LEAST ONE SLEEP OVER WITH FRIENDS

I WISH THAT RYAN NEVER NEEDED A WHEELCHAIR

I WISH THAT RYAN NEVER LOST HIS HEARING

I WISH I COULD REMEMBER THE LAST THING RYAN SAID TO ME

I WISH I KNEW IF RYAN KNEW THAT HE WAS DYING

I WISH I KNEW IF RYAN WAS SCARED NEAR THE END

I WISH WE COULD HAVE HAD MORE TIME

I WISH I COULD HUG RYAN ONE MORE TIME

I WISH THINGS WERE DIFFERENT

I WISH RYAN WASN'T SO SICK FOR MOST OF HIS LIFE

I WISH RYAN HAD FALLEN IN LOVE

I WISH I DIDN'T CRY EVERYDAY

I WISH THERE WASN'T SUCH A HOLE IN MY HEART

I WISH RYAN HAD LEARNED TO RIDE HIS BIKE WITHOUT TRAINING WHEELS

I WISH RYAN HAD ENJOYED CHRISTMAS MORE

I WISH RYAN WOULD HAVE GOTTEN TO DISNEY WORLD ONE MORE TIME

I WISH I STILL HAD MY THREE BABIES LIVING IN MY HOUSE

I WISH I WOULD HAVE SPENT MORE QUALITY TIME WITH RYAN

I WISH I WOULD HAVE NEVER MADE HIM SAD OR MAD

I WISH RYAN COULD HAVE SEEN HIS WRISTBANDS

I WISH I WASN'T WRITING THIS

Thursday, March 17, 2005 5:55 PM CST

Top Stories

Editorial/Local Voices: A reflection in words provides comfort

By LAURIE ANNE WARE, Times Guest Columnist

03/13/2005

I was so afraid of going to Ryan’s viewing. I knew nothing terrible or scary would happen, but I did not want to make that last goodbye, and I was not sure I had the courage to do so. When we got there, a slide show was being set up, and I was sure I would not watch that either, that it would just be too emotional to look back so soon.

Ryan looked beautiful. He always did, and that day was no exception. The flowers around him were bright yellows, blues, and reds. Teddy bears and some small gifts with meaning were also with him. Had I not known better, I would have thought Ryan simply went to sleep in his fancy white suit with some of his favorite things, for that was how he appeared.

I heard laughter and, curious, I headed to it. It was those gathered around the slide show, and soon I, too, was laughing at some memories that were invoked by the photos. In 11 years of photos, one thing was consistent: happiness.

Ryan was laughing or smiling in the photos; he was with different people, but obviously loved them and was loved by them; they were fun and heartwarming to see. Those photos captured Ryan well, and I found myself remembering Ryan prior to his cancer.

Not long ago, I realized that I could not remember much of what he was like before the cancer -- that it had been so long, it simply had become a part of who he was.

That saddened me, but the slide show brought back memories -- good ones. In fact, I am not sure there are bad memories to be had of Ryan.

No matter what, he just had a way of touching hearts -- and capturing hearts!

The funeral Mass was comforting to me, and I hope that Lisa, Bubby, Matt, and Robert found comfort in it, too. The priest said that Ryan spelled cancer c--o--u--r--a--g--e. One simple sentence that was so true.

He spoke of how Ryan was born into a special family that loved him so much and so well that when he faced incredible odds, he wanted to live and beat those odds often. He said that love is powerful, and that the love Ryan was given was shared.

I am very roughly paraphrasing, but this is what I got from his message. He spoke of laughter and how Ryan was surrounded by it and had a family, particularly his brothers, who could make him laugh.

Laughter is a powerful medicine, and Ryan had plenty of it.

A friend, Bill, gave a very moving eulogy. He spoke of meeting Bubby many years ago, and of how they became friends. He said that he was impressed by Bubby’s seemingly unending patience as a coach, his kind ways with the children.

He spoke of Lisa, and of how he has overheard more than one mom speak of her in awe, wondering at how she could even get out of bed in the morning, let alone be actively involved with all her children, so busy with them in so many ways.

He spoke of the boys, of how they were wonderful brothers, loving and supportive.

The eulogy included Ryan’s guestbook, highlighting not only the many people who signed it, but pointing out that Ryan has touched hearts all around the world, and that he has inspired many.

The burial was short, thankfully, for that was hard. What a large number of people were there, though, so many having been with the family since the early hours of the morning. It was such a beautiful day for such a sad event, yet somehow it only seemed appropriate that the sun would shine as Ryan’s spirit always did shine so brightly. It has not and will not dim. It cannot. It lives on in far too many ways to count.

I have had the privilege of knowing Ryan personally. (At the funeral) I met some people for the first time who were involved in his life, most of them his teachers over the years. They shared many memories with me, and I some with them.

I spoke with various friends and family members, and I was surprised (though I shouldn’t have been), at the stories they told of how people they know were touched by Ryan over the years, of how many were inspired to fight their own personal battles or to do better at whatever they are doing in life.

I heard of the tears shed by people who never met Ryan, who have no connection to him, but who in knowing just a little of him had hurting hearts when he died.

What a remarkable little boy. What a tribute he is to his family, for they did love him, and love him well. That love will not end; it will simply change in some ways. What a legacy left by an 11-year-old.

Sadly, I am not so sure I’d have such a legacy, and I’m a lot older and have had more time to make a mark on the world. Ryan’s legacy is love and laughter; he was given both, and he gave both, and he taught us all how to do both regardless of the circumstances.

A legacy like that will grow now, and in it, Ryan will live on forever and continue to touch countless lives. As sad as I am that he is not here, I am amazed, proud, and humbled by the life he led.

To echo the priest, who used a phrase from one of my favorite blessings, "Ryan, until we meet again, may the Lord hold you in the palm of His hand."

Ryan Michael Hamrick, Feb. 2, 1994 - Feb. 2, 2005.

Laurie Ann Ware of Boothwyn is Ryan’s aunt and has maintained his Web site, www.caringbridge.org/page/aunt.lauries.ryan, for the past four years. She has been affectionately called "Aunt Laurie" not only by Ryan, but also by members of the community.

©The Daily Times 2005

Wednesday, February 2, 2005

It is with a very heavy heart that I update this page today. This morning as of 12:57 am, Ryan Michael Hamrick joined his fellow angels and is home with God now. He truly was an angel and a beautiful soul and I know he will always be with us.

Friday, February 4, 2005

Ryan's viewing will be on Monday at 8:30 am at Cavanaugh's Funeral Home on Chester Pike in Norwood. Following will be a mass at St. Gabriel's Church at 11:00. Then on to Mount Hope Cemetary in Aston. Following will be a luncheon for all at the Milmont Fire Hall in Milmont Park.

Thank you for you messages, prayers and cards.

Thursday, February 10, 2005

Thank you to all who came to the viewing, the mass, and who shared in or helped provide for Ryan's final and very beautiful farewell. Please keep all the family in your prayers. Ryan was such a delightful child, and his loss has hurt so many hearts.

Note: Obituary and photos are on photo page; more photos to be added throughout the coming weeks.

December 30, 2004 5:06 PM CST

Hope everyone had a great holiday. We had a pretty nice Christmas here. Everyone got what they wanted. The kids were up by 6:30 am to open presents. Ryan had a tough week though. He was on his chemo for Christmas and he was feeling pretty yucky. He had a lot of medicine adjustments this time and it left him pretty tired. So he was good on Christmas morning but he petered out by mid afternoon.
He is feeling better now, we have all his meds back to normal and the chemo is over. He was having some blurry vision problems, but we went to the eye doctor today and everything checked out fine. So I don't know what that is all about, but it appears to be nothing to worry about.

Happy New Year to you all - hopefully it will be a good one this year!

Thursday, December 16, 2004 9:27 PM CST

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

Well, I hope everyone is in the holiday spirit by now, I know we all are. We are getting very excited about the arrival of Big Red! Nothing new going on here, just wanted to let everyone know that you are all in our hearts and thoughts every day. Have a great holiday!

I sent Aunt Laurie a great Christmas picture of Ryan, Robert and Matt and hopefully she can get that on the front page for us! (Hint hint Aunt Laurie!)

Love, Lisa

Monday, November 15, 2004 2:16 PM CST

I forgot to mention Ryan's wheelchair. He is now wheeling himself all around school. He has never done this before and is having a wonderful time. His lucky aid doesn't have to push him too much anymore! I guess next time some of you see him he'll have Popeye muscles! He is now RACING RYAN for sure!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Saturday, November 13, 2004 6:16 PM CST

HAPPY NOVEMBER!!!!!

Halloween went very well, Ryan was an army man and held up through the night and made it to school the next day! Robert was Scream and Matt was Slash - guitar player from Gun's and Roses.

I can't believe it's almost Thanksgiving. Bubby and I spent the afternoon putting up the Christmas lights!

Hope everyone has a nice Thanksgiving!

Lisa

Wednesday, October 27, 2004 3:00 PM CDT

Hi All,
No news really, everything is going along smoothly. Ryan started chemo round 10 last night. He got a flu shot yesterday at clinic. He was not so happy about it. Today he went to the dentist and got 2 baby teeth pulled. Wasn't happy about that either. But...tomorrow we go to Dupont to pick up his new wheelchair. He IS happy about that!

School has been going well. He loves his teacher and his aide. His classmates are great with him. They all take turns hanging out with him during recess. He is excited about trick or treating on Sunday. Went to Livilla on Saturday and went for a hay ride and got our pumpkins. That was an excellent day - the weather was just right.

Other than that it's pretty boring around here, just the usual everyday stuff. Let's keep it that way!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!

Until next time,
Lisa

Thursday, September 9, 2004 6:11 PM CDT

Well everyone - we made it through the first day of school! Everyone woke up happy and ready to go (except me of course, I could have used another hour or two!) Ryan finally got an aide - 2 days before school started they found one! Talk about sweating it out! But she's going to be great - Donna I have a lot of faith in you! I think it's going to be a good year. Ryan's teacher seems to work very well with his hearing issue and he seems happy. Robert is thrilled with his class and his teacher and Matt is about as happy as an 8th grader can be to be getting back to school. (Should be an interesting year with him.)
Ryan finished a round of chemo on Sunday and he seems to be feeling fine and not too tired. He goes back for his next round on the 28th.
Until nex time....
Lisa

Monday, August 30, 2004 1:07 PM CDT

Hello everyone,
The summer has just flown by. We all had a great time at the beach. The weather was just right, only rained once. The kids had a ball. The dodgeball fundraiser was a blast. Thanks to everyone who played and visited!
Ryan has only 1 physical therapy session left before school starts, he's thrilled about that! He's been enjoying the pool when the water's not too cold!
Looks like all the fun stuff is over and it's time to get ready for school. He still doesn't have an aide lined up yet, so we're a little nervous about how the first few days of school are going to be, but he's still excited about going back.
We go to clinic tomorrow - Tuesday - to start ANOTHER round of chemo, so at least we'll get that in before school.
I hope everyone had a great summer and I'll update when there's any news.
Lisa

Sunday, July 18, 2004 11:18 AM CDT

Wow! What a month July has been. First of all on the 4th we had to take Robert to the ER. He busted his chin open on the trampoline and had to get 9 stitches. What a trooper he was though, never even cried! 3 days after he got HIS stitches removed I was in the ER with Matt. He slipped climbing a fence and need 15 stitches in his hand! He gets the stitches out the day before we leave for the beach. Good timing anyway!
Ryan has been going to school for 1 hour 3 days a week and getting physical therapy at home 2 days a week. The horse back riding hasn't come through yet, but that's ok, because Ryan's busy enough. A wish granting company is getting Ryan a pool for the backyard and the logistics of setting that up have been a nightmare, but will be well worth is I'm sure. We're getting ready to go to the beach for a week and when we get back we have a few Childhood Cancer functions to go to. The day after we get back we are going on a yacht ride on the Georgetown River in MD. And one night we get to go to the zoo after it closes for cancer kids and their families only - that should be nice.
Yesterday was the fundraiser at the West End Boat Club. It was a blast. It was extremely hot, but very fun. Ryan stayed all day and had a good time. There was about 1500 people there and many people came over to him to say hello and he got up on the stage a few times. The highlight of the day for him was the end though. There was a fireworks display and he got to set off all the fireworks himself. He was so excited and had such a blast doing it, I don't think he could believe that HE was actually controlling it. It was great. Anyway, it was a great day with friends and family and we can't wait to go again next year!
Also, InAugust there will be another fundraiser that we will be benefitting from. Y100 and Comcast cable are hosting an Extreme Dodgeball Tournament at the Lagoon in Essington. I don't have any details yet, but if anyone is interested in putting a team together the cost is $100.00 per team, 8 people to a team. Watch CN8 and listen to Y100 for more info and I'll update as I get the info. Sounds like fun.
Have a great summer and keep dropping by for more updates!
Lisa

Monday, July 12, 2004 6:26 PM CDT

**********************************************************************************************************************

F Y I FUNDRAISER THIS WEEKEND FOR RYAN
AND A YOUNG GIRL IN HIS SCHOOL

**********************************************************************************************************************



Annual Yachtstock River Jam, July 17 2004

Venue


West End Boat Club
500 West 2nd St
Essington PA 19061
(610)521-4747

Event Information


Tickets
Tickets available online at ticketmaster.com, and at all Ticketmaster outlets, including Boscov's stores. To charge tickets by phone, call (215)336-2000, (570)698-4100, or (302)984-2000. Tickets are $20 per adult, $10 per child from 13 to 17, children 12 and under are free.

Showtime
Showtimes from 12:00PM through 10:00PM

Directions


From I-476
Take I-476 south to I-95 north. Follow the directions below for I-95.

From I-95
Take the PA-420 exit 9A towards Essington PA. Take the PA-420 south ramp towards Essington. Take PA-420 until 2nd St and turn right. Take 2nd St to the West End Boat Club on the left.




Benefits


Proceeds of the ticket price after expenses will be donated to the Childhood Cancer Program of the American Cancer Society, and to the families of 2 children diagnosed with cancer, 10 year old Ryan Hamrick and 14 year old Seana Osowski




Promoters


Event promoter & production
George Spicer & Pamela Jean Spicer

Music promoter
Elena Brokus
P.O. Box 1850, Boothwyn PA
(610)558-4920 Yachtstock hotline
(302)598-3568



Sponsors


Yachtstock Productions, founded in 1999, is a registered non-profit organization. The River Jam now features a multitude of bands on two stages, Shriner Clowns, Moon Bounces, and a variety of childrens games and plenty of good food.

We are currently seeking sponsors to help cover the costs of this event. Any monetary donations, food or beverages will be greatly appreciated. All sponsors will be recognized. Please contact us at the address below, or by phone.

Yachtstock Inc.
218 LaGrange Avenue
Essington, Pa 19029
(610)521-4756

Checks should be made payable to Yachtstock Inc. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions. Thank you for your generous support.

Here are some of our sponsors:

Budweiser

Gretz Distributors

Virgo's Restaurant & Bar

County Savings Bank

WMGK 102.9

Steve Kurtz WVLT 92.1

Radio Communications

Tinicum Township Business & Professional Association

Sami Rose Culinary Productions

Bill's Country Kitchen




Bands Performing


The Dovells

Leroy Hawkes & The Hipnotics

Dreamcatcher
Country Rock, with a tribute to Elvis by Danny Ranalli

Liverpool Beat
Beatles tribute

Get The Led Out
Led Zeppelin tribute

Len Michael
70's music

Rumours
Fleetwood Mac tribute

D&L Entertainment

Mark Baker & The Barbreakers

The URSO's

Danny Ranalli
Elvis tribute

The Fish Fry Swingers

Acoustically Challenged
Classic rock

Sleepless Nights

Route 66
Blues & southern rock

Deck Stains
Blues & classic rock

Caz Cru
Classic & modern rock




Main Stage Schedule


Steve Kurtz from WVLT 92.1 FM will be on stage to introduce the bands in his oldies show

01:00 - The URSO's

02:30 - Liverpool Beat
Beatles tribute

03:15 - Sleepless Nights

04:00 - The Dovells

05:00 - Dreamcatcher
Country Rock, with a tribute to Elvis by Danny Ranalli

06:00 - Rumours
Fleetwood Mac tribute

Ray Koob from WMGK will be on stage to introduce the bands

07:00 - Acoustically Challenged
Classic rock.

08:00 - Get The Led Out
Led Zeppelin tribute

09:00 - Leroy Hawkes & The Hipnotics




Patio Stage Schedule


12:30 - D&L Entertainment

01:30 - Route 66
Blues & southern rock

02:30 - The Fish Fry Swingers

03:30 - Mark Baker & The Barbreakers

04:30 - Deck Stains
Blues & classic rock

06:00 - Caz Cru
Classic & modern rock

07:00 - Len Michael
70's music


Monday, July 12, 2004 6:22 PM CDT

FYI - Fndraiser this weekend for Ryan and a young girl in his school:

Annual Yachtstock River Jam, July 17 2004

Venue


West End Boat Club
500 West 2nd St
Essington PA 19061
(610)521-4747

Event Information


Tickets
Tickets available online at ticketmaster.com, and at all Ticketmaster outlets, including Boscov's stores. To charge tickets by phone, call (215)336-2000, (570)698-4100, or (302)984-2000. Tickets are $20 per adult, $10 per child from 13 to 17, children 12 and under are free.

Showtime
Showtimes from 12:00PM through 10:00PM

Directions


From I-476
Take I-476 south to I-95 north. Follow the directions below for I-95.

From I-95
Take the PA-420 exit 9A towards Essington PA. Take the PA-420 south ramp towards Essington. Take PA-420 until 2nd St and turn right. Take 2nd St to the West End Boat Club on the left.




Benefits


Proceeds of the ticket price after expenses will be donated to the Childhood Cancer Program of the American Cancer Society, and to the families of 2 children diagnosed with cancer, 10 year old Ryan Hamrick and 14 year old Seana Osowski




Promoters


Event promoter & production
George Spicer & Pamela Jean Spicer

Music promoter
Elena Brokus
P.O. Box 1850, Boothwyn PA
(610)558-4920 Yachtstock hotline
(302)598-3568



Sponsors


Yachtstock Productions, founded in 1999, is a registered non-profit organization. The River Jam now features a multitude of bands on two stages, Shriner Clowns, Moon Bounces, and a variety of childrens games and plenty of good food.

We are currently seeking sponsors to help cover the costs of this event. Any monetary donations, food or beverages will be greatly appreciated. All sponsors will be recognized. Please contact us at the address below, or by phone.

Yachtstock Inc.
218 LaGrange Avenue
Essington, Pa 19029
(610)521-4756

Checks should be made payable to Yachtstock Inc. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions. Thank you for your generous support.

