It has now been 24 years since Alex stopped Chemotherapy. A lot has changed since then. Alex is now 30 years old and is working full time. He lives with his girlfriend.
Charlie and I separated in 2002 and were divorced in 2005. Samantha and I moved in with my father in 2002. My mother passed away in 2000 from a stroke. We lived with my father until 2008, he passed away in June of that year.
I started working full time in 2001. I had one relationship that ended badly before finding true love in 2008. I married again in 2009 and live with my husband in Saskatchewan. I am working part time and am the proud owner of five pugs. I have a page about the dogs on Facebook.
Samantha is working in retail part time and shares a town house with a couple.
Alex doesn’t remember very much about his treatment or any of the many procedures he had to endure. I think it is very fortunate. Most of the treatment and procedures were from the age of 3 to the age of 6. So I guess that is why. It is my understanding that most people don’t remember much before the age of 5.
Alex is suppose to go to the doctor yearly for check ups, I leave that up to him. The hospital contacted us when Alex was about 9 or 10. It was the research department at UBC Hospital. They wanted to know if Alex would participate in an exercise program. They wanted children who had been diagnosed with cancer to participate in their program. They had to use an exercise bike, they were monitored for breathing, blood pressure and pulse. I asked Alex and he wanted to participate. The women that were in charge were very impressed with Alex’s physical endurance. They said he was in very good physical shape and was in a minority. The majority of the children that were in the program, were not in very good physical shape. They thanked me for letting Alex become so active. I said well it’s pretty hard to keep Alex away from the things he loves to do. He loves playing street hockey and riding his bike, he’s an outdoors kind of person. They said most parents don’t let their children do any physical activities. They are afraid to let them do anything for fear they hurt themselves.
Life sure didn’t turn out like I thought it would. I never thought we would have to go through such a difficult time. As I was entering my blog daily, it would take me back. I could still visualize each time Alex went to the hospital. It was very painful time and the pain would come back. I found it quite depressing entering the journal. My hope has always been to help other people who might be going through a similar situation. In closing, I would like to thank everyone for taking the time to read my journal, liking different posts and the many comments. Blessings to you all!
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Diagnosis: Leukemia; July 13, 1990
Well we’ve waited since Monday to hear the results. I was told to phone in the afternoon. So I figure to phone at three o’clock.
I phoned at three the receptionist said the doctor wasn’t there but would phone me back.
I phoned again at four o’clock. The receptionist said didn’t the doctor phone you? I said no. She looked for the doctor but he still wasn’t there. She said I’ll get the doctor to phone you back.
I phoned for the third time at four forty five and finally talked to the doctor. I had gotten a different receptionist and she said probably the test results haven’t come back yet. I said Dr. S said they would be in today and I’m not waiting over the weekend.
Finally I talked to a doctor. It wasn’t Dr. S but I couldn’t remember her name. She read Alex’s file and told me a lot of medical jargon. I asked her what it meant. She said Alex’s LP wasn’t normal but was normal for being on Chemo and no cancer cells appeared in the LP or BM test. Alex would stop all his treatment but would still take Bactrim. She said Alex could resume most activities which included swimming. She also said Alex would have to be checked regularly and thoroughly checked as well.
Boy was that a relief this week has been extremely difficult waiting to hear the news. Especially when Dr. S said if he phoned on Wednesday it would mean Alex would have to under go more treatment and the cancer cells were back. So when Wednesday came I couldn’t wait to get out of the house. Then on Friday I thought maybe Dr. S forgot to phone and it might be bad news. It’s incredible what runs through your mind.
I told Alex the doctor said the tests were okay and he could go back to swimming. Alex said ALRIGHT! He sure has missed going swimming the last three years.
No Tests
No Medication
I phoned at three the receptionist said the doctor wasn’t there but would phone me back.
I phoned again at four o’clock. The receptionist said didn’t the doctor phone you? I said no. She looked for the doctor but he still wasn’t there. She said I’ll get the doctor to phone you back.
I phoned for the third time at four forty five and finally talked to the doctor. I had gotten a different receptionist and she said probably the test results haven’t come back yet. I said Dr. S said they would be in today and I’m not waiting over the weekend.
Finally I talked to a doctor. It wasn’t Dr. S but I couldn’t remember her name. She read Alex’s file and told me a lot of medical jargon. I asked her what it meant. She said Alex’s LP wasn’t normal but was normal for being on Chemo and no cancer cells appeared in the LP or BM test. Alex would stop all his treatment but would still take Bactrim. She said Alex could resume most activities which included swimming. She also said Alex would have to be checked regularly and thoroughly checked as well.
Boy was that a relief this week has been extremely difficult waiting to hear the news. Especially when Dr. S said if he phoned on Wednesday it would mean Alex would have to under go more treatment and the cancer cells were back. So when Wednesday came I couldn’t wait to get out of the house. Then on Friday I thought maybe Dr. S forgot to phone and it might be bad news. It’s incredible what runs through your mind.
I told Alex the doctor said the tests were okay and he could go back to swimming. Alex said ALRIGHT! He sure has missed going swimming the last three years.
No Tests
No Medication
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Diagnosis: Leukemia; July 8-9, 1990
July 8, 1990
Samantha ate at nine, one, and six o’clock.
