January 28.....

It's been a while since my last post. I've been trying to get Dalen back on his regular schedule. So far he has managed to continue dance class on Thursday and Friday nights. However, Tuesday night class has been missed. Of course I should expect this, because Dalen has chemo on Tuesday. 

On Tuesday after chemotherapy treatment Dalen has been extremely tired, which is expected. However , he stills try to complete some homework before he sleeps. On Wednesday and Thursday, he feels fine but once he sits stills he is fast asleep. We could be riding to our next destination, or sitting at a table, or even if we take a twenty minute break just to talk about our day; he falls asleep in my lap.

I'm sure his long days at school, basketball practice, and dance class with chemo is wearing him out. But he determined to keep moving and to stay focus on what he has to do. 

This pass Sunday, Dalen and I was invited by Kids Beating Cancer to the Orlando Magic game for a meet and greet with Maurice Harkless #21. I knew Dalen had tons of homework and reading to complete. And that should of been the number one thing on my mind. However, it's seems like that's all he does is homework. I know he feels so overwhelm with so much homework that never seems to get finished, because I'm overwhelm with it. 

However, I just wanted a mommy and son day! Just me and his smile, jokes, laughter, and dares. We had a GREAT time! We took tons of pictures! When Dalen and I get together, we dare each other all the time. Like I dare you get up and dance; or go introduce yourself, or go ask for a picture, etc. I use to do this all the time to get Dalen out of his shy modes when he was younger, but now it's our fun time. We were so hype from our dare game when Maurice approached us, I asked for a hug! And Dalen went straight for the big one! "Hey Maurice, nice shoes can I have them?" I couldn't help but laugh, this kid here is not shy anymore! Maurice said yes and gave Dalen his shoes after the game....

 I miss this days so much with my baby. I miss the days that homework would take one to two hours hours and we could enjoy dinner and a movie. Or the weekends that were filled with excitement and family time. 

Now all of our conversations are how do you feel, how much homework do you have, how much homework left to complete, did you do your homework, etc. I get that the older Dalen gets the more homework he has, what I don't get is how to manage this amount of homework when your child can't see it. 

I get so stress out about all this homework! Will Dalen pass to 9th grade? Will Dalen pass the FCAT? Will Dalen graduate? Will Dalen go to college? All these questions and more flood my thoughts that I just start to cry. What do I do? 

Please continue to pray for us. Our outside appearance may look good and strong, but when doors are closed you couldn't image what we go through. 

Blessed....

Today Dalen had his third chemo treatment. His exam went well and he gained two pounds. His vitals were okay, except for his white cell count. they were very low that the doctors may reduce his dosage. This week visit took about two and half hours. After treatment Dalen felt some stomach discomfort and could not make it to dance class. He slept for a couple hours and was back up completing homework. 

During Dalen treatment, Child Life Specialist Lauren made a comment about Dalen that made me think of how Blessed we are. Dalen comes to treatment every week smiling, telling jokes, and just up beat. Of course we have had some sad treatment days, but most are up beat. Lauren notice how happy Dalen be; this amaze her considering what he is there for. As I smiled I just started thanking God for his blessings. 

God is awesome! Dalen is going through a journey most kids will never experience or understand, but he continues to smile. This smile is because of Dalen's faith. He knows everything will be just fine. Knowing that you are cover by God, life is much easier.

Continue keep Dalen in your prayers.....

Dalen did it....

On Monday, Howard Middle School for the Visual and Performing Arts had first round try-outs. Dalen spoke about these tryouts everyday for the entire winter break. He was ready and exited to finally make try-outs. 

During his sixth grade year Dalen did not make the cut. I remember him telling me  he had ran into and tripped over so many boys during try-outs. At this time it was just two weeks after we found out Dalen was loosing his eye sight because of the brain tumors. He had no peripheral view and could only see about five feet straight in front. My heart ache knowing that my baby may not ever play any game again. And just a week later he was in the surgery room for his first powerport and then fourteen months of chemotherapy treatments. How much more could he handle.

His seventh grade year, Dalen was just too sick for try-outs from chemotherapy treatments. He was missing an average of two to three days a week from school, because of vomiting, stomach pain, and headaches. Lets not mention all the homework that was not completed. Instead of taking ten to twenty minutes to complete a sheet of math problems or reading; it now took Dalen two to three hours just for one sheet. Him and I were stress out and overwhelmed. 