Here are some of our sponsors:

Budweiser

Gretz Distributors

Virgo's Restaurant & Bar

County Savings Bank

WMGK 102.9

Steve Kurtz WVLT 92.1

Radio Communications

Tinicum Township Business & Professional Association

Sami Rose Culinary Productions

Bill's Country Kitchen




Bands Performing


The Dovells

Leroy Hawkes & The Hipnotics

Dreamcatcher
Country Rock, with a tribute to Elvis by Danny Ranalli

Liverpool Beat
Beatles tribute

Get The Led Out
Led Zeppelin tribute

Len Michael
70's music

Rumours
Fleetwood Mac tribute

D&L Entertainment

Mark Baker & The Barbreakers

The URSO's

Danny Ranalli
Elvis tribute

The Fish Fry Swingers

Acoustically Challenged
Classic rock

Sleepless Nights

Route 66
Blues & southern rock

Deck Stains
Blues & classic rock

Caz Cru
Classic & modern rock




Main Stage Schedule


Steve Kurtz from WVLT 92.1 FM will be on stage to introduce the bands in his oldies show

01:00 - The URSO's

02:30 - Liverpool Beat
Beatles tribute

03:15 - Sleepless Nights

04:00 - The Dovells

05:00 - Dreamcatcher
Country Rock, with a tribute to Elvis by Danny Ranalli

06:00 - Rumours
Fleetwood Mac tribute

Ray Koob from WMGK will be on stage to introduce the bands

07:00 - Acoustically Challenged
Classic rock.

08:00 - Get The Led Out
Led Zeppelin tribute

09:00 - Leroy Hawkes & The Hipnotics




Patio Stage Schedule


12:30 - D&L Entertainment

01:30 - Route 66
Blues & southern rock

02:30 - The Fish Fry Swingers

03:30 - Mark Baker & The Barbreakers

04:30 - Deck Stains
Blues & classic rock

06:00 - Caz Cru
Classic & modern rock

07:00 - Len Michael
70's music


Sunday, June 13, 2004 12:45 AM CDT

Hello Everyone,
Sorry it's taken so long for an update, my computer is sooooo slow that's it's quite a chore to change this. But we will have a new computer any day now thanks to some very generous people! You know who you are and thank you so so so so much!
Anyway, Ryan had an MRI about 2 weeks ago. The results came back mixed. A lot of the disease (at least what they thought was disease, now they're not sure it even was) is gone. Most spots stayed the same and 2 small nodules are a bit bigger. SO! At least we know the chemo is slowing this down. Ryan is going to stay on the same chemo, just at a higher dose. He actually finished taking the chemo last night and so far so good. Now we'll just have to wait and see how his counts will do, most people who have had chemo in the past can't tolerate this doasge, but Ryan is NOT like most people!
He has 2 days left of school and is ready for the summer! He is starting bible school tonight and that goes until Friday. He will be going to school 3 days a week for an hour each day during July and August. His doctor has recommended horse back riding as physical therapy for him so we're looking into that. We're going to the beach near the end of July and I'm sure we'll be visiting friends in the Poconos a few times this summer. He's going to do story time and hopefully Science in the Summer at the library. It seems like he'll be keeping busy. He's also thinking about decorating his wheel chair again for the 4th of July parade this year.
Matthew will be helping Ryan at Bible School this week. He is going to Lacrosse camp and summer camp for Boy Scouts. He will also be doing programs and helping out in the library this summer. I think most of his time will be spent swimming at friends and on his bike - I think he aspires to be a famous BMX biker some day!
Robert is also going to "help Ryan" at bible school, do the library programs and go to Cub Scout day Camp. He will be starting football in August.
I think we should all be pretty busy this summer and hopefully everything will go well.
I will try to update you when there is news, but hopefully there will be no news!
Have a great summer and thank you all for your continued interest and prayers!
Lisa

Saturday, April 10, 2004 8:30 PM CDT

Hello Everyone and HAPPY EASTER!!!
Ryan is doing great. He started round 3 on Thursday and is doing great. He's very excited about the Easter Bunny coming tonight, but has his usual fear - he doesn't like the fact that the Easter Bunny or Santa Clause are wandering around his house while we're all asleep! I hope everyone has a beautiful and blessed holiday!
Love, Lisa

Wednesday, March 17, 2004 3:20 PM CST

Ryan completed his 2nd round of chemo Monday night. Once again, no problems, he didn't get sick or miss school at all. We did increase his dose a little bit since he handled the last round so well, so he may have some blood count drops this time. But his doctor said probably not because the increase was slight. He'll go in 2 weeks to check his counts and if all goes well he will do round three and THEN an MRI. Not much else going on here. It's pretty quiet and dull right now - for a change!
THINK SPRING!!!!!

Wednesday, March 3, 2004 7:19 PM CST

Hello All,
Things are going very well right now. Ryan is now off the steroids completely and feeling much better, back to his "normal" self. And no head aches! He hasn't had any problems with blood counts, they're dropping, but very slowly, so hopefully it won't be an issue. He isn't tired any more and is back in school full time once again. Last night they celebrated Dr. Suess' birthday at school and he had a ball, we all did. Yesterday he had a check up with his audiologist and she made his hearing aides a bit stronger. His hearing is a little worse, but not much. She said it could take up to 3 years before we could see the full extent of his hearing loss, but it's already been 2 years (in May) and there isn't much change, so she was pleased. The weather has been so warm that he is now planning summer vacation! Guess he's a little sick of the cold! Me too! His hair is coming back in, this chemo shouldn't cause any hair loss, so he's happy about that. I'm so proud of him, he decided, before his hair started coming back in, to go to school without a hat or bandana. He was so worried that the kids would say stuff to him, but nobody said anything or acted funny about it, so the hats are out the window now! He even got his school picture taken in all his bald glory! I can't wait to see it.
I don't know when he will start his next round of chemo, the oncologist says the 9th if his counts are good, that's next week. Hopefully he will tolerate it as well as he did the first time. Then 3 weeks late I guess an MRI. Keep the prayers coming!
Thanks,
Lisa

Tuesday, February 17, 2004 12:51 AM CST

Ryan took his last chemo pill last night. He did great with it, didn't get sick or anything! Now lets pray that it does it's job and we can see some results soon. Ryan is still VERY sleepy. He just sits on the couch watching TV or reading all day and is ready for bed by 6:30 most nights. His mood is good though, so that's something. And he did enjoy his birthday party on Saturday. Ryan will go to clinic on Tuesday the 24th for his first blood check, until then we just sit and wait. Thanks for your prayers and messages,
Lisa

Wednesday, February 11, 2004 8:06 AM CST

OK, we're all set to begin the new chemo tomorrow (Thursday). It will be one pill once a day for 5 days. Hopefully he will get through it without getting too sick. Then he will get his blood counts checked for the following 3 weeks, and when they return to normal he will repeat the same chemo routine. Then an MRI after that.
Ryan's been feeling pretty good, no more headaches, but awfully sleepy. We are cutting back one medication hoping that will help perk him up a bit.
Thank you SO MUCH for all the birdthday wishes, Ryan loved getting so many and was so excited about all the different places they came from.
Thanks for your continued support and prayers!
Lisa

Sunday, February 1, 2004 2:58 PM CST

I'm sorry it's taken so long to get an update to you all, but my computer is not working. We saw the doctor on Friday and saw the MRI. Basically Ryan's entire brain is coated with cancer cells. It's pretty much the worst it's been in a few years. We do still have one more chemo option open to us, which is better than I thought. I didn't think this chemo we're going to do now would be an option for him, but if we lower the dose, it should be okay. He has stopped the chemo that he was most recently on and will start the new stuff on the 12th, which you may or may not know is the date Ryan was originally diagnosed. It's a bad day for us. It is a pill that he will take for 5 days, and he will probably feel pretty lousy for the last 2 days, and then he will be off it for 23 days. During that 23 days he will probably need to get blood products. Hopefully his blood won't be hit too hard or else we won't be able to go on. Please pray that this chemo does it's job and doesn't make him too miserable because this is our last option. Although there are hundreds of different types of chemo out there, due to of all the treatments Ry has endured all the other ones are too toxic; they could cause liver, kidney, and heart damage, and at this point in Ryan's life we don't want to add any more things that will make life harder for him. It's hard enough already. Ryan is taking something to make the headaches go away, and he is feeling much better now. Let's hope it stays that way. Tomorrow is his birthday and he will have a party with his friends on the 14th. Hopefully he will feel good for all of that. Thanks for your prayers and support.
Love,
Lisa

* * * COUNTDOWN TO TEN: 0 DAYS TO GO!!! * * *

Guess who is 10?!

Ryan, that's who!!!



And Ryan LOVES a party, so if you can't be here with him physically, would you spread the word and ask everyone you know to help throw a "CYBER" BIRTHDAY PARTY for Ryan? Leave messages here--just how many can he get in the next couple weeks? I'm game to find out and know he'd love it! After parties, which mean presents of course :-) , his next favorite thing is receiving mail. His address is listed below, or you can leave a message right here in the guestbook. Please join us all in CELEBRATING RYAN!!!




Wednesday, January 28, 2004 11:04 AM EST

Hi Everyone, Please say an extra prayer for Ryan tonight. He's going in for an unscheduled emergency MRI tomorrow afternoon. He's been getting headaches every day and as most of you know that's our first sign of trouble. He's also been vomiting and acting more sleepy than usual. Hopefully it's nothing, but it needs to be checked out. I will let you all know the results when I get them as usual, probably Friday some time.
Thanks for your prayers and support,
Lisa

Sunday, December 28, 2003 9:06 AM CST

Lisa's been busy, busy, busy so I thought I'd drop by to give a quick update. All the family was together for Christmas, with Ryan and gang visiting one set of grandparents then the other. Christmas Day brought lots of smiles, and when we all met up at Gram and Grandpop's (aka Bev and Bill's), it was a fun afternoon of unwrapping even more gifts (kind of like Santa visiting a second time!) and feasting on a fantastic turkey dinner. Ryan looks good. Hopefully Lisa will get a chance soon to stop in and give more details, but for now, we just want you to know it was a good day. Thanks for the continued prayers! We all hope you are blessed this Christmas and in the coming new year!!!

p.s. Ryan's great-Mommom fell and spent Christmas Eve through the day after Christmas in the hospital. She is home again, but it we all missed her on Christmas. Bev and Bill spent many hours at the hospital, and so they were tired but didn't let on during the fun at their house. Please remember them all in your prayers too, as this was a tough time. Mommom is fine thankfully, nothing more than bruising and a scare.

Saturday, December 13, 2003 8:56 AM CST

Well, we got through Thanksgiving without too many problems. The day after Thanksgiving Ryan and his dad went up to clinic to get counts checked and check out a blister on Ryan's foot from the brace. Turned out he needed blood and the blister was infected, so he spent the entire day up there getting blood and IV antibiotics. They wanted to keep him in the hospital for IV antibiotics for a week, but they ended up sending him home with oral antibiotcs instead thankfully. Of course he missed a whole week of school anyway and hasn't been able to wear his brace since. Went in last week to get Ryan's counts checked and his platelets were low, so he needed to get some. He had an allergic reaction to them and had to get a shot of epinepherin in his leg to stop his throat from closing. We ended up spending the whole day there for observation. That was beat. But other than that things have been fine. He goes back to clinic to get his counts checked and probably start his next round of chemo on Tuesday.
Everyone is getting so excited fro Christmas. Hopefully everything will go smooth with this round of chemo and Ryan can enjoy his holiday.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Lisa

Tuesday, November 25, 2003 9:23 AM CST

Hello Everyone,
Just a quick update. Ryan is doing well on the higher dose of chemo, the only problem is that his hair is falling out AGAIN. He's okay with it though, he's looking forward to some new cool bandanas and hats.
I'd like to take this opportunity to tell everyong "Happy Thanksgiving" and to let you all know how thankful I and the rest of our family is for everything everyone has done for us over the years and to let you all know that each and every one of you has touched our lives in a special way. We surely could not have endured this time in our lives as well without your support. And I'm especially thankful that because of your prayers we still have Ryan with us for another holiday and God willing many many more.
God Bless,
Lisa

Wednesday, November 12, 2003 2:53 PM CST

HEY ALL
WE HAD A GREAT HALLOWEEN, ALL THE KIDS GOT TONS OF CANDY!! MATT HAS A BIRTHDAY IN 2 WEEKS - I CAN'T BELIEVE HE'LL BE 13! I'LL BE THE MOTHER OF A TEENAGER! FRIGHTENING!
RYAN STARTED A NEW ROUND OF CHEMO LAST NIGHT - AT THE HIGHER DOSE. HOPEFULLY HE WILL STILL FEEL GOOD AT THE END OF THE ROUND WHICH WILL BE THANKSGIVING.
THANKS FOR CHECKING IN AND PLEASE REMEMBER RYAN IN YOUR PRAYERS. I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT THANKSGIVING, I'M SURE I WON'T UPDATE BEFORE THEN UNLESS THERE ARE PROBLEMS.
LISA

Thursday, October 16, 2003 12:10 AM CDT

We got the results from the MRI last night. The MRI in June showed there was virtually no cancer seen, but with this one there is visible disease. The doctor says it's not much, but it's there. So at this point we are going to increase the dose of chemo and see if that helps.

Thursday, October 9, 2003 12:18 AM CDT

Hi Everyone,
Things are going well here. Ryan just got a brace for his leg and he should have some fore-arm crutches by the end of the week. He's very excited about learning how to use them and get out of the stinkin wheel chair. His last check up on Tuesday went well. He started his new round of chemo on Wednesday night. And the dreaded MRI is on Monday the 13th. Please cross your finger, toes and say a prayer that everything comes out ok. As usual I will let you all know the results when I get them - probably on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Lisa

Saturday, August 30, 2003 7:54 PM CDT

Well, I hope everyone has had as good a summer as we have! So far everything is going great with Ryan. He has completed 3 rounds of chemo with no complications. He will start a new round this coming week, with an increased dose. Hopefully he won't have any problems with the increase and hopefully his hair won't fall out! He just got his hair cut - first one in 6 months - and it's so cute! All the kids are getting ready for school to start. I can't wait. Ryan is very excited. He is eager to meet his teacher and make some new friends hopefully. Also we will be seeing a physical therapy specialist to see if we can find an alternative to the wheelchair, like a walker or leg braces or something - anything to make him more mobile!
Robert will be celebrating his 7th birthday tomorrow and is also very excited for school to start, he's been keeping himself busy all summer with his buddy down the street.
I haven't seen much of Matthew - he's gotten a new friend and is never home, I see him sometimes when he stops in for a shower or a drink and meals. I think he's going to need to be surgically removed from his bike seat to go to school!
And even though Ryan spends most of his time at home with me he's been keeping himself busy playing. No more couch potato! I think he would swim every day if he could, but we don't have a pool, so he can't. But when he gets the chance he doesn't ever want to get out!
Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to leave Ryan a message - he loves them!
Lisa

Wednesday, July 30, 2003 7:52 PM CDT

New photos added--check out the photo album!

Saturday, July 19, 2003 9:18 PM CDT

Hello Everyone,
Things are going well here. Ryan finished his 21 day round of chemo on Sunday, so far so good, no problems with blood counts or fatigue or anything. Ryan has been keeping busy so far this summer. He has been going to story time at the library and school 3 days a week for extra help with math. The last week of July he will be doing Science in the Summer at the library with his brother Robert. They get to use microscopes. He will enjoy that. The first week of August we will be going to the beach, he's very excited about that. He doesn't like the beach itself too much, but he loves rides. We decorated Ryan's wheelchair to be in the 4th of July parade and he won a metal for the best (and only) in his catagory. When I get the film developed I will put a picture of it on here. He will probably start a new round of chemo in about a week or so and then if that goes well we may try to increase the dosage a bit, he's only getting a 50ose right now. I promise to post the picture soon and to keep you posted. Please if you get a chance to sign the guest book do it. Ryan looks for messages all the time and you should see the smile on his face when he gets them! It's really worth the few seconds it takes.
Thank you for keeping Ryan and our family in your prayers, we appreciate it so much!

Tuesday, June 10, 2003 8:53 AM CDT

Good news: Ryan had an MRI, and the amount of cancer cells has significantly decreased!!!

There doesn't seem to be any particular reason, just simply an awesome surprise.

The next step is for Ryan to have a physical then to begin low-dose chemo.

For now, he is stronger, more active, very happy and silly, and actually counting down the days until school lets out! He's only been back a short while (about 2 weeks), but he's ready to be cut loose for all fun!

Thanks for those prayers, and PLEASE keep lifting them on behalf of Ryan!

Wednesday, May 14, 2003 6:17 CST

Ryan and gang are home -- check out the photo album to see the big smiles that they brought home to share with us all!

Sunday, May 11, 2003 10:46 AM CDT

From hot and humid Disneyworld in Florida comes the following news:

Ryan is having a WONDERFUL time! All of the family is, even in spite of the heat. The weather is record breaking in that the temps are higher than normal (90s all week so far, no break in sight until the day they return home). It's sunny though, and that means lots of outdoor time. Ryan has been up early and on the go all day long; no naps for him this trip. Bubby and Matthew were up til 1 am this morning riding the rollercoasters--seems they can't get enough of them :) Ryan is using his wheelchair, and that's been a big help to him. He is going on rides, eating up a storm, and has led a parade. Mickey Mouse pushed him along, and together they were the lead to the parade at the character breakfast. Matthew joined in the parade, but Robert wasn't too sure about joining in--watching it was more fun for him. Today it's off to MGM Studios. Yesterday, it was a visit to Nickelodeon's studio along with plenty of rides. I'm not sure what exactly the plan is for the week, but Ryan was making up lists of what he wanted to see and do, and it sounds as though he's keeping everyone very busy!

Moms, have an especially blessed Mother's Day! Lisa celebrated her ...shoot, not allowed to tell--she's actually old enough to keep her age a secret now!... birthday last week as they were leaving for Disneyworld. She told me that this is her birthday/mother's day gift--jokingly, but still, the timing is nice. Last year, Ryan was hospitalized during her birthday and Mother's Day. Moms know how hard it is have a sick or injured child, so when it comes to special times, somehow that's magnified.

Thanks for stopping by! I will have more of an update next week when they return home. For now, please keep praying for the strength for Ryan to continue his busy agenda :) As always, we all appreciate your prayers for us all, and we ask that you continue to remember Ryan and family.

Thursday, April 24, 2003 4:14 PM CDT

Easter Day was one that found Ryan's Gram and Grandpop's house full of family, all ready to enjoy Gram's good cooking and the fun of an Easter Egg Hunt! Ryan's Great-Mommom, Gram, Grandpop, Uncle Bill, Aunt Laurie, Uncle Mark, Mom, Dad, brothers Matthew and Robert, and cousins Cassie, Timmy, and Marky all gathered together there.

Ryan was looking forward to the Easter Egg Hunt, and he came away with a nice bag of loot taken from those eggs :)

Ryan is pretty excited about his upcoming trip to the circus. He and his family are taking Gram, Grandpop, Marky, and Timmy along to meet the clowns before the show.