I haven’t told Alex what is going to happen tomorrow at the hospital. It’s too bad he’ll have to have a bone marrow and a spinal tap.
I find it extremely hard not know what’s going to happen and that we won’t know right away.
Hopefully Alex won’t be too difficult to handle but I know he won’t want it done.
No Tests
Medication
Mercaptopurine ------ ----- 9:00 p.m.
July 9, 1990
I woke up at seven o’clock to the alarm. I had a shower, got dressed and made our breakfast.
Samantha was just waking up so I fed her before we left for the hospital. Charlie is staying home with Samantha. Charlie thought if I too k Alex I would be able to handle him better.
We saw Dr. S before Alex had his blood test. He first checked Alex all over. The doctor said if the BM and LP were okay Alex would still have to have blood tests. For the first three months they would check him over very thoroughly. Then he could have his blood tests at the family doctors for two months and come back to the hospital on the third month. Alex would do that for a year then he would come every six months for two years. So lets get this straight, start month one, two and three go to the hospital. Four and five family doctor. Six hospital. Seven and eight family doctor, nine hospital. Ten and eleven family doctor. Twelve hospital. On the following two years he would go to the hospital every six months but would have to see the family doctor every month for blood tests.
Before Alex had his blood test he said he wanted to get something to eat. Unfortunately Mary called him in and then Dr. S said they were ready for him. Alex threw himself on the floor and said he had to have something to eat. I told Dr. S we had a problem that Alex was too hungry! He said we could get something for Alex and to tell him when we’re ready. Mary still had quite a time with Alex and he wouldn’t listen to me at all.
Alex had his snack then it was time for his LP and BM. It didn’t start off too good. As soon as the doctor put his fingers on Alex’s back he started to scream and he didn’t stop. I was holding Alex during his LP, he was pushing so much I thought I was going to end up on the floor. I tried reasoning with Alex but he just wouldn’t listen. Somehow or other we got through it. After the LP Alex said he was finished and started to get up to leave the room. We told him he still had to have a BM but he said no he wasn’t having it.
During the BM Alex was so mad that he started to shake his whole body. As I’ve said before there just wasn’t any reasoning with him.
When it was finally over Dr. S said if he phoned in a couple of days it would mean Alex would have to come back for more treatment. If I didn’t hear anything to phone on Friday he should have the results by then.
Alex laid down on a bed for an hour then we were able to leave.
I left Alex while he was laying down to go to the pharmacy and buy some goodies for Alex at the store.
We got home around two o’clock. I’m exhausted from the whole ordeal. Now we have to wait for the results that sure will be difficult.
Tests
WBC 3.0
HGB 13.1
Platelets 379
ANC N/A
Samantha ate at nine, one, and six o’clock.
I haven’t told Alex what is going to happen tomorrow at the hospital. It’s too bad he’ll have to have a bone marrow and a spinal tap.
I find it extremely hard not know what’s going to happen and that we won’t know right away.
Hopefully Alex won’t be too difficult to handle but I know he won’t want it done.
No Tests
Medication
Mercaptopurine ------ ----- 9:00 p.m.
July 9, 1990
I woke up at seven o’clock to the alarm. I had a shower, got dressed and made our breakfast.
Samantha was just waking up so I fed her before we left for the hospital. Charlie is staying home with Samantha. Charlie thought if I too k Alex I would be able to handle him better.
We saw Dr. S before Alex had his blood test. He first checked Alex all over. The doctor said if the BM and LP were okay Alex would still have to have blood tests. For the first three months they would check him over very thoroughly. Then he could have his blood tests at the family doctors for two months and come back to the hospital on the third month. Alex would do that for a year then he would come every six months for two years. So lets get this straight, start month one, two and three go to the hospital. Four and five family doctor. Six hospital. Seven and eight family doctor, nine hospital. Ten and eleven family doctor. Twelve hospital. On the following two years he would go to the hospital every six months but would have to see the family doctor every month for blood tests.
Before Alex had his blood test he said he wanted to get something to eat. Unfortunately Mary called him in and then Dr. S said they were ready for him. Alex threw himself on the floor and said he had to have something to eat. I told Dr. S we had a problem that Alex was too hungry! He said we could get something for Alex and to tell him when we’re ready. Mary still had quite a time with Alex and he wouldn’t listen to me at all.
Alex had his snack then it was time for his LP and BM. It didn’t start off too good. As soon as the doctor put his fingers on Alex’s back he started to scream and he didn’t stop. I was holding Alex during his LP, he was pushing so much I thought I was going to end up on the floor. I tried reasoning with Alex but he just wouldn’t listen. Somehow or other we got through it. After the LP Alex said he was finished and started to get up to leave the room. We told him he still had to have a BM but he said no he wasn’t having it.
During the BM Alex was so mad that he started to shake his whole body. As I’ve said before there just wasn’t any reasoning with him.
When it was finally over Dr. S said if he phoned in a couple of days it would mean Alex would have to come back for more treatment. If I didn’t hear anything to phone on Friday he should have the results by then.
Alex laid down on a bed for an hour then we were able to leave.
I left Alex while he was laying down to go to the pharmacy and buy some goodies for Alex at the store.
We got home around two o’clock. I’m exhausted from the whole ordeal. Now we have to wait for the results that sure will be difficult.
Tests
WBC 3.0
HGB 13.1
Platelets 379
ANC N/A
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