Now his eighth grade year started off pretty good. Dalen had finished his first course of chemo. He has gained a lot of his vision back along with his peripheral view and school work was being completed. 

Until just only six months from being a normal kid, we found out that the brain tumor had grown back and he will start a twelve month chemotherapy treatment. This news was devastating! When I told Dalen he had to go through surgery agin for a second powerport. I remember him storming to his room crying saying how he could not play basketball with the powerport. Within ten seconds my baby had given up on his dreams. Sickness, chemo, and tumors had won.....

But God! God turned it around! God gave me the words to encourage Dalen not to give up. He had given my baby hope. Dalen and I start thinking of ways to cover up the port that when someone hit it, he couldn't feel it. Almost like a small cup taped over the port; we are still working on this invention. 

However, on Monday HMS had its first try-outs for the 2014/2015 school year. Dalen was super excited and ready to show out. The try-outs consisted of seventeen back and forth court runs and drills. Afterwards he was stating how his calfs were burning and he felt tired, but he was still excited.

On Tuesday morning he found out that he made second round try-outs. He left school early for his chemotherapy. He told the entire hospital that he had basketball try-outs at four o'clock and couldn't stay long. He was so ready to get back to school. However, try-outs did not go as he wanted. He was bummed because he thought his performance wasn't good enough. I tried to encourage him because he had just received chemo  thirty minutes before try-outs had started.  But Dalen was not hearing anything I had to say. He wanted to do his best to make the team. 

On Wednesday morning Dalen was informed he made third try-outs. He was super excited again and was ready to try his best. Afterwards, he had called me three times in a row to tell me how well he had done. When Dalen tells a story, he tells the entire story including face impressions, slow motion replays, and what he was thinking while everything was happening. I remember walking in the house from work still on the phone having to hang up because Dalen is now in my face. I could see all the excitement in his smile. 

On Thursday morning, I dropped Dalen off to school reminding him to text me when he finds out if he made the team. I probably texted him about ten times befor eleven o'clock to see the results. I finally told him to just call me when he get the results....

(Drumroll)....DALEN MADE THE TEAM!!!!

I screamed, I cried, I smiled, and I cried again! My baby did it!! With everything he has been through and what he is going through right now, he didn't give up. I am so overwhelm with emotions right now. Our God has blessed us, again with hope. Years, days, hours, minutes, and seconds, of all the pain, tears, and sleepless nights means nothing. Sickness, chemo and tumors did not win!!! Our God is awesome! 

I'm so proud to be Dalen's mother. Go Dalen!!!!

Chemo Tuesdays....

Today's chemotherapy treatment went well. His 2:30 appointment started with weight, height, and blood pressure checks. He gained two pounds from last Tuesday, which is pretty good because his appetite fluctuates daily. His height was stable and blood pressure was good. Afterwards, we are sent to the patient room to been seen by his oncology doctor. Every Tuesday she will give Dalen a physical to check lungs, ears, strength, reflex, etc. before each chemo treatment. This chemo major side effect is lower cell count. Chemo kills good cells also; such as white blood cells that fights infections. By checking his lungs and ears can prevent from sever ear infections and fluid in the lungs from colds. We also, have to watch for fevers, because fevers are signs of infections.

However everything check good and we were on our way to the clinic. Dalen was extra silly today. From the time we check in, he had everyone laughing. There was a ton of excitement going on because he had his second round of basketball try-outs later today. His powerport (chemo port) was accessed and he received his chemo vinablastin all within thirty minutes. This chemo take only fifteen to twenty minutes to administer. By 3:45 we were on our way out the parking garage heading to basketball try-outs.

I'm supper nervous to let Dalen return to school for tryouts. I know after chemo he is drained and tired. I kept asking him how did he feel, are you sure you want to go, and Dalen you don't have to over do it. But he was determine to get there. 

My baby loves basketball. He can play basketball 24 hours a day. He knows every players team, number, previous team, and stats. I can see him as a basketball player or sports anchor on ESPN one day. He was so sad when he found out that he had to get his powerport back. He thought he wasn't going to be able to play. However that's not the case. Dalen is stronger than before! He is giving every day his very best and all he has to give. He is determined to keep moving, keep playing, and to keep laughing everyday. I am proud to be his mother and blessed to have him as my son. 

Please continue to keep Dalen in your prayers. 

I'll post the basketball team results later today...