Ryan is on fewer medications now, and he has gained back all lost weight from his bout with pneumonia. However, we all continue to covet your prayers. Thanks for stopping by!

Wednesday, April 9, 2003 8:20 PM CDT

Ryan is settled in at home with his family--Mom, Dad, Matt, and Robert. When I called to check on him and everyone today, Lisa and Bubby were enjoying his non-stop talking. He had been talking for two hours, and he was still going strong when she and I were on the phone. Thanks for the prayers, and please keep them coming. I just wanted to let you know that the plan to get Ryan home went just as it should have.

Monday, April 7, 2003 3:03 PM

An update from Lisa...

Ryan is doing much better and should be coming home tomorrow morning. He is currently on two antibiotics, one for the ear infection and one for the sinus infection. We are going to stop them and put him on just one for everything. If he tolerates that well tonight, we're coming home tomorrow. He will be on six medicines two to three times a day! Needless to say, he's not happy about that, but he's anxious to come home. We just gone done playing some games, and he's attempting to eat a hamburger from McDonald's. The first activity he's shown in about two weeks! First food too! He's not all better yet, but he's come a long way, and if he's going to get over this, we should know in about another week.

Thanks for your messages and support,
Lisa

Saturday, April 5, 2003 12:41 AM EST

An update from Lisa...

"Hello - Update time! I haven't read the web site yet, so this may be repeat info, if so, sorry. Tuesday Ryan was diagnosed with Pneumonia. He was put on antibiotics and a nebulizer at home. On Thursday morning he seemed worse to me so I took him up to clinic. His blood pressure was low, his oxygen was low and his blood labs were off. So they decided to admit him. He is now currently on 4 antibiotics, steroids
and oxygen. They are not sure what type of pneumonia this is, so they're not sure how to treat it. When I came home from the hospital tonight - Bubby is there with him for the night - his fevers were gone, his blood pressure was better and some of his blood labs were better and his oxygen is back to 100% on his own - Improvement! So we think he's doing better, but of course Ryan is so tired and so weak that there is the possibility that he won't recover from this. Please pray for strength for him to get through this and back home where he belongs! I'll let you all know if there are any changes. Thank you, Lisa"

Friday, April 4, 2003 11:29 EST

I heard this morning that there has been no change in Ryan's condition. However, the doctor's are encouraged by this, for it means that he is handling the medicines ok. He is not out of the woods, still has quite a battle to fight, but as of this morning, he remains in the hospital without change. Robert and Matt slept well, even sleeping in today. They are staying with their Gram and Grandpop, and they are doing ok too. Thanks for your notes of support and those prayers--please keep them coming!

Thursday, April 3, 2003 10:09 PM

Ryan is not doing well. He is currently in the hospital, and Lisa and Bubby are spending the night there with him. His brothers are with their Gram and Grandpop.

Please just pray for all the family through the night and the days ahead. Pray that Ryan and all who love him will just feel the Lord's loving arms around them and know His comfort.

This was an unexpected turn for the worse, so it has caught us all off guard. Your prayers and support are, as always, appreciated.

Thursday, April 3, 2003 4:15 PM CST

Ryan is at the hospital today, because he is not getting much better. I need to back up a little so you know what he needs to be getting better from...

Two days ago, we learned that Ryan didn't just have a virus. He has pneumonia and both ears are infected. He is on antibiotics and needs a nebulizer. The first night he used the nebulizer, he slept well--the first good night's sleep in a long time. The one good thing to come of this is that he'll most likely hear again with his earing aides. The reason he can't hear at all right now is due to fluid buildup in his ears.

So, back to today. Lisa just didn't like that Ryan wasn't getting better, and that's why she called the hospital. He was due for some bloodwork anyway, and one of the things being checked is his salt levels. He has too little salt right now, and it's important that the salt increase.

Please pray that Ryan beats these infections soon and that all blood work shows improvement. Poor little guy is just feeling miserable.

Tuesday, April 1, 2003 10:28 AM CST

Ryan has not returned to school as his immune system is just too weak. His counts are going up, and that's good, but he continues to battle a virus, and that's something that is hard for him since he can't fight it as well as those with a healthy immune system can.

Ryan is now unable to hear even with his hearing aides, and this is not due to the recent chemo, but rather is most likely a long-term effect of earlier treatments.

Please pray for this virus to clear and for Ryan's counts to come up--quickly! When this happens, he'll feel stronger and feel better.

Thanks for stopping by, and please remember Ryan and his entire family in your prayers. Those messages are always appreciated, so please keep them coming too :)

Sunday, March, 23, 2003 8:00 PM EST

Thursday was the day that Ryan and family tried to catch up on sleep after Matt's getting sick and Ryan's unexpected hospital visits and all that goes along with them. Finally some good news on Friday: Ryan had his blood counts checked, and he didn't need any more blood. He was so happy that he cheered! Also, the culture he had has not shown any blood infections, so it appears that his fever was a result of some sort of virus. Ryan's chemo lowers his blood counts, and because the white counts are so low, he has a harder time staying healthy and also a harder time recovering from illness since his immune system isn't up to speed right now. He has been able to stay home this weekend except for that one trip to the hospital on Friday to check his counts, and that makes for a better ending to a week that was just full of unpleasant surprises. Please keep praying, and please...Ryan LOVES to read and enjoys notes addressed to him, so may I impose on you all again? It would be super if you'd drop a line in his guestbook or send him some mail. He's very appreciative of any notes to him, and he reads every single word of every message and note. Thanks!

Thursday, March 20, 2003 1:44 EST

What a week! Ryan had to return to the hospital again yesterday afternoon, and it was midnight by the time they all returned home. Gram and Grandpop had Matt and Robert overnight again, then took them to school this morning. Ryan was pale and his head felt funny, so Lisa thought he needed more blood. By the time they arrived at the hospital, he was running a fever and needed to be hydrated. His blood counts weren't bad (still low, but not bad), but when he's hydrated, they drop, so he did receive blood after all. He could have a virus or a blood infection, and they are waiting on the culture results to know for sure. If he has a blood infection, he will have to return to the hospital for IV antibiotics. Today Ryan has a low fever again, and when I spoke to Bubby, they were still home and hoping not to need to run out to the hospital again today. And yes, if you're wondering if Ryan just got home on Wednesday and then went back again on Wednesday, that's correct and not a typo. It's been a crazy week with nothing going as planned, and Lisa, Bubby, and the kids are exhausted, and so are Gram and Grandpop. The good news is that Ryan is feeling well enough to smile again for the first time in 5 days! He's been feeling just yucky enough that his precious smile had been put away for a bit.

Wednesday, March 19, 2003, 1:34 pm

Ryan spent the entire day in the hospital yesterday after staying overnight. He had a very bad reaction to receiving blood, and I hear it was a pretty scary time. It is also hard for him to receive this much-needed blood because it's hard to find good veins on him. Ryan received blood Monday night, then again Tuesday. He needs to return to the hospital again on Thursday to have his counts checked, and he will most likely need even more blood then. Both his hemoglobin and white counts had dropped far below what the lowest counts should be, so his doctor has decided to cut back on his chemo. Please keep Ryan in prayer. Remember his brothers and his parents and his grandparents. Everyone is effected as schedules pretty much get tossed out the window when a short trip to the hosital ends up being a longer trip. Add the stress of the unexpected things that happen and sick children (Matt got sick but is better now--yeah!) and needing to leave work suddenly to this, and I'm sure you all understand how it can make for a hard time. Thanks for stopping by, and please pray hard for Ryan and the many needs he has as does his entire family. It's good to know we've got friends and families who care.

Monday, March 17, 2003 , 4:22 pm, Update #2

I just got an e-mail from Lisa from the hospital. They've decided to keep Ryan overnight because his hemoglobin was dangerously low, but right now he is fine.

~Laurie

Monday, March 17, 2003, 7:59 am, Update #1

Lisa e-mailed me the following update. She's at the hospital today with Ryan, and she wanted to update you all on how Ryan is. Thank you for your continued support of Ryan and of all of us!

~ Laurie

Ryan has finally finished his first round of chemo. He did very well and felt very good up until this week. His counts have dropped, and he is extremely fatigued. He can't even stand to get to the bathroom, he is very pale and half of his hair has fallen out - it's all splotchy. If you were to see him today you would never guess that he was the same kid as on Friday (see photo album to see what Ryan looked like as recently as Friday). He will go to clinic tomorrow and receive blood; that should perk him up and give him his color back - but not his hair unfortunately! I hate when the hair falls out because then you just can't deny he's a sick kid; it's easier to ignore if he LOOKS healthy. I don't know if we were to expect problems with blood counts after only the first round, but I'll find out tomorrow. I guess his bone marrow is still fragile since the transplant; that was only less than a year ago, and I'm sure he's not fully recovered. I don't know when he will start his next round; I guess when his counts are stable again. I doubt if he will make it to school until late in the week this week, if at all. I would like him to go on Friday, for that is the day of the "kick-off" for the exercise-a-thon (at Ryan's elementary school). We'll try.

Thursday, February 20, 2003 11:11 PM CST

Ryan has had a busy week. His eyes weren't quite right earlier in the week, so Lisa took him to the hospital for a CT scan. She had received preliminary results of the MRI, but after the CT scan, she met with the doctors to review both tests. The decision has been made to discontinue the study chemo. Ryan has already begun a different type of chemo: a pill that he'll take for 21 days, then stop for a week, then take again for 21 days. This will be done from home, so he won't need to be hospitalized and won't have to miss school, Scouts, or other activities.

Thanks for stopping by to check on Ryan! Please leave a note for him in the guestbook. He LOVES to read. He read every single word of every birthday card he received, so please know that your notes, cards, letters would all be read and appreciated by our boy :)

Friday, February 7, 2003 11:05 AM CST

Hey everyone,

Thought is was time for an update. So far Ryan has been on his new chemo for 3 weeks. He gets a neurological exam every week. So far there's been no change. That's a good thing. We know that Ryan's tumor is aggressive, so if the chemo wasn't doing something we'd probably surely see some signs by now. He is in great spirits, goes to school every day, just had a birthday and is having his big bowling party on Monday. We just decided to get him a wheelchair. His balance is off and he's falling down a lot - but that is not a new thing. We figured it would get better with physical therapy, but it's not, so we decided to try to make things a little easier for him, it's got to be embarrassing to fall down if front of your friends all the time! So anyway, he loves the wheelchair - the King finally has his own throne! He goes for his next MRI on the 15th - so I'll be sure to let you all know the results when we get them - keep your fingers crossed!

Love,
Lisa

***new photos--see the Photo Album***

Sunday, February 2, 2003 8:01 AM CST

HAPPY

NINTH

BIRTHDAY

RYAN!!!

Friday, January 17, 2003 at 07:04 PM (CST)

Doctor Meeting Update: This past Thursday, Lisa and Bubby met with the doctors to discuss the possibility of Ryan becoming part of a new study. It's no longer just a possibility, as Ryan began his new meds for the study on the very next day. Ryan is receiving a different form of chemo, one that seeks out the cancer cells rather than all cells, cancerous and healthy. The goal is to seek out the cancer cells and then stop from doing their dirty work--no more dividing, multiplying, and spreading. If the cancer can be controlled this way, the doctors are not concerned about the small amount that remains in Ryan's body. He feels good, is active, and may continue what he enjoys doing without restriction other than the need to avoid full contact sports like football. There are no side effects, such as nausea, fatigue, and the other icky things that chemo can do. So, the prayer now is that this new type of chemo acts like it should. Ryan will have another MRI on February 15. There could be a slight increase in cancer cells between the last MRI and this one coming up, but if it's only slight, then the study will be doing exactly what Ryan needs it to do.

And more important news...I want to let you all know that Ryan is fast approaching his ninth birthday! It's the first weekend in February, and I'm sure he'd love to hear from ALL of you. He loves to receive mail and goodies. I know, I know--I'm shameless and subtle as a bomb :) But you have all been so good to Ryan, and there's not a whole lot any of us can really do but pray and stay in touch, so if you're looking for a way to brighten his day, pampering him a little (or a lot :)) on his birthday is a way to do that.

Need an address? It is always at the bottom of this page, and any mail sent to Ryan c/o Aunt Laurie will be forwarded. I LOVE to play mailman :)



Friday, January 10, 2003 at 01:14 PM (CST)

Hi, and thanks for stopping by to check on our Ryan.

Lisa and Bubby received the MRI results yesterday, and Lisa asked me to update you all today. Ryan's cancer has returned, and he will be on chemo again. Lisa expects that he will be on it for 21 days each month and that it will most likely be an oral form of chemo with milder side effects (ie fatigue). It will also be easier on the blood counts so that he shouldn't need to receive blood products. Ryan may continue in school, and he may remain active in anything he chooses. On Monday, Lisa and Bubby meet with Ryan's doctors to get more details.

This is not the news any of us wants to hear, and it's always with sadness that I pass on the less-than-good news. However, there is always hope, and Ryan is such a fighter! It would be nice for him to not have to fight so hard so often, but for reasons unknown to any of us, Ryan has been challenged in ways beyond what I can even imagine. Let us never forget the battles he has already won, and please continue to uplift him and his entire family as he continues to do battle. As I thought of Ryan today, I pictured a small but valiant soldier, one with more spunk and stamina than a man ten times his size, one who continues to smile in spite of his struggles.

Remember Lisa posting here that she was looking forward to Christmas? Well, I have just a couple of photos from Christmas, and I'm putting them in the Photo Album. Although I personally did not spend Christmas Day with Lisa and her family, we all got together the next day. It was a good time, with all five boys playing with their new beyblades as we tried to keep the one girl out of them (not easy!), and then Timmy and Ryan trying out the Play Station that Ko and Noelle passed on to Gram and Grandpop. As I get photos developed, I'll add more to the Photo Album. For now, hope you enjoy what's there :)

Please keep Ryan and all the family in your prayers. Thanks so much for your continued prayers, good wishes, and messages.

Wednesday, January 08, 2003 at 02:08 PM (CST)

***Prayer Alert: MRI on Thursday, January 9, 2003***


I just wanted to let you know that Ryan is scheduled for an MRI tomorrow. This is one of his three-month follow-up MRIs, not one being done because of any particular problems. However, it's always a stressful time. Ryan will have general anesthesia, so he'll be a tired out boy. I'm not sure how long Lisa and Bubby will have to wait for results. Thanks for your continued prayers and support of Ryan and family!

Monday, December 09, 2002 at 7:37 PM (CST)

As I update local friends and cyber friends, I'm asked many questions. Here are some, and hopefully you'll be better updated now :)

1. Is Ryan's hearing going to improve? No, Ryan's hearing loss is irreversible, and it is a side effect of some part of his treatment. However, with hearing aides, Ryan can hear much better now. He also has FM receivers which allow his teacher to speak directly into his hearing aides, thus eliminating the background noises which can be confusing with hearing aides. Ryan has become used to these and is doing much better with them.

2. Is Ryan back in school? Yes, he is. That question is followed up with...

3. How is Ryan doing in school? Ryan is doing well. He has a personal aide with him during the day. Since he hasn't grown much during the past few years, he's still a little fellow, plus his balance is off some. He also does qualify for educational assistance in school in the event he needs it. He's a bright boy, and with these helps, he's doing just fine!

4. How is Ryan's health? Well, how this question gets answered depends upon who you ask. This is Aunt Laurie doing the update today, and to me, Ryan is just remarkable. His overall health is good, and he is active and happy. I always recall the day we all heard about the tumor being removed. When the surgeon said it was all gone, I was ecstatic. Sure, it seemed he'd have a hard road ahead of him, but I was so happy for Ryan pulling through and having a better prognosis than he was originally given. Lisa, as his mom, heard things a bit differently. She heard "chemo and radiation", and to her it was just the beginning of a time I cannot give justice to in my own words. Perhaps a living hell sums it up best? Pardon the language, but somehow this particular phrase fits this subject. Lisa and Bubby probably feel this all the hardest, and that's understandable. Every three months, it's time for an MRI, and those are some of the hardest days I have faced; quite honestly, I don't know how they get through it. Yes, Ryan is healthy now, but every three months the question of "is it back" rears its ugly head. In a way, I think that keeps all of us who love Ryan from relaxing completely when it comes to the issue of his health.

5. What is Ryan doing now? Well, where do I begin?! Ryan is in school full-time, is in Cub Scouts, and is always up to something. He's always been a busy boy, and that's because he has a mom who commits lots of time to the family, planning all sorts of fun activities for all of them.

6. This is a hard question for me, and maybe Lisa will jump in here. Oh Liiiiissssaaa!! What side effects does Ryan have/can Ryan expect to have? The one that comes immediately to mind is Ryan's unsteadiness now. He is in physical therapy to help him work him through this. When he underwent the study chemo prior to the stem cell rescue, he ended up developing some inflamation in his spine. This puts pressure on his spine, and this in turn causes him to be off balance. Others I'm not sure of, now or in the future. Honestly, there are a lot of unknowns. Maybe some side effects will kick in, maybe they won't. I'm not being flip, just telling this as best I understand it.

7. What can I do to help? The need for financial help doesn't seem to ever go away or diminish. Many people have been generous over the past few years, but the needs persist. The need for prayer is an ever present one. Please continue to check back in periodically; urgent requests are always posted here in bold type. When you see a post saying "it's time for another MRI", remember everyone in prayer. Notes are always well received, either by postal mail or right here in the guest book. Let Lisa, Bubby, Ryan, Matt, and Robert know that you've come by and that you care. They love the notes!

THANK YOU for stopping by! I am always awed at the love and concern that people I've often never even met are showing to my dear nephew. You are an encouragement to us, please know that!

Tuesday, November 12, 2002 at 07:45 PM (CST)

GREAT NEWS!! RYAN'S MRI CAME BACK GREAT WITH NO SIGNS OF CANCER!!!!!NOW MAYBE WE CAN RELAX AND GET THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS PEACEFULLY. THIS WILL BE THE FIRST CHRISTMAS IN NEARLY THREE YEARS THAT RYAN WON'T BE ON CHEMO. THAT IS THE BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT WE ALL COULD ASK FOR. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PRAYERS AND GOOD WISHES.
LISA

Sunday, November 10, 2002 at 09:04 PM (CST)

Well everyone - it's that time again. Tuesday (Nov. 12th) is MRI day. Keep Ryan in your prayers and I'll let you know how it turns out as soon I can.
Thanks, Lisa

Thursday, October 17, 2002 at 12:48 PM (CDT)

Hello everyone,
There has not been an udate recently, I guess Aunt Laurie has been busy. But you know the saying "No news is good news" - that applies here too. Ryan has been doing great. Most of you know he had a series of spinal taps and they all came out clean - no signs of tumor. Lately we have been busy getting this hearing thing under control. Ryan has his hearing aids and in combination with lip reading he has been managing pretty well. He just received an FM system to use in school and that really helps him hear his teacher better. So along with that and his one on one aid he is doing great. He is also going to physical therepy once a week, taking speech class and getting started with occupational therepy. He has joined cub scouts - his Daddy is his leader -and is having a ball. So basically he is very busy and happy. Thank you all for checking in and for everything you all have done for us. Keep on praying - the next MRI will be Tuesday Nov. 12. Unless anything comes up there probably won't be another update until then.

