9.14.22 I don’t think today’s appointment has hit me yet. It wasn’t something that was on my radar as a possibility, so I think I’m still processing it. Ian was diagnosed with DNET brain tumors back in July of 2019. Fast forward to now, September 2022, we have always been told Ian’s tumors are low grade, which means they grow… Continue reading Ian Update: Surgery
What a summer it’s been with the kids. It’s hard to believe that next month, my babies will be back in school. Gabby is going into 7th grade; Ian is starting Kindergarten. Time sure does fly. As school time approaches, both Mike and I have been working diligently to try to get Ian ready for the transition. With all of… Continue reading Ian Update
6.2.22 One week before scan day. I did our June calendar earlier this week and completely forgot to put his scan on it. Maybe I didn’t forget, maybe I was just trying to block it out for as long as I can. Scan days bring a lot of depression and anxiety in the days leading up to it. I had… Continue reading Ian Update
In honor of Brain Tumor Awareness Month, I thought it would be a good time to give an update about our warrior. When my husband and I decided that we wanted to have another, the life we envisioned for our then-future-child was nothing like it turned out to be today. We had our boy name picked out since I was… Continue reading Go Gray in May
Scan day. It happens once every 3 to 4 months for the past 2 and a half years. That’s roughly a dozen scans at this point. And yet, things never seem to get easier. We should be used to this by now. Waking up at 4 AM on a Monday morning, leaving the house at 5 AM to be down… Continue reading The Days Before Scan Day
It’s been a while since I have given an Ian update. But with his next scan right around the corner, I figured it would be a good time to give an update. 12.17.2021 – Ian had his last MRI, which showed the tumors were still stable. We have an amazing oncologist who actually gave us the results in the waiting… Continue reading Ian Update
November 30, 2020. Ian had a minor surgery for a port placement following his very first chemotherapy treatment. December 6, 2021. One year and 6 days later. Ian officially finished this regiment of chemo. OUR BABY RANG THE BELL! What a year it’s been. I was so nervous for him to start chemo. I was a wreck for awhile. I… Continue reading The Ringing of the Bell
Last month, I could see a light at the end of the tunnel. A light that signaled the end of the crazy year we’ve had with Ian starting chemotherapy. But that tunnel seems to be going a little longer than I thought it would. Last Monday, Ian was supposed to have his 3-to-4-month scan. Unfortunately, our entire household came down… Continue reading The Light at the End of the Tunnel
A few weeks ago, I wrote about Ian getting an EEG to check for possible seizure activity. Back in September, we noticed Ian would get a weird, half-crooked smile on his face, then begin to dart his head back and forth, followed by dropping his head like it suddenly got too heavy. The smile and the head drop were all… Continue reading Update: Ian’s Seizures
When Ian was born, like most mamas, I had fantasies of the little boy he would be, what he would like, and the man he would turn into. I don’t think any parent can ever begin to prepare for their child to be sick. Finding out Ian had brain tumors sent me in a downward spiral that I’m still learning… Continue reading Kicking It