Thursday, October 17, 2002 at 12:48 PM (CDT)

Hello everyone,
There has not been an udate recently, I guess Aunt Laurie has been busy. But you know the saying "No news is good news" - that applies here too. Ryan has been doing great. Most of you know he had a series of spinal taps and they all came out clean - no signs of tumor. Lately we have been busy getting this hearing thing under control. Ryan has his hearing aids and in combination with lip reading he has been managing pretty well. He just received an FM system to use in school and that really helps him hear his teacher better. So along with that and his one on one aid he is doing great. He is also going to physical therepy once a week, taking speech class and getting started with occupational therepy. He has joined cub scouts - his Daddy is his leader -and is having a ball. So basically he is very busy and happy. Thank you all for checking in and for everything you all have done for us. Keep on praying - the next MRI will be Tuesday Nov. 12. Unless anything comes up there probably won't be another update until then.

Tuesday, September 24, 2002 at 07:19 AM (CDT)

***IMPORTANT ABOUT THIS WEBSITE***

Please pass on the new url. The change is slight, but there may be people who have bookmarked the site and cannot gain access to it now. The url is as follows:

http://www.caringbridge.org/page/aunt.lauries.ryan/

Thursday, September 19, 2002 at 08:51 AM (CDT)

As I was talking to Lisa yesterday on the phone, I could hear someone singing, and I just assumed it was Robert. Oops--I was wrong! It was Ryan who I'm told was dancing too. He's always been the quiet one--active, playful, social--but soft spoken. Um, not yesterday!! Ryan is doing well. He can hear some things with hearing aides, and one of his biggest challenges is trying to hear when there's a lot of noise. It's too hard to focus on one sound when there are many sounds. The school has provided Ryan with his very own aide, and this is working out well. Ryan's a smart boy, and in spite of missing a year he did get promoted (he had the knowledge and ability to move on--amazing, isn't it?!), and now his greatest challenge is in hearing what he needs to hear. Please keep him in prayer as he continues medical testing this week and perhaps next week too. Ryan does have some headaches, but they are not keeping him from doing anything, but headaches can be a real bummer to have. So please pray that he is over these soon. Ryan is active, is happy, is everything that an 8-year-old boy should be. At the risk of becoming redundant, I think he's just amazing! Thanks for stopping by to check on our boy, and please do "wave hello" in the guestbook. Ryan LOVES to read, and he enjoys his messages. Thank you :)

Thursday, September 12, 2002 at 6:25 AM (CDT)

Ryan headed back to school along with his brothers and neighbors this week. Lisa said that whatever his teacher is doing, he seems to be doing fine even without extra assistance. They are waiting on the Intermediate Unit, and Ryan will have someone in class to help him due to his hearing.

This week is a week of medical tests and, thanks to waiting on test results, stress. Please uphold the family in your prayers, the doctors for wisdom as they read test results, and Ryan to remain healthy. Thank you.

Friday, August 30, 2002 at 12:54 PM (CDT)

A great big thank you to the Ridley Acme!!! The family night for Acme employees and their families was a wonderful time, and that it helped to benefit Ryan and his family was a bonus that made it extra special to us. Thank you so very much for a night that was fun (thanks Dad :)) and for thinking of our Ryan. Over and over again, you show us that Acme is made up of great people with big hearts.

Ryan is doing well. Be sure to check out his photos in the guestbook. He was tossing that ball down the lane with such grace and style (well, sort of :)), and with oodles of energy. And, of course, there was that smile--that wonderful smile that is so Ryan! It was a noisy environment, but we managed to communicate fairly well with our own brand of sign language--a lot of it thumbs up, pats on the back, smiles, clapping.

That's all for now, but I will update you again soon. I'm still waiting (oh Lissssaaaaaa) on Camp Sunshine updates from the kids. Also, keep in prayer the decisions that need to be made regarding Ryan's schooling, hearing, and the upcoming MRI. Thanks so much for stopping by to check on our boy!

Wednesday, August 21, 2002 at 07:34 PM (CDT)

Ryan was full of laughter and energy the other night when we saw him! What a precious time that was--and it seemed like "our Ryan" was back :) He isn't always ready to join in the play, but once he did, he was running around with his brothers and cousins. It was such a blessing to see him play.

I said Ryan had 3 months to go before his next MRI. He doesn't--it's 3 months between MRIs. His next MRI is scheduled for early September.

Lisa is busy looking into schools for Ryan, since he needs special help due to being deaf. Ryan has also begun physical therapy. He looks so small and frail, but he's getting around rather well.

That's all for now. I hope to have reviews of Camp Sunshine soon. I saw some photos, and it sure looked like a beautiful place. My computer crashed, so I can't scan and upload any new photos for awhile. But they *are* coming :)

Friday, August 09, 2002 at 07:20 PM (CDT)

Hi! I hear that lots of people have been asking for updates, so here's what I do know.

Ryan went to Camp Sunshine in Maine for a week with Lisa, Bubby, Matthew, and Robert. Ryan participated in activities though he was reluctant to part with Lisa. Lisa tells me that they all had a good time, though she thinks she and Bubby may have had more fun than the kids. Ask them about holding rubber chickens with their knees :) Hey Lisa, how about some details of the trip? Maybe you could ask each of the kids like you did with the Make-A-Wish trip.

Ryan is eating lots now, and he is getting stronger. He can walk up the steps alone, though he always has someone with him just in case of a stumble. This is a pretty big accomplishment for a boy who spent two months in a hospital bed.

Ryan is unable to hear, even with his hearing aides. Everyone is learning sign language, though right now Lisa says the notes are easier to use. Their household knows the sign language alphabet, but they're looking forward to learning shorter ways of communicating as opposed to spelling everything out.

Ryan has been released from the transplant team with no follow-ups necessary. The stem-cell transplant is completed and it did what it was intended to do. Ryan had an appointment with Dr. Anna, his oncologist, before heading to Camp Sunshine, and it was a good visit. She is pleased with his progress, and he has three months before his next MRI and scheduled visit. He will have other doctors to see in the future, and these will all be specialists who will work with Ryan in handling the after-effects of his treatments.

Is there anything anyone would like to know specifically? Ask in the guestbook or e-mail me at cr8tv_1@yahoo.com and I'll get answers for you from Lisa, Ryan, or anyone else in the family who's best able to answer you. Thanks for stopping by!

Saturday, July 27, 2002 at 11:19 AM (CDT)

Hi! I've been away, and now Lisa & the gang are away...off to Camp Sunshine!!! They were hoping to make this trip, and they were on a waiting list, and then Ryan's timing with his recovery made it look as though they wouldn't be going, but they got a call that a space was open for them and they left at 2 am this morning. Ryan has his check-up with his oncologist, and it was all good news. Ryan's blood counts are good, and he now is able to fight a cold on his own. The stem cell rescue helped him in many ways, but one of the biggies was to help his immune system to develop again, and it is. Ryan doesn't have much energy, and he sleeps a lot. He went camping last weekend, and he either watched the other children or slept. Lisa said he didn't seem unhappy, just tired and weak. Ryan is not losing weight, which is good, but it's important that he gain now. He is so small and so skinny. My one-year-old has fatter legs than Ryan does at age 8. Ryan's hearing aides don't seem to be helping him, but he's pretty good at reading lips. I don't think sign language classes have been set up yet, but then Lisa's been busy with the three boys and with packing. Overall, the news is good. Matthew and Robert continue to be active, and they're just great kids. Matthew is relieved to have Ryan home, and he feels so much better now that he knows Ryan is ok. There is still a hard road ahead of Ryan--more MRIs, more bloodwork, more specialists to see for a variety of after-effects of the treatments he's had. However, for today, it's good news that we have to share :) Please continue to remember Ryan in your prayers, and we'll update you again with a review of Camp Sunshine. Thanks for stopping by and for your continued support of our boy!

Monday, July 15, 2002 at 03:42 PM (CDT)

* * * * * * * * RYAN IS HOME * * * * * * * *


Ryan is now home and eating! He is taking an appetite stimulant, and it is helping. He is not using his hearing aides yet due to other adjustments he's needed to make, but he loved learning some sign language while in the hospital, and Lisa is now looking into having a group class for all of us--friends and family--to learn sign language along with Ryan.

Please keep praying for restored strength and a hearty appetite. Thanks for all the prayers and support to date!

Sunday, July 07, 2002 11:11 AM (CDT)

Would you like to hear some good news? Ryan's MRI is clean! This is a HUGE answer to prayer as it shows that Ryan's treatments worked. Thank you for those prayers!

Keep praying though, for Ryan now has to deal with after-effects of his treatments. He can't hear, and this makes him sad. He gets new hearing aides this week, so please pray that these are the key to allowing him to hear again. Ryan is continuing to battle the infection, but the culture is negative, so this is a good sign. He's pretty bummed out about being in the hospital though. Ryan is very weak as he hasn't eaten in the past two months. Please pray that he'd be hungry, that he'd eat, and that he'd keep on eating. Ryan and his family had plans for the summer, some really fun stuff, but that most likely won't happen now. Noone is complaining, but please keep the entire family in prayer. Life was turned upside down 2 1/2 years ago, and ever since then, it's been constantly changing plans with plenty of surprises (thankfully some good ones too) along the way. And as you pray for Ryan and family, keep all of our emotions in your prayers. This is not an easy time, never has been, and we all feel it in different ways.

Thanks so much for being there for all of us, and I'm so happy to share some good news with you today :)


Saturday, July 06, 2002 at 10:47 AM (CDT)

Ryan is really bummed out. He has another long hospital stay due to the infection. It is a bacterial infection, and once the culture is clean (which the doctors expect to happen fast), he must remain in the hospital for 14 more days. Ryan was so happy to be home, even though he was having the blues over not being able to play, that this is a hard thing to have happen. The MRI was done, and now it's time to wait. The earliest it will be read is Monday. I will update when I know more.

Friday, July 05, 2002 at 09:59 AM (CDT)

Ryan does have an infection, which was confirmed by blood tests. He will need antibiotics and probably another ten-day hospital stay.

Ryan is still scheduled for his MRI today--2 pm EST. He always receives anesthesia for these as they are the one thing that scare him. Because of that, he's not allowed any food, and today he's hungry. What a bummer to finally be hungry and want to eat but to not be allowed to :(

Ryan's hearing aides are in--his own set rather than the loaners. He is scheduled to receive them on Tuesday, and his doctor is at the hospital he's in, so maybe he can get them while there. There is talk now of all of us learning to sign so that we can all communicate well with Ryan.

I will update you as soon as I know anything more. As of right now, Bubby is with Matt and Robert, but he will take them to Gram and Grandpop's to stay. Then Bubby heads to the hospital for the weekend and Lisa comes home.

Thursday, July 04, INDEPENDENCE DAY 2002

I spoke with our mom a little earlier this evening, and Ryan is in the hospital. He did go the parade in his hometown, and he was hoping to go to the town's celebration (most of which was cancelled due to heat) and then out to see fireworks. Although Ryan cannot take part in activities due to not having enough strength, he was looking forward to just being there. However, he developed a fever early this afternoon. Once at the hospital and on tylenol, his fever dropped, but the doctor decided to keep him anyway. Hopefully he is in a room now; most of the day he and Bubby have been sitting waiting for a room. Tomorrow is a big day: the MRI. Lisa is heading in to the hospital tonight to stay with Ryan, and Bubby will come home to be with the boys. It was a disappointing day, and it's a rather nerve-racking time now too, as the MRI is the test that tells us that the chemo worked.

URGENT PRAYER NEED: Though we've all been praying for this all along, let's pray extra hard for a clean MRI tomorrow, for peace for the family, for wisdom for the doctors. Also, let's pray that this fever doesn't indicate an infection as Ryan is just not strong enough to fight anything on his own.

Thank you for dropping by, and thanks for your continued support of our Ryan.

Monday, July 01, 2002 at 09:52 AM (CDT)

I just talked with Lisa, and here's the scoop: Ryan is weak, tired, and not happy. Ryan is not going outside, not eating much, and not able to tolerate the food that goes in his feed lines well. He does not like his hearing aides, and with them, he still can't hear well. Lisa sounded tired and frustrated, and there's little she can do to help Ryan right now. It's a matter of time, of waiting for Ryan to regain his strength, to get used to the hearing aides and learn to function with lessened hearing, to feel happy again. Ryan wants so badly to go out and play, but he just can't do it. He is allowed to, but he is unable, and that's why he is sad. Poor little guy :( Through it all, he continues to do what he is supposed to do, and I admire his courage but long for the day when he'll just be our little boy playing and laughing again rather than burdened by such big health issues.

Matthew is active as usual and getting ready to begin soccer practice. Robert just made a new friend with a child who moved in down the street, and he is having a great time with him. Lisa and Bubby continue to do what they've been doing: juggle work, household stuff, three children's schedules, and continue to help Ryan through what is now his recovery from treatment. And the weather is HOT, so please pray for cooler temps, for their air conditioner to hold out during this high heat, and for all the above concerns for Ryan and his family.

Thanks so much!

Thursday, June 27, 2002 at 8:24 PM (CDT)

Well, friends, I'm waiting on an update too :) Lisa has been very busy with all three boys home for the summer now. Doesn't that sound great--all THREE home?! I know just a little of what's up, and when I get hold of that busy sister of mine, I'll update you further.

A biggie in the way of prayer requests: Ryan is sad over losing his hearing. Today he was to get his loaner hearing aides. Please pray that these allow him to hear and converse again so that he doesn't remain so sad. I cannot imagine how hard this must be for him.

Also, his follow-up MRI isn't scheduled yet--at least not to my knowledge. This will be the one that lets Lisa and Bubby know that the high-dose chemo worked. Keep praying for this please. Ryan's liver was the main concern, but the chemo results are yet to come, and if I'm anxious to hear the results, my guess is that his parents are even more so.

Thanks for stopping by, for supporting us all, and please drop a line in the guestbook while here. By the way, I don't know what the "new look" is that Caring Bridge has in mind, so we'll find out together tomorrow :)

Wednesday, June 19, 2002 at 05:12 PM (CDT)

HI EVERYONE. AUNT LAURIE IS AT THE BEACH SO I AM GOING TO ATTEMPT TO DO THIS. GUESS WHAT --- RYAN IS HHHHOOOOMMMMEEEEE!!!!! YEAH!!! HE GOT HOME ABOUT 2:00 TODAY AND WAS VERY HAPPY AND SMILING AND LAUGHING AT HIS SILLY BROTHERS. WE ALREADY HAVE A CLINIC VISIT ON FRIDAY, BUT AS LONG AS IT'S IN AND OUT THAT IS OK WITH ME. HE STILL NEEDS PLATELETS AND NG FEEDS AND SOME HYDRATION, SO I GET TO PLAY NURSE FOR A WHILE - HOPEFULLY NOT TOO LONG THOUGH, JUST UNTIL HE STARTS TO EAT ON HIS OWN AND GOD KNOWS THE SELECTION OF FOODS IS MUCH BETTER HERE THAN IT WAS AT THE HOSPITAL, SO HOPEFULLY WE WILL FIND SOMETHING HE LIKES SOON! THANKS FOR ALL YOUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT, WE COULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN THIS FAR WITHOUT ALL OF YOU.

Friday, June 14, 2002 at 08:49 PM (CDT)

Hey, more news! I talked to our Mom, Gram to Ryan, and I hear that the billirubin continues to drop, that the platelet counts are improving, that Ryan had surgery to remove his port and replace it with a different type of port in his arm, and that overall he's doing well. Ryan is off all pain medications and antibiotics, and if he continues to do well over the weekend, he will come home on Monday. Six weeks in the hospital--feels a lot longer, doesn't it?! Ryan, Robert, and Matthew all got report cards today--their last day of school. All did well, they are such bright boys! Although Ryan missed the majority of the school year, he kept up with required work, and he was promoted to second grade. Congratulations Ryan!!! You are amazing!!! Robert did well too, excelling in just about everything, and he's promoted to first grade--woo hoo!!! Look out first grade: this is one cool kid heading your way! Matthew had straight A's!!! Impossible for him to do better, wouldn't you say?! What an impressive way to end the year--congratulations to Matt on all that hard work! I wanted to share this with you so that you could see what amazing kids--all three of them!--these boys are. It hasn't been an easy year for anyone in the family with the stress and many hospital visits, so I was happy for the boys to hear this great school news :) And how cool is that they school year ends today and Ryan may be home Monday? Just in time to enjoy the summer fun with his family--and boy, do they ever have plans! More on that another day...

Friday, June 14, 2002 at 09:53 AM (CDT)

Last night I got the news that Ryan may be coming home on Monday! I'm waiting for more of an update, and I will share it once I have it. No bad news to report--that's a huge blessing, isn't it?!

If you don't see an update here on the front page, maybe Lisa will post an update directly into the guestbook. Our schedules have both been hectic, so we tend to miss each other :)

Thanks for the continued prayers and well wishes!

Monday, June 10, 2002 at 07:15 PM (CDT)

Short and sweet update:

Ryan's billiruben continues to drop, which is an excellent sign of healing of the liver. Ryan has cultures done each day to check for bacterial infection, and each day they've been coming up clean. He continues on antibiotics, but that's just to finish up and follow doctor's orders. Ryan really wants to go home and is missing his brothers. This makes my heart ache, but it's also a wonderful sign that Ryan is feeling well enough to want to leave the hospital and be home again. That's all for now, but I'm hoping to have more good news to pass on soon. Keep those prayers coming so we can see our boy finally be brought through this battle with success.

Thursday, June 06, 2002 at 3:05 PM (CDT)

From an e-mail that Lisa sent:

"Ryan is doing very well. The doctor says they feel Ryan had "turned the corner" on the liver thing and as far as they are concerned he is healing and is no longer in danger from this complication....

Unfortunately (see, there's always a negative somewhere) he has now developed an infection in his iv line and will be on antibiotics for the next 10 - 14 days. Not really a problem, just that he has to be back on more meds. He is almost weaned off his pain medication - a few more days left, but the dosage is very small.

His visit with his brothers went very well...."

Wednesday, June 05, 2002 at 06:28 PM (CDT)

I've had two days of positive reports on Ryan. Those prayers are still needed, and Ryan still has quite a battle to fight, but here's the news:

Ryan's billiruben count has come down some, and the doctors are happy that it appears to be consistently dropping. It is a slow drop, but if it remains consistent, that's what is important.

Ryan took a walk. He's been in bed for about a month, and the doctors wanted him to start his physical therapy. He was able to walk well with little assistance. When he walked down the hall, Ernie and Bert were there! Ryan got his picture taken with them, and they even brought a gift for him from Sesame Street. How cool is that?!

Ryan is receiving therapy for hearing and speech, and hopefully he will be able to have his hearing test and his fitting for hearing aides later this week. In the meantime, Ryan has learned some sign language, has been given cards with pictures on them to use to communicate his needs, has a dry erase board for writing notes, and has been given the use of a special computer for typing to the doctors and nurses and his parents.

Ryan had an extra special visit last night with his brothers. Matthew and Robert have not been allowed to visit (no children allowed in this wing--hospital policy), but last night they did. It has been a month since the boys have seen one another.

Please keep praying. Thank you for your continued support of our Ryan! Each person who visits, who writes notes, who sends a card, who prays--though we may not know you or ever know your name--is a blessing to us all.

The card shower continues:

Matthew (12), Ryan (8), Robert (5), Lisa & Bubby
c/o Aunt Laurie's Ryan
P.O. Box 1172
Linwood, PA 19061

Please pass this on--it would give such a lift to everyone in the family to be bombarded with cards. Thanks!

Sunday, June 02, 2002 at 05:55 PM (CDT)

Ryan's most urgent need right now is for his liver to heal. Because Ryan is low on platelets but has a clot leading into his liver, he cannot have the clot treated without endangering him by causing internal bleeding. The platelets are what allow him to clot, and they remain low enough that he is now getting them every other day. Every day Ryan's billirubin counts are checked, and they are way above normal. His other organs/bodily functions are checked daily as well, and with the exception of a minor change in his kidneys, all checks out fine. Ryan's kidneys have always been effected in some way by the various forms of chemo he has been on. Lisa said Ryan looks great compared to how he looked a few days ago. His skin is continuing to heal and is much improved. Ryan is drinking and trying to eat--as in a crumb or two now and then. Ryan is awake more and showing interest in things, though his hearing is still an issue. He lost most of it, if not all of it. If he cannot understand Lisa and Bubby, they write notes. Ryan's ok with this. That's about it for now, and the most urgent need is for Ryan's liver to heal. This is a very serious condition that cannot be treated, so please keep praying for this to change. The doctors are not worried but are concerned that the billirubin levels have stayed so high for so long now. They need to drop, and quickly would be good. Thanks so much!

Please keep the mail coming. Lisa is looking forward to my delivering it to them all, and I'm thrilled to know that I may now visit Ryan :) I have a few pieces of mail for each family member, and I know they will be happy to recieve it! Thanks in advance for sending that mail!

The address to use is:

Matthew (12) or Ryan (8) or Robert (5)
Lisa and Bubby aka Mom and Dad
c/o Aunt Laurie's Ryan
P.O. Box 1172
Linwood, PA 19061

This is a public address and may be shared. Thanks again :)

Wednesday, May 29, 2002 at 12:41 PM (CDT)

I'm not a doctor and won't pretend to understand what is happening, but I'll share as best I do understand. Ryan's liver counts are fluctuating--up a tiny bit, then down a tiny bit--and overall this means that it is not getting worse. Although Ryan's mouth sores are healed, he is still not eating or drinking. His belly hurts a lot from the liver problem he's experiencing. Ryan's skin took a real beating with this chemo. Remember I mentioned before how sore and red it had become? His skin now has sores, and they are bothering him. It makes him uncomfortable. Some medications have been discontinued--that's good news! Others continue, like the pain meds, but at lower doses. Lisa expects Ryan to need at least one more week in the hospital. Please keep those prayers coming! And if you'd like to know how to give the family a lift, please scroll to the bottom of the page. Thanks for stopping by and showing your support of our boy :)

Monday, May 27, 2002 at 11:32 AM (CDT)

Please keep those prayers coming for Ryan's liver to heal. Some hopeful signs are that for 2 days straight, the biliruben (I bet I spelled that wrong) counts have gone down. This is a liver test, and this is a good sign in this test. Ryan's lips and mouth are healed now--what wondeful news this is to share with you! The liver remains a concern though, as does the fact that we all want to see this chemo kick butt when it comes to any lingering cancer cells. Thanks for your continued support and prayers.

Saturday, May 25, 2002 at 01:56 PM (CDT)

Ryan has had a rough week, as has his whole family. Things aren't going smoothly, but the things that have happened are not coming as surprised to the doctors. I guess that's the good news. What is upsetting is that Lisa and Bubby don't expect these things to happen, and seeing their little boy hurting and struggling is not easy. One area of concern is Ryan's liver. He has developed a liver problem, and it can reverse itself, and hopefully it will do so in the next week. This is something that the doctors cannot fix, and it's a bit tricky to treat right now. Ryan may not have too many fluids in order to protect his liver, but he also needs fluids (medicines and platelets are considered fluids) in order to recover and regain his strength. Please pray for wisdom for the doctors and nurses who treat Ryan, for peace for Lisa and Bubby, for healing for Ryan--especially that liver. Thanks so much for your continued prayers!

I'd like to tell you something about Ryan that just is so special to me. It shows what tremendous courage he has, and how hard he wants to fight to win this battle he's in. His medicines taste awful and are hard to swallow, yet he takes them without complaint. His mouth is in a great deal of pain, yet he lets his teeth and mouth be cleaned without complaint. He does everything he needs to do, in spite of being tired, hurting, and probably scared, all without complaint. To do what is necessary, even when it's hard or hurtful to do, and to do it without complaint: that is courage to me. A courage unlike any I've ever known. What a privilege to call this young boy nephew :)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Would you like to give Ryan and his whole family a lift? They all enjoy receiving mail, so how about if we just shower them with it? Please pass the following names and address, along with this request for cards/postcards/notes, to everyone you know. I'd like to ask you to remember the siblings too please, as they are separated from Ryan for a few weeks and could also use a boost.

Matthew (12), Ryan (8), Robert (5)
Lisa & Bubby
Each can be reached by giving their first name followed by:

c/o Aunt Laurie's Ryan
P.O. Box 1172
Linwood, PA 19061

Thank you so much!!! I'd consider it a privilege to play mailman, and it would be so much fun to just shower the family with cards :) They could use a lift right about now. This is a public address, so please feel free to share it with anyone at all.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Tuesday, May 21, 2002 at 10:05 AM (CDT)

Ryan is still being treated for pain, and he remains tired from a combination of the treatments and the medicines. The morphine had to be discontinued because it was adding to his discomfort rather than easing it, so Ryan's had a pretty rough time getting just the right medicines for him to help him through a very painful time. The last I heard, Ryan was running a low fever, and he'd been put on additional antibiotics. He remains in isolation, and he remains--as Donna T. pointed out--the cleanest kid around :) There is nothing out of the ordinary with Ryan's reactions to the chemo, medicines, or blood that he's needed, but it is still hard to know that he's having a rough time of it. Please remember Ryan and all his family during this time, and I hope to update you with an improvement in Ryan real soon.

In the meantime, would you like to give Ryan and his whole family a lift? They all enjoy receiving mail, so how about if we just shower them with it? Please pass the following names and address, along with this request for cards/postcards/notes, to everyone you know. I'd like to ask you to remember the siblings too please, as they are separated from Ryan for a few weeks and could also use a boost.

Matthew (12), Ryan (8), Robert (5)
Lisa & Bubby
Each can be reached by giving their first name followed by:

c/o Aunt Laurie's Ryan
P.O. Box 1172
Linwood, PA 19061

Thank you so much!!! I'd consider it a privilege to play mailman, and it would be so much fun to just shower the family with cards :) They could use a lift right about now. This is a public address, so please feel free to share it with anyone at all.

Friday, March 15, 2002 at 06:18 PM (CDT)

Two updates in one day, but what I forgot to mention is that Lisa's e-mail was from Wednesday. Here is some more news as of today:

Ryan remains in a lot of pain, but the morphine does help a lot. Ryan received platelets yesterday, and he had a bad reaction to them. Poor little guy ended up needing benadryl to help him through the allergic reactions he had. Ryan is also feeling pain in his skin, which is very red, and this is from the chemo too. None of these things are unexpected, and none of them cause alarm to the doctors. The doctors feel that Ryan is doing very well, so that is encouraging news. Ryan's Gram and Grandpop did get to visit with him, and they took him some new books and a magnadoodle, all of which he enjoyed. Every little "normal" thing that he does is something to celebrate right now, since we all--and I know you are too--are so concerned for this precious little boy. At this point, the doctors anticipate Ryan's discomfort lasting for at least another week. Please keep him in prayer, and please keep his family members in prayer too. There is so little that any of us can do, and when Lisa and Bubby are with him, all they really can do is just wait with him. As a parent myself, I can't even imagine how hard this must be right now. On a bright note, Bubby took the day off to go on a field trip with Matthew. The weather wasn't supposed to be nice, but it was a beautiful day! God is good--even the little things of life :) As always, thanks for stopping by.

Friday, May 17, 2002 at 09:23 AM (CDT)

Lisa sent me an e-mail, and here's the most recent update I have on Ryan:

Ryan has very painful sores in his mouth, and they go through his entire digestive tract. Ryan is on morphine to help with the pain, and it makes him sleepy. He's on medicine to help his stomach as well. The sores are so bad that Ryan cannot speak. Please pray that these would heal quickly. The doctors expect them to last a few days up to a week.

Ryan remains in isolation, though his mom and dad and grandparents may visit him. His brothers are too young, so they haven't seen Ryan since his admission to the hospital.

Ryan's blood counts have dropped, and when the white counts come up, the sores will heal. Ryan will have to remain in the hospital until he can go 2 days without needing platelets, and right now he is expected to be there for 2 more weeks.

At this point, it is especially important that Ryan remain free of infection, so please continue to pray for that. Also, keep Lisa and Bubby in prayer as they trade places, taking turns spending time with Ryan and Robert and Matthew. Remember Matthew and Robert too; this can't be easy on them, though they really are being great sports about the adjustments they've had to make.

Thanks so much for stopping by! I may have another update later today as Mom and Dad (aka Gram and Grandpop) went to the hospital to visit with Ryan and Lisa yesterday.

Tuesday, May 14, 2002 at 05:39 PM (CDT)

I think this was a hard Mother's Day. It just didn't feel right that we were not all together. It must have been so much harder on Lisa, even though it was what best for Ryan. She didn't complain, but I could tell that it was not easy for her to just enjoy herself. After our Mom, Mommom, Lisa, me, and our families gathered at Mom and Dad's, Dad drove Lisa to the hospital so that Bubby could come home for work the next day. Lisa is currently in the hospital with Ryan. Ryan is tired and has been sleeping a lot, and that's probably because of the morphine he is on. His throat is hurting badly, a normal side effect of the chemo, and the morphine helps him with the pain but makes him sleepy. Other than that, he's doing really well. He should have recieved his stem cells by now, and that will help him to regrow his own bone marrow which was wiped out by the chemo. Matthew and Robert are with their Gram and Grandpop. And I found out something: Ryan snagged that poem before Matthew could see it! Matthew saw it on Mother's Day, and he said, "hey that's perfect for Mom, but I didn't see it". That's all for now. Please keep praying and putting messages in the guestbook (love the letter game!). Thanks for stopping by!

Sunday, May 12, 2002 at 01:46 PM (CDT)

Today is going to be a hard day due to restrictions in visiting. Lisa and Bubby may visit Ryan, but his brothers may not, so on Mother's Day, they will not *all* be together.

Here is a poem that Ryan saw and wanted to share with Lisa. I'm going to place it here to wish all of you a Happy Mother's Day and to show you what kind of mom Ryan says he has :)

For Mothers
by John David Escalera
chosen by Ryan for Mother's Day 2002

A mother's work is never done,
So the saying goes.
She toils along both day and night
And it seems that no one knows.

The selfless things that she does
And the often thoughtful deeds
Are not for her own glory
But for her family's needs.

For a mother's touch can calm a child,
And wipe away his tears
And her loving eyes and tender words
Can soothe away his fears.

And though their tireless efforts
Would seem to go unnoticed;
We always knew you loved us so
And mom, we always noticed.

The love you showed in all you did,
And the extra special care
From making sure the meals were cooked
To the combing of our hair.

So a mother's job is a difficult task,
A job not everyone can do.
But the Lord knew what he was doing,
When He gave the job to you.

For He must have looked ahead in time
And saw all that we'd go through;
And knew the love and grace we'd need,
Then gave it to us through you.

So mom, I just wanted to let you know
From my standpoint of view
If I could have the best mom for me,
I would have chosen you.

Thursday, May 09, 2002 at 01:05 PM (CDT)

Days 1 through 5 of Ryan's high-dose chemo treatments went very well. The sun remained bright and the skies clear so that Ryan had plenty of play time :)

Day 6: Yesterday Ryan was admitted to the hospital, and this day also went well. I hear it was a long day, but that Ryan remains his happy self :)

Day 7, today: Today I spoke with our mom, and here's what's up. Ryan is in a pretty sterile environment. He is not allowed any stuffed animals, and he will sorely miss having his with him, as Ryan is a cuddler and just loves stuffed animals. He is not allowed flowers, own clothing, food (unless it's from the hospital nutritionist), or anything else that might carry germs/bacteria. He is allowed to receive gifts of toys that are new and still sealed in their packaging. The nurses have a special way to wash even these new toys! When I learn more details of what Ryan may and may not have, I will pass them on to you via this site. Ryan's room is scrubbed several times each day--even the walls. Ryan himself needs several showers each day, but these are to help him stay comfortable. They type of chemo he is taking right now actually comes through the pores of his skin, and the showers help to protect his skin from irritation. Ryan has also had some hard questions for Lisa, and they are personal, so I will not share them here. However, when you remember Ryan and his family, please pray for their emotions too. What Ryan is going through now effects his entire family, and this is such a vital time of treatment for him. Let's pray together for success in ridding him of all cancer cells, for continued happiness, for strength of mind and body, and for Lisa and Bubby to stay healthy. Thanks so much for coming by, for your prayers and support, and for loving our Ryan :)

Please, if you could take just a moment, would you sign Ryan's guestbook? Lisa is able to get his messages while in the hospital, and Ryan (and Lisa too!) love getting these messages. Thank you :)

Some other family news: Last night Robert played baseball. Bubby was there as coach, and Gram took Robert to the game. He flew like an eagle around those bases! Tonight Matthew is in a concert at school, and Lisa will be coming home to attend. Bubby will stay with Ryan overnight. Tomorrow Robert is having a special Mother's Day presentation in school, and Lisa will be attending that too. Weekends are Lisa's time to spend with Matthew and Robert, and that is when Bubby stays at the hospital. During the week, Bill & Bev (aka Gram & Grandpop) take care of Matthew and Robert. I hear they have more laundry and a fuller pantry than ever!! So, though this is a tough time, all the bases are covered, and Lisa and Bubby still have time to spend with all THREE of their boys :) Please pray that they might continue do so, that they'd have safe travel time and enjoy these special times with the kids.

Tuesday, May 07, 2002 at 09:43 AM (CDT)

Lisa gave me a call last night to update my on Ryan. Today is Day #5, Ryan's last day of out-patient treatment, and he has been doing great! He has not had difficulty taking the medication (it can be a hard medicine to take) and had been busy playing. Ryan is not in school right now, but that is because of the timing of the medicine and when he can eat. There's a very particular time table for both, and being in school would make it hard for Ryan to take his meds when he needs to but not eat when he shouldn't. The weather is beautiful: high 60's by 8am with bright sunshine and a possibility of showers *late* in the day. My guess is that Ryan is outside playing now :) Thanks for your prayers, and please keep them coming. Tomorrow starts a different form of chemo and the long hospitalization, and this sounds harder than what Ryan is currently on. Thanks for dropping by!

Monday, May 06, 2002 at 10:42 AM (CDT)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LISA!!!

Today is Day #4 of Ryan's chemo treatments. I don't have an update for the weekend, but I did hear that Ryan was able to come home and continue his chemo on an out-patient basis. It had not made him sick, and he was his usual happy self. I'm hoping to update you tonight, so be sure to check back. Day #6 is the day that Ryan will be required to be admitted to the hospital, so if you'd pray that the weather would stay nice and that Ryan would feel well enough to enjoy it, it would be appreciated :) It is a beauty of a day today--bright and sunny and warm! And if you get a chance to, I'm sure Lisa would enjoy any birthday wishes you'd like to send her way :)

Friday, May 03, 2002 at 05:31 PM (CDT)

Today is the day that Ryan begins his high-dose chemo. It did not start out smoothly, and until late morning, there was the possiblity that Ryan might not be able to begin the chemo. One of his tests showed a possible problem, so a follow-up was performed today. Everything checked out just fine, and the chemo is a go. Before taking the chemo, Ryan was to receive some IV antibiotics to help him as his immune system is wiped out in the coming days. He should be home by now, and when I know more, I will update you.

Since Ryan is now having daily treatments with a long hospitalization, I intend to have more frequent updates. I know how anxious so many of you are to hear what is happening; I feel that way too :) So please be sure to check back often.

I spent the last two evenings with Ryan, and we had lots of fun. He is just an absolute delight! We talked some, made some things together, and we covered everything from how he feels now to poop (which is an inside joke :)). Some tears, some laughter--and all with my precious nephew. Thanks for stopping by to check on him. He, his mom and dad, all of us--we so greatly appreciate your thoughtfulness, help, and prayers!

Sunday, April 28, 2002 at 11:48 AM (CDT)

Well, folks, Ryan's stem cell rescue is fast approaching now. He spent a day at the hospital last week having several tests performed. The kidney test was the most important, and his kidneys are in great shape :) The next tests sound like they are more formalities than anything else. The plan is to begin the high-dose chemo on Friday, and it is possible that Ryan can do the first week of chemo on an out-patient basis. It will depend on how he reacts to this chemo. By day 6, Ryan will be admitted to the hospital and stay there for three weeks. I'm feeling just a little nervous and just a little excited, for this is such an important part of Ryan's treatment. Please pray that Ryan and all his family remain healthy, that the plans all work out just as they should, and that Ryan's body remains strong as he begins this chemo. It will be hard on him, but the goal is to get rid of all the rest of those cancer cells.

In the meantime, Ryan remains active. He is still going to school, playing baseball, and quite active. He was here yesterday, and he looks great! Above all, he is incredibly happy :) You should see that smile, but for those that know me, I FORGOT to take a picture--unheard of for me!

Matthew and Robert also came to visit, and we had a fun day. These kids are super, and I adore them :) Thanks for stopping by to check on Ryan, and please keep those prayers coming.

Monday, April 22, 2002 at 06:55 PM (CDT)

Ryan is one busy boy!

Last Thursday he had his MRI, and his doctor looked it over, saying she was dancing with happiness that the disease is now minimal. Not gone as we'd hoped, but still, the initial report is good. I haven't yet heard the radiologist's report; Lisa and Bubby are waiting on that. Once it comes back, the tests will be scheduled and then the stem cell rescue.

Friday was a special day at school. The first- and second-graders of Ryan's school held an exercise-a-thon to benefit Ryan and his family. The check was presented at a special assembly on Friday afternoon. Ryan, Lisa (his mom), and Bev & Bill (his grandparents) were there for this special time along with the first and second grade class. There was a video of the day of the exercise-a-thon, the presentation, and then some icecream for all the kids. These children have done a wonderful job of blessing Ryan and his family!!!

Saturday was even busier. It was the season opener for baseball, and both Ryan and Robert were in the parade to kick off the season. Then each team played an inning. Ryan is allowed to bat, but the doctors prefer he stay out of the outfield. Well, the coaches and parents are great. There is a dad on each base when Ryan bats, and they are there to keep the ball from hitting Ryan. Is that just too cool?! Bubby and Lisa live in a wonderful community, and it's nice to see so many pitch in to help make the game fun *and* safe for Ryan so that he can remain part of it.

After the season opener, there was a special night at Please Touch Museum, hosted by the American Cancer Society. There was food, face painting, and a lot to do. The museum was closed to the general public for the evening, and I hear that it was great fun for all.

Whew, I get tired just updating you on what our boy has been doing! He's doing really well. However, what's coming up next is going to be very hard on him, and he needs our prayers more than ever. Please don't forget that, although Ryan is active and happy, he is still sick and in need of treatment and prayers.

Thanks so much for dropping by! Please stop by the guest book and "wave hello". Ryan enjoys these messages a lot, and it got awfully quiet lately--hint, hint ;)

Thursday, April 11, 2002 at 09:13 AM (CDT)

Ryan is such a strong boy! He is back to school, and he will continue going until his next MRI next Thursday. It's wonderful to see that he's doing the things he enjoys doing, and that he is strong enough to do them.

The next MRI is needed to determine how well the last round of chemo went. That determines when the stem cell rescue will take place. Please continue praying for Ryan. I've had good news to share, and I'm delighted that I can do so, but he still has a very hard battle ahead of him.

Thank you for stopping by to check on Ryan. Please continue to write him, whether it be by postal mail (address at bottom of page) or by his guest book. He really does enjoy the messages.

Monday, April 1, 2002 at 8:41 AM (CST)

GREAT NEWS!!! Bubby and Ryan were able to leave the hospital yesterday in time to join us all for the Easter egg hunt and dinner! What a truly wonderful surprise. Ryan looks great, and he smiled so much, joining in the fun with his brothers and cousins as though he hadn't a care in the world :) As good as dinner was, the very best thing about yesterday was that the entire family was together. Thanks for those prayers--God sent our boy home just in time to make a lot of people happy! A special thank you to our Acme Family for helping to make the day extra special! As Dad (Bill) says, you're really good people and couldn't be nicer or more helpful.

Saturday, March 30, 2002 at 09:06 AM (CST)

Good morning, and a blessed Easter weekend to you! Ryan remains in the hospital, but he had some chips and juice last night, and that's a good sign :)

Please note the new address at the bottom of the page. The Ryan Hamrick Fund has been started up, and the address for it is listed below. Please use this address to correspond directly with Ryan and his family. Thank you!

Lisa asked me to do a write-up for a Faces of Brain Tumors book being written to raise awareness for Brain Tumor Action Week. I'm now confirming addresses and gathering releases and photos, but in the meantime, we're going to share it with you. If you haven't met Ryan, consider this your introduction to him.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

..."fearfully and wonderfully made"... Not the words that you might expect to hear in a book titled Faces of Brain Tumors, since we all know that cancer is something that has gone horribly wrong in the body. Yet God creates each child as a unique and precious work of art, without flaw, and no circumstance can change that. At age 8, made up of intelligence, adventure, silliness, and a dash of temper and mischief too, Ryan is proof of this. He has been challenged in an incredible way, beating cancer once, and now battling it again. It is hard to describe Ryan without mention of his cancer, for it is so much a part of his life now, and it is defining in him in ways that simply awe all who know him.

Ryan has dreams. He'd like to be a basketball player. He's always been a little guy, but that won't stop our Ryan. He's got spirit and determination, and he will do what he sets out to do.

Ryan has courage. He is battling cancer, and he's doing it without complaint. He even looks forward to hospital visits and faces treatments without flinching.

Ryan has faith. He fights to win, and so far, he has shown that he can win. He has beat incredible odds, and he remains an active child as he simply faces each day without fear or wondering "why me?"

Ryan has the ability to inspire others. Look into his eyes, and you'll see that they are wide open, bright, innocent, and full of hope. Look at his smile, and you will see the same things, but in an even more potent way. For Ryan smiles when other's smiles have been forced, have begun to fade, or have disappeared completely. That Ryan is still smiling is a demonstration of his ability to make his dreams come true, his courage to fight a hard battle, his faith that he can fight without fear and to win.

The face of a brain tumor is found in one who is "fearfully and wonderfully made", who is a precious and silly and smart and stubborn and spirited. It is found in the little boy on the playground who is climbing up ladders and sliding down slides, who is kicking a soccer ball across the field toward the goal, who is tossing a football with his dad, who is playing Nintendo with his brothers, who is singing "You Are My Sunshine" with his mom. The face of cancer...it's found on an ordinary boy with extraordinary character. To meet him is to meet someone well worth knowing. You will never be the same once you do. He will inspire you to be stronger, braver, perhaps simply more considerate. Ryan shows that cancer doesn't defeat but defines. Ryan shows that cancer doesn't cloud his life, but that his spirit still shines as bright as the sun!

Thursday, March 28, 2002 at 09:06 AM (CST)

Ryan is currently in the hospital. He's been back and forth, mostly to get hydrated. He is extremely tired, and yesterday he began to run a low-grade fever. That is why he is in the hospital right now--so that the doctors and nurses can keep a close eye on him. He has not needed antibiotics, and they were considering releasing him, so hopefully we'll see him home soon. Please pray that Ryan's strength comes back quickly, that the fever disappears, and that his appetite returns. Ryan is really looking forward to an Easter egg hunt, and he'll be disappointed to miss it. Ryan usually has an Easter egg hunt with his Mommom and Poppop and then one with his Gram and Grandpop and cousins (and me :)) when we all go there for Easter dinner. That's the plan for this year too, and we sure would all appreciate your prayers that this works out according to plan. These simple things mean an awful lot, and they've become a lot more special these past two years. Thanks so much for checking up on our boy!

p.s. Brain Tumor Action Week is coming up soon. I am sending press releases and other info to our local newspapers with the hopes that they will get printed. Please check back here for links to info on how you can learn more and help to raise awareness of the need for more assistance and research to treat this terrible disease.

Saturday, March 23, 2002 at 1:13 PM (CST)

I know that Ryan went to the hospital yesterday to receive stem cells to help him regain his strength after the chemo treatments, but I haven't heard yet how that went. I will update you just as soon as I know. In the meantime, I'm uploading 3 new photos of Ryan--each from his bowling birthday party last month. Enjoy!

Tuesday, March 19, 2002 at 01:21 PM (CST)

Ryan comes home today, and he's a sleepy kid. He got really sick to his stomach yesterday, which is normal with chemo, but it wiped him out. I hear that he slept for 16 hours straight last night! Today he is due to come home, and last I heard, he's on schedule. Friday he returns to the hospital to receive some stem cells as an out-patient. The doctor told Lisa that this will make him sick to his stomach too. Please pray for Ryan to keep up his strength and to get over the nausea quickly. Thanks!

Monday, March 18, 2002 at 02:53 PM (CST)

Ryan was happy to go to the hospital because he was looking forward to laying in bed and watching videos all day. That got boring pretty fast though. Thankfully, he is finished this round of chemo treatments as of today, and tomorrow he heads home.

Tomorrow a special event is being held by Ryan's class. It's an "exercise-a-thon". This is being done for Ryan. His teachers and classmates are super, aren't they?!

To those of you who are local, check out the Daily Times. There will be another article soon by Barbara Ormsby. The link to the other article she did is at the bottom of this page. Also, Lisa got a local post office box, one convenient for her to go to. I don't have it yet, but she wants it put here, so soon you'll have a local address to use too.

Thanks for stopping by. All is going well. I'm not sure what's next, but as soon as I know, you will too :)

Friday, March 15, 2002 at 09:14 PM (CST)

Hi! Thanks for dropping by today :) Ryan recently asked his mom to print out all the guestbook entries so that he could read them over and over again. If you've wondered if your message is helping, YES!!!, it is. Thanks to all who take the time to write to Ryan in his guestbook, for you are encouraging him lots and lots. God bless you all with a wonderful day! Ryan is where he wants to be right now: in the hospital for his chemo. He is back on track with treatments, so God has blessed him too in answering your prayers.

Thursday, March 14, 2002 at 05:40 PM (CST)

I have good news to share with you all! Ryan had a bone marrow aspiration today (a test of his bone marrow) rather than the bone scan. This was painful, but he took some Tylenol, and then he spent the afternoon at home playing outside. The results are good, and that means that Ryan can begin his next chemo treatments. He goes into the hospital tomorrow for three to four days. This chemo will most likely make him sick, tired, and weak, but he will regain his strength. This chemo also worked for him before. For those who are new to Ryan's site, and I see many new names in the guestbook, chemo is short for chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is actually many different kinds of medicines, and they are used to rid the body of cancer cells. The reason that Ryan gets sick is that some good cells get wiped out along with the bad. That is normal, and the goal is to get rid of the cancer cells in Ryan's body. Ryan is excited about going back to the hospital. He knows this is an important step in getting healthy again. And I have to say, I think that Ryan is THE BRAVEST PERSON I have ever known!!! Thanks for stopping by to check on Ryan, and I'm so glad we have good news to share--at last. Please keep writing to Ryan in his guestbook. He can read his messages while he's in the hospital, and he enjoys them. Thanks so much :)

Tuesday, March 12, 2002 at 01:21 PM (CST)

Ryan was due to return to the hospital today to begin his chemo treatments. His dad, Bubby, took him to the clinic yesterday to have the blood counts checked before Lisa and Ryan packed up to head to the hospital today. The blood counts are too low to begin chemo, so Ryan remains at home. Since the cause of the low blood counts is still unknown, Ryan will have a bone scan on Thursday to better determine the cause.

PRAYER NEED: This is the second time chemo has been delayed in the past 2 weeks. Please pray that those counts come up--now! And that nothing serious is causing the lowered counts.

PRAISE: Yes, we can be thankful for one thing. Ryan looks and acts as though he is perfectly healthy--no appearance of illness in him. The cancer cells remain, yet they are not causing any visible symptoms--no awkward walking or double vision or things of that nature. That Ryan feels good is something to be thankful for, particularly with the delays in treatment.

WHY CHEMO THEN?: It is needed and time is important because even with the last round of chemo, more cancer cells were developing. As long as Ryan is not receiving treatments, he is at risk for growth of the cancer.

THANK YOU to all of you who stop by to check on our Ryan, who remember Ryan and all of his family in your prayers, who send cards or guestbook messages or e-mails (keep them coming please!), and who are helping to support him and his family in so many other ways. We appreciate you!

Tuesday, March 05, 2002 at 07:20 PM (CST)

Ryan is home again. Grandpop drove him and his mom to the hospital, but when they got there and Ryan had his blood counts checked, the counts were too low to begin chemo. He didn't want his throat tested for strep, but that's a possibility since it was one kid in the family just had it. Ryan is now on antibiotics, and next week he goes back to the hospital for another blood count. If the counts are high enough, the chemo will take place then. Please keep praying for Ryan and for everyone in the family. It is frustrating to me to hear that Ryan has to wait, and it must be even harder for him and his parents. Thanks for your continued support of our boy!

Monday, March 04, 2002 at 09:12 PM (CST)

Ryan's Grandpop will drive Ryan and Lisa to the hospital tomorrow so Ryan can begin his next chemo treatments. These will last 4 to 5 days, and he will stay at the hospital. Lisa stays with him, and his dad, grandparents, and brothers will visit. Please pray for safety as they drive to the hospital, for continued good health for Lisa and the rest of the family (Robert is recovering from strep throat), and for Ryan to beat this. The chemo makes him sick, and it can make him tired and weak and more likely to get infections, so prayers for his health are especially important right now. His body can't fight off germs as well as it usually can during chemo. Thanks for your prayers, and thanks for checking on Ryan! Keep adding your notes to the guestbook--Ryan and all his family enjoy them. Tom is at it again, and he's got this very cool "cartoon Ryan" that is just too cute to miss. Oh, and if you're wondering, Ryan or his mom will have access to a computer while at the hospital, so you don't have to wait to pass on messages. Hint, hint :)

Wednesday, February 27 -- Another update!

Lisa, who is Ryan's mom, just called me. Ryan had his kidney test and is now home again. Ryan's doctor has been discussing his treatment with a transplant specialist, and they have decided to postpone the stem cell transplant. Ryan will NOT be receiving the pill form of chemo on Monday. Instead, he will go the hospital to stay on Tuesday. His mom stays with him, sleeping at the hospital with him. His dad and brothers and other family will visit. He will be there for 4 to 5 days, then may come home, then will probably get sick (normal side effect of chemo) and need to stay at the hospital again until he feels stronger. Three weeks after that, Ryan will have an MRI (a painless picture of his brain and spine) to see if all the cancer cells are gone. And then the transplant. Just wanted you all to know what's up so you can pray for success with the chemo. The last time Ryan had this chemo, it made him pretty sick, but it also worked very well. Thanks for checking up on him, and please wave "hi" in the guestbook since Ryan loves to read those messages :)

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27
What a week, and it's just the beginning!

I see lots of new guestbook entries, and Ryan LOVES these, so thank you for taking the time to write him a note!

Ryan and his family have some sad pet news. Their dog, Sunshine, had some medical problems, and they couldn't care for her any longer. The good news is that she was taken in by a family who can care for her and is happy to have her :) Then their cat, Sugar, died suddenly this week. All the family thought of their pets as family too, so please say a prayer as they grieve their losses. Thanks!

A short time ago, I posted some ways that those who'd like to help may help (see the history for that). I just heard that a teacher and teacher's aide stopped by to bring lunch to Ryan and Lisa--what a fun time they had! And they also distributed this website url to every teacher, administrator, and worker in the Interboro school district, which led to many more people helped out financially! Isn't that exciting! We may never know who the donors are, but we all are greatly blessed by you, and a big THANK YOU from Ryan and family to you!!!

All the boys went to the dentist yesterday, and Ryan and Robert need to go back today. Ryan's teeth need quite a bit more work, and that's a result of his previous radiation treatments. Robert needs one little filling. Both of them hate going to the dentist, so I'm sure a prayer for that trip would be helpful!

Ryan was going to begin chemo tomorrow, but as usual, plans change. He is scheduled for a kidney test this week (a normal test for him during chemo treatments), and then he has a busy weekend--including a pinewood derby, and on Monday he begins his chemo. He will stay in the hospital during the day on Monday because this chemo pill will make him sick. For those new to this site, the chemo is the medicine that will help Ryan to get rid of all of his cancer cells to become healthy again. The medicine makes him sick, and that is normal with this medicine. Back to Monday...if the chemo doesn't make Ryan too sick, he can come home and take the pills for a week from home. If he is very sick, then he will stay in the hospital, so he can get extra special care. Then, he gets scheduled for his stem cell transplant, and that means a long stay in the hospital.

To you students who are visiting now, Ryan is not afraid of the hospital. The hospital has computers, arts and crafts, games--even Nintendo, and plenty to do. So his stay in the hospital is important, but it's not scary.

Thank you for your continued support of Ryan, for your thoughts and well wishes, for those guestbook entries--keep them coming please!, and for your prayers!

Friday, February 22, 2002 7:05 AM CST

Quickie update: For those who pray specifically, here are some more details. As of yesterday, tests were scheduled for today and Monday. Tuesday begins a pill form of chemo, and that continues for a week--at HOME! So, right now, Ryan is still being treated on an out-patient basis, and that means he can spend time at home, something everyone likes :) Thanks for those prayers, and please keep them coming!

Wednesday, February 20

Dear Friends and Family,

Ryan had the MRI mentioned earlier, and the results weren't what we'd all hoped for. When his spinal fluid was tested, it came back clean, but the MRI shows that cancer cells have returned to his brain. The road ahead is going to be more difficult than expected. Ryan will have a series of tests this week and early next week, and he will begin some form of chemo next week. The transplant follows. Exact dates are unknown, but everything will move along quickly now.

Please pray for Ryan's restored health. Keep Lisa, Bubby, Matt, and Robert, as well as the rest of his family in your prayers. Sadly, the news was not as encouraging as we'd hoped for, and I wish with all my heart that I had happier news to pass on. Perhaps we soon will have better news, and that remains my prayer.

Thanks for your continued support of Ryan and his family.

Love,
Laurie

Wednesday February 20, 2002 5:03 PM CST

Sunday, February 17, 2002 11:06 AM CST

Quickie update: Ryan did great with this most recent dose of "study" chemo, which is an out-patient treatment. He goes into the hospital tomorrow for an MRI, and that is also out-patient. On Tuesday, Lisa and Bubby meet with Dr. Anna to discuss the next step of the treatment, and that should be the high-dose chemo with stem-cell reinfusion (in other words, his stem-cell transplant). Please pray that all meetings go smoothly, for travel safety, for wise decisions, and for continued good health. As to needs, they continue, and they will increase as Bubby spends more time in the hospital and less in work--please see the history page for details on how you can help if you'd like to/are able to. Thanks so much!

Thursday February 14, 2002 6:47 AM CST

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

It is two years ago today that Ryan began his treatments for cancer. Somehow it just seems appropriate that today we remember to thank God for our Ryan, for the precious little boy he is and the life we've seen one miracle worked in so far. We'd be remiss not to thank all the people who've helped out along the way too, but it will be impossible to name them all, for some don't even give names when they give gifts. On behalf of Ryan, Lisa, Bubby, Matt, Robert, and all of Ryan's extended family, THANK YOU for all you have done and continue to do for this family!

Thanks to Dr. T. for her quick diagnosis and action, to Drs. Rob and Anna for coordinating Ryan's care with "the team", to Interboro School District for meals and the computer and visits from teachers and collections of videos from classmates and so much more, to ACME employees for a variety of support, to the Prospect Park Library for giving up their Christmas party to collect cash for Ryan's family instead, to Give Kids The World and to Make-A-Wish Foundation for the great week away! Thanks to the ladies on dMarie who have never met me or Lisa, but who have been praying for 2 years, sending cards and gifts, and recently pitched in to collect just over $500 to help the family pay bills! Thanks to Sue in Canada for coordinating that event! Thanks to the ladies on Jangle, again who have not met me or Lisa, but who pray and send cards and always ask how our Ryan is. Thanks to Toys For Tots, to the local churches for a variety of support, to the churches across the country who have asked "may we pray for Ryan too?", to TCA students and teachers for the scrapbooks and ongoing prayer, to Barbara O. of the Daily Times for printing Ryan's story and to Paula D. for the fantastic photos in that article. Thanks to Trish for the cool birthday cake for Ryan, for babysitting, for rides when needed. Thanks to Margie and Denise and all the other neighbors and friends in Prospect Park who coordinated a fundraiser almost 2 years ago and who continue to do all they can to help on a daily basis. Thanks to the many anonymous donors, names that will never be known to us, but whose generosity has touched us all--like the lady who showed up on the doorstep with cash and gift certificates, indentifying herself only as Santa. Thanks to Bubby's employer and co-workers who have been so understanding of his need to be with his son. Many people and organizations have done so much, and as I said before, probably more than I am aware of. Once the need is known, the question always follows: "how can I help?" I can not imagine how hard life could have been had all of you not given up something--money, time, skill, prayer--to make life just a little bit more bearable when everything begins to get overwhelming! The love you have shown and continue to show is a blessing to us all, and I pray that God blesses you abundantly in return!

If I have eliminated a name, please forgive me. I truly don't know the extent of the giving, and I know I've touched on just a few of those who have helped, but EVERY SINGLE ONE of you is important to us, as EVERY SINGLE ONE of you has touched the hearts of us all. On this day, when we focus on love and romance (ewwww, right Ryan?!), I am awed at the many who have opened their hearts to this wonderful boy. In doing so, you bless us, but you risk hurt too. The shared love we have for Ryan has joined our hearts together, locally and around the world. What an amazing thing this is, and I am truly thankful and awed that I have the privilege of knowing how this love is shared with our Ryan and therefore the privilege of saying THANK YOU!

Monday February 11, 2002 11:22 AM CST

Hi! I have a correction to make about the last journal entry plus some ways that you can help the family. So many have asked how they can help, so I talked with Lisa, and I will share how with you today.

First, my last update stated that Ryan was in a lot of pain. He was, in the form of a bad headache that has now lessened. He also was very sick, and that too is not as bad now. As of yesterday, we did not know if Ryan would receive the study chemo today or not. Due to maintenance on this site, we may not be able to update you until Feb. 14, but in the meantime, please do keep Ryan's headache and sick stomach in prayer. He's such a trooper!

How can you help? In lots of ways. Bubby and Lisa have had no choice but for Lisa to drop her jobs, and this has hurt them financially. Add to that that they have been hit with some emergency expenses, and it's been a tough few months. Cash is always helpful, but there are other ways to help too: ACME/Albertson food gift cards, Pathmark food gift cards, Burger King gift certificates, Wendy's gift certificates. You may send these to Ryan's Family c/o Laurie Ware, P.O. Box 1172, Linwood, PA 19061. If you send something via mail, please e-mail me at cr8tv_1@yahoo.com to let me to look for it. Ryan is approaching his month-long hospital stay, and that means that Bubby will miss work, making finances even tougher than they already are.

I know that I am not alone in saying that Lisa and Bubby should not have to choose between being with Ryan, Matt, and Robert or having the income they need to stay afloat. Please, if you are able to, help them out now. Many of you already have, and you are a blessing to all of us! Look for our special Valentine to you later in the week--our way of saying thank you for making a tough time easier.

Thanks for stopping by, and as always, thank you for your prayers and support of Ryan and his family! You are making a difference, and we all need you.

Love,
Laurie

Wednesday February 6, 2002 4:58 PM CST

Ryan began the study, the one that will deliver chemo directly to the one spot on his spine that still has cancer cells. His first dose went well, but his second one did not. Yesterday he had to go back to the hospital after spending the day there--he had a severe headache, and only morphine helped :( Please keep Ryan in your prayers as we wait to hear what comes next--a continuation of the study or just move on to the transplant. Thanks!

On a happier note, you should have seen Ryan this past Monday. He had a bowling party, and it was so much fun! He would bowl, then he'd jump up and down cheering every time he'd knock pins down, and that was a lot of cheering! We all enjoyed his party, but most of all, we enjoyed HIM :)

Thanks for stopping by to check on Ryan. I have some photos from his bowling party to upload, and either Lisa or I will post an update here as soon as possible.

Sunday, February 3, 2002 12:54 AM CST

Hmmmm...yesterday was Ground Hog Day...anyone know if the ground hog saw his shadow? I don't because I was too busy partying with Ryan! It was a wonderful time, and though the party was for Ryan *and* his Gram, you sure wouldn't have known that. But you know what? I think her favorite gift was seeing her Ryan so happy and silly and energetic! I have a photo collage on the photo page--enjoy :)

Saturday, February 2, 2002 -- HAPPY BIRTHDAY RYAN!!!

LOTS AND LOTS OF PEOPLE LOVE YOU, AND WE ARE ALL CHEERING YOU ON TO GET BETTER FAST!!!

Yesterday, Ryan had a disappointing day. He had brownies ready to take to school, and he was going to celebrate his birthday in school with his classmates. However, he was having a lot of hip pain. It cleared up with Motrin, and it's a side effect of the steroids, but it sure did make for a bummer of a day :(

Today, Ryan is celebrating his birthday along with his Gram's. Then, on Monday, he is celebrating yet again. What fun lies ahead! I'm lucky enough to be on his invitation list, so I'm looking forward to partying with Ryan...over and over again :) Thanks for stopping by, and be sure to come back soon to see more updates and party photos.

Wednesday, January 30, 2002 9:23 AM CST

I haven't had a chance to talk to speak with Lisa since our last update; it's been a busy week is all that I know. However, guess what? RYAN TURNS 8 ON SATURDAY!!! Yippee, a party is planned too! Ryan planned it out during one of his hospital trips, and his Gram just had a birthday--she's how old??? ;) --and he wants to celebrate with her. I'll get photos on our digital camera and post some of Ryan celebrating ASAP. Thanks for checking on him, and thanks for your prayers and support!

Thursday January 24, 2002 10:25 AM CST

I spoke with Lisa earlier this morning, and here is the update of the meeting she and Bubby had with the oncologist yesterday. There is a great deal that will need to take place now, and it will happen quickly. This update is lengthy and contains some medical procedures as best as I understood them as described to me by Lisa.

First, the bad news. The type of cancer Ryan is fighting is medullablastoma, and it is resistant in Ryan. He falls into a low percentage of patients who become "clean" of the cancer only to have it recur. The reason I am telling you this is two-fold: (1) Ryan *has* overcome an incredibly tough cancer and remained a real fighter himself, and (2) it's significant in how treatment decisions are made now.

There is hope, and we have together seen Ryan beat this once before. Here's how he's going to do it again:

THE MRI RESULTS

The result of the MRI done last week showed that more than the 50% of the cancer cells were gone. This made Ryan a candidate for stem cell replacement. Until this test was done, Ryan was only *hoping* to be a candidate to for the stem cell transplant, so this is excellent news. However, Ryan still has some cells located in one spot in his spine. Before moving on to the transplant, Ryan will take part in a study to help rid him of those remaining cells. The more cells that are gone prior to the transplant, the greater the chance of a cure.

THE STUDY

Ryan will begin taking part in the study this Monday. This study has been used with success on adults and on children with leukemia, but it has not been used for long on children with brain tumors. The study is part of Ryan's treatment, and it works as follows: chemo is inserted into the spinal fluid at the site of the remaining cells. Ryan will be sedated during this, and it will take two weeks of out-patient treatments. To begin this part of his treatment, Ryan will first need a test (scheduled for Monday) to see if his cerebrospinal fluid circulates properly. Time is of the essence, as this cancer is very aggressive, so the risk of taking two more weeks of treatment prior to the transplant is that the cancer cells could continue to grow and spread. However, since Ryan would be getting chemo in his spinal fluid, the chemo should help prevent this happening. Medullablastoma is usually located only in the brain and spinal cord, and in Ryan's case it is limited to these areas. During this study, Ryan will not experience the side effects that come with other forms of chemotherapy. It can't hurt him; it can only help. Regardless of the results of this study, Ryan will remain a candidate for the stem cell transplant.

THE STEM CELL TRANSPLANT

This is the one shot at a cure that Ryan has. Everything done during this second battle with cancer has been done to prepare Ryan for the transplant. It is a go. There will be an MRI done after the study explained above, and then the stem cell transplant will be under way. This is a fairly new procedure, as it has only been used the past 10 years. I don't have the details of this procedure as Lisa nd Bubby are only getting those details today, but the transplant will give Ryan a fresh start to a once-again healthy life.

PRAYER CONCERNS & PRAISES

* travel--lots of trips back and forth to the hospital
* success--that all cancer cells would be completely eliminated NOW
* for family needs--this continues to be a challenging time in respect to time together, finances, and emotions
* wisdom--for the doctors as they continue to treat Ryan and fight this battle with him
* and let's not forget the praises for the MANY answered prayers to date--if you look back at the concerns, you'll see that every one has a positive answer

Thanks for stopping by to check on our Ryan. We appreciate you and rely on your support and prayers. Today, Lisa and Bubby meet with the transplant team to more details. I may not give an update on that yet. There's a lot here now to absorb and to keep in prayer. Thanks again!

With love and a thankful heart for you,
Laurie

Sunday, January 20, 2002 6:02 PM CST

It's a busy week for Lisa and Bubby. The team meets on Tuesday (their normal routine) to review patient cases. On Wednesday, Ryan's oncologist will meet with Lisa. On Thursday, the transplant team meets with Lisa. I'm not sure if Bubby will be able to make those meetings as he needs to be in work too, but please keep this week in prayer: wisdom for the doctors, safety in traveling, Bubby's and Dad's (Ryan's Grandpop)work schedules to allow time for the hospital meetings, and the extra traveling that will be taking place. Ryan's Grandpop often drives him and Lisa back and forth to the hospital. On a lighter note, it snowed here, and Ryan played out in the snow for an hour an half yesterday! Today his dad took him and his brothers out sledding. Isn't it neat to hear how he's still being an active little boy, even when going through such a hard time?! Thanks for stopping by! ~Laurie

Friday January 18, 2002 6:30 PM CST

So many of you have asked me how the MRI went, and I have not talked to Lisa yet, but I have heard via our mom that the results were good. There will be more of an update soon, but in the meantime, praise God as He heard those prayers and answered in the way we wanted Him to!!! Even better, actually, as all but a few of the cancer cells were wiped out--way more than the necessary 50%! There will be a meeting on Tuesday of the oncology team treating Ryan, and they will discuss details of the next phase of his treatment then. Thank you so much for your support of Ryan and all of our family. We sure do appreciate you! Maybe Lisa will have a chance to update us more thoroughly soon. Love, Laurie

Wednesday, January 16, 2002 at 6:11 (CST)

PRAYER ALERT:

*** "Ryan gets his next MRI on January 17th. This is the big one, it will decide if we get to go on to the stem cell transplant round." ***

Please pray for all the family tomorrow. This is a big day, a very important day. I don't know how long it will take for results, but we will update you just as soon as we know. Thank you for your continued prayer support of Ryan and all the family!

By the way, the page is getting a little long because CaringBridge is experiencing some technical difficulties, which they hope to have worked out soon. But as long we can keep you posted, we will continue to do so. Oh, and all 3 photos of Ryan are up now :) If you haven't had the pleasure of meeting our boy, be sure to take a look at him--and you will be sure to see why so many in the guest book talk about his wonderful smile!

~Laurie

Sunday, January 13, 2002

Guess who came to visit me and my family yesterday? Ryan and his family! We had a really nice visit, and we pulled out the digital camera to add a photo to our ***new photo album***! Many of you wanted to see our boy, so here he is! Two photos up (one especially for my scrapping buddies :)), one more to be added later in the day. Ryan continues to do well :) Thanks for stopping by!!!

Tuesday, January 08, 2002 at 09:17AM (CST)

Hey, guess what I heard? Ryan went back to school yesterday! Later in the day he had to go to the hospital for some bloodwork, but as ordinary as school is, isn't it wonderful that Ryan felt well enough to go?! Just wanted to pass that on. No new news yet--hoping for more of an update soon. Keep in prayer for the big day Lisa names below. Thanks! ~Laurie

Thursday, January 03, 2002 at 06:15 PM (CST)

Hello everyone ! We're out of the hospital. We just got home (it's 7:00 pm) All of Ryan's counts are good now, so hopefully we are done for a few weeks. Ryan gets his next MRI on January 17th. This is the big one, it will decide if we get to go on to the stem cell transplant round. The cancer needs to have shrunk by 50% and all his organs need to be functioning perfectly Keep praying. Thanks. Lisa.

**** And here's Aunt Laurie's two cents! ****

My apologies to Lisa and to all were used to more frequent updates, but we just moved, and getting on-line has been nothing short of a hassle--ugh! Lisa, you're doing a great job of handling the site!

I just saw the boys' reviews of Disney, so I thought I'd stick them back here on the front page. This was an extra special time, so it deserves some extra special attention, don't you think?

I was fortunate enough to spend Christmas Day with Ryan...oh yeah, with the rest of the family too :) He looks great, a little puffy, but what a wonderful site to me just the same!!!

After you read...or re-read...these reviews, you might want to visit the sites listed below. I have links that will tell you more about the organizations that provided this trip as well as how you can help them to make more wishes come true. Lisa will be giving me photos to add very shortly too. And if you are a scrapbooker, there is a special event--throughout the States and Canada--that is in the works right now to benefit Ryan and family. Drop a note to me via Ryan's mailbox, and I'll be happy to give you details.

Ryan's Make-A-Wish Review:It was a lot of fun--the train ride was not so good--it was hard to eat dinner and to sleep. My favorite ride was It's A Small World and Winnie the Pooh. I could have done them a hundred times. I liked seeing the Rugrats, Spongebob and Goofy. Thank you for all your letters. Love, Ryan

Robert's Make-A-Wish Review: The train ride was too long and some guy snored all night long. My favorite ride was Peter Pan--I rode my first roller coaster--it was scary. I liked seeing Goofy--'cause he was on a pig on the carousel with me at the Village. I liked eating the pickles in the restaurants--you could take as much as you wanted.

Matt's Make-A-Wish Review: The train ride was long, but it was a lot of fun. It was funny watching my Gram try to get her food to her mouth in the dining car. The Village was great and I loved everything. My favorite rides were the Aerosmith Rocking Rollercoaster and It's A Small World. The Aladdin Ride was funny because the camel spit in my Mom's ear every time we went around. I liked Goofy and Pluto even though he licked me in the restaurant. It was also funny when Chip sat on Robert and Robert punched him for doing it. I hope I get to go back sometime.

Mom's a.k.a. Lisa's Make-A-Wish review: The whole trip was amazing and I can't put into words how happy it made me to be able to make my kids so happy. (By the way, my favorite ride was the Aerosmith Rocking Rollercoaster too), and Tigger and Donny the Wild Boy from Nickelodeon were my favorite characters.

Back to Aunt Laurie... Well, I sure did share more than two cent's worth! The reviews shared are about a fun time, and as thankful as we are for that, let's pray really hard for that second miracle for Ryan! Lisa shared the very specific prayer requests, and I echo her in saying please keep praying. Thanks for dropping by to check on our Ryan!

Saturday, December 29, 2001 at 12:52 PM (CST)

well, we're back in the hospital again. Ryan got a fever last night and he has no white counts, so we will be here for a while. They're checking for infection, but we won't know the results until Sunday. Happy New Year !!

Wednesday, December 26, 2001 at 12:29 PM (CST)

Hi everyone, Ryan came home from the hoapital the day before Christmas Eve and is doing great. He has not been sick at all and had a wonderful day on Christmas. Thank you all for all your prayers, they mean so much to us. God Bless and Happy New Year.

Wednesday, Dec. 26

Journal Update
Ryan came home from the hospital the day before Christmas Eve. He is doing great. He has not been sick at all and had an excellent day on Christmas. Thank you everyone for your prayers. They mean so much to us.




Over the weekend I heard that Ryan is

headed back to the hospital this Wednesday, December 19. Specific prayer requests are listed below. Thanks for stopping by to check on our Ryan!



Hey everyone - here's the messages from everyone about Disney:
RYAN SAYS: IT WAS A LOT OF FUN - THE TRAIN RIDE WAS NOT SO GOOD - IT WAS HARD TO EAT DINNER AND TO SLEEP. MY FAVORITE RIDE WAS ITS A SMALL WORLD AND WINNIE THE POOH. I COULD HAVE DONE THEM A HUNDRED TIMES. I LIKED SEEING THE RUGRATS, SPONGEBOB AND GOOFY. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR LETTERS. LOVE RYAN

ROBERT SAYS: THE TRAIN RIDE WAS TOO LONG AND SOME GUY SNORED ALL NIGHT LONG. MY FAVORITE RIDE WAS PETER PAN - I RODE MY FIRST ROLLER COASTER - IT WAS SCARY. I LIKED SEEING GOOFY - CAUSE HE WAS ON A PIG ON THE CARASOUL WITH ME AT THE VILLAGE. I LIKED EATING THE PICKELS IN THE RESTERAUNTS, YOU COULD TAKE AS MUCH AS YOU WANTED.

MATT SAYS: THE TRAIN RIDE WAS LONG, BUT IT WAS A LOT OF FUN. IT WAS FUNNY WATCHING MY GRAM TRY TO GET HER FOOD TO HER MOUTH IN THE DINING CAR. THE VILLAGE WAS GREAT AND I LOVED EVERYTHING. MY FAVORITE RIDES WERE THE AEROSMITH ROCKING ROLLER COASTER AND ITS A SMALL WORLD. THE ALADIN RIDE WAS FUNNY BECAUSE THE CAMEL SPIT IN MY MOMS EAR EVERY TIME WE WENT AROUND. I LIKED GOOFY AND PLUTO EVEN THOUGH WE LICKED ME IN THE RESTERAUNT. IT WAS ALSO FUNNY WHEN CHIP SAT ON ROBERT AND ROBERT PUNCHED HIM FOR DOING IT. IHOPE I GET TO GO BACK SOMETIME

MOM:
THE WHOLE TRIP WAS AMAZING AND I CAN'T PUT INTO WORDS HOW HAPPY IT MADE ME TO BE ABLE TO MAKE MY KIDS SO HAPPY. ( BY THE WAY, MY FAVORITE RIDE WAS THE AEROSMITH ROCKING ROLLER COASTER TOO) AND TIGGER AND DONNY THE WILD BOY FROM NICKELODEON WERE MY FAVORITE CHARACTERS

*** Friday, December 14: Change of Plans ***

Ryan is home again. The doctor decided to postpone this particular round of chemo until next week. It was going to be a 5-day round, but they have changed that to a 4-day round of chemo with the hope that his blood counts will not go too low. This delay makes it more likely that he will be home for Christmas, but there are no guarantees of that. Ryan has just enough stem cells harvested for his stem cell transplant, so please keep these things in mind in praying for Ryan:

* that blood counts won't dip so low that he'll need stem cells
* that his blood counts don't drop until after Christmas so that he can spend it with his family--at home
* that his kidney function would stay healthy
* that at least 50% of the cancer cells would be wiped out
* for continued protection from illness and for safety in traveling

Thank you!
~ Laurie

Wednesday, December 12, 2001 at 7:21 AM (CST)

Quick, but important, update: Ryan goes back to the hospital this Thursday to begin a 5-day round of chemo. Please pray that at least 50% of the cancer is knocked out by this chemo and that his kidney function remains healthy. Also, keep Lisa and Bubby in your prayers as they travel: Lisa will be in the hospital with Ryan on Thursday and Friday; Bubby will go in on the weekend; Lisa heads back on Monday. Matt and Robert will be staying with their Gram and Grandpop. Thank you! ~Laurie

Monday, December 10, 2001 at 11:57 AM (CST)

Hey Everyone,

It's Lisa. We got our computer and we're all set to go. Thank you to everyone who made it possible. The boys are all out now, but I'll have them enter messages when they get home - Disney was a blast!!!!

~Lisa

Sunday, December 09, 2001 at 10:18 AM (CST)

Ryan and his family are safely home from Give Kids The World. Make-A-Wish sent them there, and from the quick review I got of the trip from Ryan's Gram, it sounds as though this indeed was a wish come true!

Ryan did not need any extra medical care while away--yippee!!! This is a direct answer to prayer, so THANK YOU for praying Ryan through this week!

Do you remember that I asked if anyone knew of a way to get an updated or new computer plus internet access for Ryan's family? It's a small world as the person who set the wheels in motion for this to happen is Ryan's former kindergarten teacher! Mrs. King is a special lady, and I haven't yet met her, but I've heard wonderful things about her from Robert (who is her student this year) and Ryan. She made arrangements to have the computer rebuilt and to have internet capability and access. Another wonderful thing is done for a family with hard times! Thank you Mrs. King! The boys are looking forward to going on-line and seeing the guest book entries for themselves. They've been enjoying the printed versions that their Grandpop has been sending to them.

Thanks for stopping by and for your prayers and your support. Tomorrow Ryan goes back to the hospital for an MRI (he hates these), and his next round of chemo should be scheduled soon--maybe even this week. Ryan still has a long road ahead of him, so we appreciate you more than you can know.

Well, that's it for now. The next updates will be from Ryan, Robert, and Matthew. I'll ask them each to give their reviews of this special time away together.

~Laurie


Saturday, December 01, 2001 at 10:28 AM (CST)

RYAN'S WISH TRIP IS UNDER WAY!

FRI, DEC 07: I've received no more phone calls, and by now Ryan and family should all be sleeping, ready for the long trip home. (Of course, just because they should be sleeping doesn't mean they are; I heard that Mickey was throwing a big bash tonight!) In any case, I'm sticking to the "no news is good news" theory :) Please keep Ryan and family in prayer as they head home. It's a long trip, 2 days of train travel. Be sure to check back for Ryan's, Matt's, and Robert's memories of this special trip!

WEDS, DEC 05: I got a call from Florida! Happy, happy news today: Ryan has not needed to receive any blood (yippee!!!) and has been up early every day and out all day. He and his family are staying at Give Kids The World, and they've visited Walt Disney World, MGM Studios, and Universal Studios. Tomorrow they go to Sea World, and on Friday it's back to Walt Disney World--and they hope to get tickets to take part in the special birthday celebration that day. Then it's a 2-day trip home again. Ryan did get to ride on It's A Small World, which is what he was looking forward to, and he's looking forward to that same ride again Friday. Thanks for those prayers! Keep 'em coming please! Ryan is doing great, and wouldn't it be wonderful if he could avoid medical care this entire week?! No news is good news now as I'm not expecting to hear more until they arrive home on Sunday.

TUES, DEC 04: Thanks for stopping by, but I've received no more phone calls, so I have no new news to pass on. Just wanted those of you who check in regularly to know :)

SUNDAY, DEC 02: I just got a call that everyone arrived safely in Disney World. Today's local newspaper has photographs and an article about Make-A-Wish sending Ryan off to Disney. You should see the smiles on the boys' faces as they were climbing into the limo!!! Just wanted you all to know that Ryan and his family had a safe trip. Thanks for those prayers!

SATURDAY, DEC 01: Ryan is on a train bound for Disney World in Florida right now! With him are his mom Lisa, dad Bubby, brothers Matt and Robert, grandparents Bill and Bev. His other grandparents were planning on meeting up with him down there. I called the boys before they left, and though I tried and tried to convince them to let me sneak into one of their suitcases, they said they're just too full :) Oh darn, can't blame a gal for trying, right?!

Friday, November 30, 2001 at 02:30 PM (CST)

Tomorrow is the big day!! It's off to Disney Land with messages for Goofy and Mickey from family, classmates, and neighbors! Ryan is fortunate enough to have his grandparents go on this trip with him. Look out Disney--here come Ryan & gang:

Mom Lisa & Dad Bubby
Brothers Matt & Robert
Mommom Linda & Poppop Tom
Gram Beverly & Grandpop Bill
(and if I can squeeze into a suitcase, maybe a surprise visitor too :))

Thank you for your continued support of this family and your prayers. Please keep the above in your prayers for safe travel and a wonderful time together. Thanks!

By the way, I goofed by putting the photo album on the front page; maybe later we'll have photos. Ryan must be one of THE cutest kids I've ever seen--and that smile is just the best there is :)

Wednesday, November 28, 2001 at 07:30 AM (CST)

Ryan didn't come home until Tuesday. He needed to have the home health care nurses at home to help Lisa set up the IV, so it was for scheduling reasons only. I haven't talked to Lisa or Bubby yet, but I'll bet they all felt glad that they were waking up in their own beds today!

Disney Land is just around the corner now, only 3 days away! On December 1, Make-A-Wish is sending a limo to pick up Ryan and his immediate family and deliver them to the train station. They have a long trip ahead of them, but there is a lot of excitement over this trip.

Please pray that the entire family stays healthy, and particularly for Ryan's strength, balance, and health as he travels and is far from home.
Praises are that Ryan's blood counts have come up, that the trip remains on schedule as of right now, and that Make-A-Wish is making this particular wish come true for a very special little boy and his incredibly supportive family.

Monday, November 26, 2001 at 09:45 AM (CST)

Ryan is coming home today--yippee!!! His blood counts keep improving, and he is feeling stronger and happier :)

Some updated prayer requests:

* Ryan's dizzy spells continue: please pray for safety for him, that the shots he needs will work in giving him relief in this area
* Lisa a.k.a. "Dr. Mom" as she is taking a class in using an IV because Ryan is coming home on IV antibiotics, and for her to stay clear on which meds are necessary at which time as Ryan needs a lot of different things
* Family needs to met: time together, finances, things of that nature
* Brothers Matt and Robert, who are GREAT kids!, and who are very flexible to this ever-changing schedule and sudden hospital visits
* For all the details of the Make-A-Wish trip to work out smoothly so that we can see Ryan & gang off on December 1

As always, thanks for stopping by! We all appreciate you :)

Friday, November 23, 2001 at 11:19 AM (CST)

Yesterday, Thanksgiving Day, was the first day in several that Ryan's throat felt good and that he could eat. Now THAT is something to be thankful for!! I hear that today he is talking plenty, eating plenty, and he has confirmation that his blood counts are improving. I saw Ryan yesterday, and he looked just super :) Keep those prayers coming please; Make-A-Wish is sending Ryan & family to Disney a week from now, so Ryan needs to beat this infection completely to go on time. THANKS!!! ~Laurie

Wednesday, November 21, 2001 at 6:04 PM (CST)

A quickie update from Laurie ~ Ryan's fever is from an infection in his port, a common problem with ports. Since he has no white blood cells, he can't fight the infection on his own, but he's receiving excellent medical care. Remember we were all planning to get together on Thanksgiving? Well, that plan stands--the place has just changed. Tomorrow Ryan will have LOTS of visitors as his family takes Thanksgiving dinner to him. Thanks for your prayers, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!

Tuesday, November 20, 2001 at 05:48 PM (CST)

A note from Lisa, Ryan's Mom:

"Hi everyone--this is Ryan's Mom. We are stuck here at the hospital. It is Tuesday morning, and we have been here since midnight. Ryan has a fever and no white blood cells, so we are here for awhile--probably until after Thanksgiving. Anyway, Ryan really doesn't feel too well, but I'd like to let you all know that he is getting his messages and he enjoys every one of them. Keep them coming--thanks!!

Lisa, Mom"

p.s. from Laurie ~ In case you are wondering why you see Lisa's note here and in the guestbook, it's because she and I haven't had time to go over how to update the journal. But I'm sure you'll all understand how important it is for her to be with her hubby Bubby (hey, that rhymes!), Ryan, Matt, and Robert rather than figuring out the computer :) To those who sent cards, postcards, and packages--they haven't yet been delivered to Ryan, but the pile is growing and will go to him sometime this week. Thanks!

Monday, November 19, 2001 at 05:27 PM (CST)

Ryan is enjoying your messages in the guestbook! In fact, his entire family is, so thank you for taking time to say hi!

Today Ryan's Mommom took Lisa and Ryan to the hospital. Ryan was scheduled to go in to have his blood checked, and he did need to receive more blood. He gets tired, pale, and a little weak; this is expected, and it's an after effect of the chemotherapy. It's not a scary or painful day, but it is a long day. It takes about 3 hours to prepare the blood and then about 2 more to receive it. Ryan returns to the hospital on Wednesday for another blood count, and he may need blood then too. Every couple of days this will be repeated.

I heard through the grapevine that Ryan received a bunch of videos from his classmates. They took up a collection of them for him--what great kids! So thoughtful! One of the movies was Shrek, and Ryan took it to the hospital with him last week. He received another copy of Shrek too, and he asked if he could give that to the hospital since others there enjoyed it so much. I was so touched to hear of Ryan's generosity. Ryan is a kind child, but it is particularly touching to me to know that even when in difficult circumstances, he is remembering others. What you all pass on to him, he is sharing with others, so you are helping to put a smile on MANY faces when you reach out to Ryan!

There may be some exciting news here soon about a computer! Stay tuned for more :) I got word that there is something in the works to provide an upgraded or new computer to Ryan and family *plus* internet access. Isn't that exciting?!

Oh, and I'm still waiting on a journal entry from Ryan. (hint, hint Lisa!) Matt and Robert are good artists, so maybe they will share some pictures here soon too. Check back soon please. And don't forget to say hi to Ryan and family! They really do enjoy your notes!


Thursday, November 15, 2001 at 07:25 AM (CST)

Ryan and his mom, Lisa, are home again! Ryan was sick, possibly from the bug, but definitely as a reaction to the chemo too. Before leaving the hospital, he had to eat. He came home sleepy but eating again :)

Lisa was looking forward to a good night's sleep, BUT she was coming home to a sick husband and son. Robert got over the bug, but now Bubby and Matt have it. It sure is a rough week healthwise for their household!

Thanksgiving is just around the corner now, and our families are all traveling to Mom's house. In addition to the holiday, we have another special event to celebrate: big brother Matt's birthday!!! When all the kids get together (5 boys and 1 girl), they have a wonderful time, so this should be a fun day :)

Thanks for your notes here, your gifts and postcards and cards. I've been saving the mail right here, and it looks like it's time to play mailman to Ryan and his family. Thanks for the many ways you show you care--even though many of you don't even know Ryan! There is such kindness in this world, and yours is appreciated greatly :)

Tuesday, November 13, 2001 at 09:28 AM (CST)

Urgent prayer request: I just learned that Ryan was taken to the hospital at 4:30am. He's very sick, apparently with that stomach and intestinal bug that's been going around. Whether he receives chemo today or not is an unknown to me at the moment. The focus is on getting him over this bug and keeping him hydrated. Thanks!!

A need for Ryan & his immediate family: They are unable to view this site or any e-mails. Why? They have a computer, but it's older *and* they don't internet capability. With Lisa leaving work for now and Bubby working fewer hours, the cost for the internet is not a priority to them. HOWEVER, if you know of a company/group that helps out with this type of service, I'd love to see them have the ability to keep in touch directly with the many who care. Just e-mail me via Ryan's e-mail account. Right now his Grandpop is printing out his guestbook.

Fun facts: Many of Ryan's teachers have stopped by to wish him well--how exciting! Thank you for taking the time to "wave" hello, so to speak :)

Coming soon--I hope!: I asked Lisa to get a note from Ryan to put here. I'm sure you'd rather hear from *him* than from me! So maybe in a short while, I'll have Ryan's note to put here to you all.

My goal: to keep you all updated as things change/progress. Since Ryan in currently admitted to the hospital, I'll update daily. Once released, I'll most likely go back to every 3 days *or* as a need comes up.

Thanks for stopping by! You are encouraging to ALL of us!!!

Tuesday, November 13, 2001 at 06:38 AM (CST)

Welcome!

Many of Ryan's teachers have stopped by to wish him well--how exciting! Ryan had a copy of the guest book printed out for him by his Grandpop, and he and his Mom were enjoying them last night. Thank you for taking the time to "wave" hello, so to speak :)

I'm going to be bold and just ask: Does anyone know a way to arrange for internet service for Ryan and his family? They are currently unable to view these pages except when they are printed. Considering that Lisa is not working right now and that Bubby is working fewer hours, internet is not at the top of their list of financial priorities. Please e-mail me using Ryan's mailbox below if you know of a way to help out with this.

Ryan's first day of chemo went well, but it sure was a long day. Today he heads back to the hospital for more. Please continue to pray for (1) the success of the chemo, (2) Ryan's kidney function to stay healthy, (3) and safety in traveling.

Remember that sickness that was in the family? Lisa got it, and maybe Ryan had a touch of it, but it passed quickly and all are healthy again.

I asked Lisa to get a note from Ryan to put here. I'm sure you'd rather hear from *him* than from me! So maybe in a short while, I'll have Ryan's note to put here to you all.

Have a wonderful day!
Laurie

Thursday, November 08, 2001 at 06:10 PM (CST)

We're so thankful for those of you who are supporting Ryan in prayer!

I just spoke with Bubby, and unless there is a change in the schedule, Ryan is now finished the stem cell harvesting. He did need to receive steroids and blood, and with the exception of an allergic reaction to the blood, Ryan has done well to date.

Monday and Tuesday Ryan will make daily trips to the hospital for his first 2-day chemo treatment. Please pray for his continued strength and good health, and especially for his kidney function to remain healty as the chemo can be hard on the kidneys.

Matt just got over being sick, and now Robert is sick. Prayers for restored health and for protection over the rest of the family would be appreciated, especially with more hospital visits right around the corner.

If you haven't been here before, please view the older journal entries. And I'm sure Ryan would love it if you signed his Guestbook :)

May this day find you in good health!
Laurie

Monday, November 05, 2001 at 08:48 AM (CST)

Today is an important day, the start of harvesting (collecting and saving) Ryan's stem cells for use in his stem cell transplant. Thankfully, this is not a painful or uncomfortable time for him. He will need to go to the hospital for one to five days for this procedure.

Please pray for:

* safety as Ryan & family travel daily to and from the hospital

* comfort for and freedom from infection for Ryan from his recent surgery for the port

* family needs to be met as Lisa has given up work temporarily to be with Ryan and Bubby is working fewer hours

* Matt and Robert to continue to be understanding of the extra time Ryan needs, and for them to remain active and involved in the activities they enjoy

* for success!!! maybe even in less than five days?!

Bubby and Lisa are GREAT parents who are very involved with all their children, and though this is difficult, they give their children an incredible amount of love and support. As much as I hate to see them go through this, please praise God too--for giving those boys the wonderful parents they have!

Thanks so much for your concern and your prayers!

On behalf of Ryan & family,
Laurie

Thursday, November 01, 2001 at 04:42 PM (CST)

Thanks for checking on Ryan! Thanks most importantly for all the prayers on his behalf. Many of you have been praying for Ryan since February, 2000, when he was first diagnosed with cancer. Only recently we learned that he is facing his second battle with cancer. Thank you for your continued support of him, and for those who haven't yet "met" Ryan, thanks for coming by to learn about him that you may add your prayers for him too!

Some fun news... Yesterday Ryan was feeling well enough to take part in his school's Halloween party and to make two trips out for trick-or-treating! As Batman, he looked very cool, and his smile made all of us smile :)

To those of you who not heard Ryan's story, I'll try to keep it brief and give you an update now. On February 10, 2000, 6-year-old Ryan was complaining of double vision. His mom called the doctor, and that very night he was admitted to the hospital with the diagnosis of having a brain tumor. The weekend went by in a blur in some ways, and in other ways there are details that will forever be carved into our minds. I immediately passed the news on to my internet friends, who then passed it on yet again. Within 12 hours, over 100 messages of prayer and support for Ryan were in my e-mail box! On Monday morning, February 14, 2000, Ryan had the tumor removed. The surgery was expected to last 4 hours, but within 1 1/2 hours the entire tumor was removed! The whole thing! This was great news, and it was a specific answer to prayer: many had joined with me in praying that the surgery would go so smoothly that even the doctors would be surprised at how well it went. They were :) This, though, was only the beginning of a long road to recovery. Ryan then had radiation treatments followed by chemo treatments. Specific prayer requests were again answered, and they are numerous. Ryan did great, handling all treatments well and though tired, continued to be an active little boy too! In March, 2001, he was finished all treatments. Only about a month ago, October, 2001, Ryan had NO sign of cancer, but then he had some trouble with his balance. His mom again called the doctor, and this time he was diagnosed as having the cancer return. I again passed the news via the internet onto many people, and the response was so great, that this web site came into being so that we can more easily update the many who care. Ryan has already begun the treatments that will lead to his stem cell transplant, a 6-month process. It will be hard for him and for all of his family and friends, for who wants to see a 7-year-old struggle with so great a burden? However, I firmly believe that it was prayer that brought Ryan through his surgeries and treatments so well before, and that we now need to pray just as hard again.

Will you please join me in praying for Ryan? And also in praying for strength and courage for his family? His family is made up of his parents Lisa and Bubby, brothers Matt and Robert, his grandparents Bill, Bev, Linda, Tom, and all the rest of his family--cousins, aunts, uncles, and the friends who have become more "family" than friends. And in praying for wisdom for his doctors, that they might always know just what is best for Ryan.

Thank you!!! Future journal entries will not be so lengthy, I can assure you. By the way, in case you haven't figured this out, *this* is Ryan's chatty aunt :) He's a great kid--thanks again for stopping by to check up on him!

Thursday, November 01, 2001 at 04:30 PM (CST)

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