Jason Campbell Classic

WOW!! What a day for us. We started the morning at the Lowe's Island Country Club in Sterling, VA where the boys met several Redskins. They were first introduced to Darrell Green, who was very nice and signed a football and towel for Jamey, then took a couple of pictures with the boys. Next we met Jason Campbell, who was really neat and also took pictures. We also left shirts for all the Redskins to sign for the boys. Jason also introduced Jamey to the golfers at the beginning of the tournament. Another cool thing that happened was that Darrell Green took Jamey to the putting green, taught him how to put, and played a little golf with him. I have to say, that was really cool . . .

While the golfers played golf, the boys and I went to the Leesburg Outlets to shop, and we returned at the end of the tournament where we met up with my parents and David. The rest of the evening was incredible. Jamie K., one of the people on the committee for the event, took us under his wing and introduced the boys to all the Redskins there. They boys got autographs on their hats and had a ball. We went into dinner next, where Jamey was introduced and gave a short speech, then they had a live auction. The best part about this was that the Jason Campbell Golf Classic raised over $150,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society!!!

I have to say, this has probably been one of the best weeks of Jamey's life - first the assembly from last week, now the Classic, on Saturday we are at Relay for Life (where he raised over $1500 for the American Cancer Society), and on Sunday he has something super fun with the boy scouts.

Late Night

It's amazing how things affect me now. I noticed a bruise on Jamey and lost my breath because black and blue marks are a sign of leukemia. It's easy to think we're out of the woods, but there is definitely a part of me that still waits for the other shoe to drop.

I'm sure Jamey is fine, but I don't know that I'll sleep tonight.

Last Week

Last week was a great week for us. Jamey is feeling wonderful and had a lot of energy. The best part about last week was Friday, though. Rock Creek Forest ES had an assembly on Friday to celebrate that they raised over $4000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (yeah, RCF)! The assembly was amazing. They talked a little about blood cancers, then the counselor said that RCF had a student with leukemia and told them Jamey's name (most of them knew already). The kids (all 500 of them) started cheering for him. I had tears by then . . . After that they showed a video of an interview that Mr. Hall (the amazing art teacher) did with Jamey. Then Jamey took questions from the kids. The questions they asked were fantastic ("did the treatment hurt?", etc.), and Jamey stood in front of the kids with a microphone and was phenomenal. He was really amazing, just walking around with his microphone and taking questions ("Okay, I'll take one last question . . . "). I have to say, it was pretty cool. The most exciting part of the assembly, though, was that Jamey got to shave Mr. Hall's head (as a treat for the great fundraising job!). The entire school was cheering him on ("Go Jamey, Go!") - sorry I'm gushing, but it was truly unbelievable. Jamey's head was so big after that he could barely fit into the car. :-) He said to me, "wow, I feel popular!"

This weekend was also excellent. Yesterday we had soccer games for Noah and Coby, and they both played great (the Blazers and the Tigers both won). Between games we had a picnic with friends, got a little sun, and had some fun. After that Jamey went to William's to play and we came home for a bit. At night we went to a party (with the boys - Jamey and Noah had friends sleeping over) which was a fundraiser to help the neighbor of a friend bring her kids over from Africa. We all had a great time.

Today David spent the day digging a ditch (I think it's called a French ditch - with gravel and a special pipe) in the backyard to try and solve the problem we have when it rains hard (water stays in one area of the backyard). He didn't finish, but he did a ton, but he was so tired that he fell asleep before 8:00.

This week will be exciting because the Jason Campbell Golf Classic is on Wednesday and Relay for Life is on Saturday. Jamey raised over $1300 for the American Cancer Society through Relay - yeah!! (and thanks to all who donated . . . ). Next Monday he has a spinal tap, gets Lupron, and starts steroids (YUCK!).

April 17, 2008

It seems inconceivable to me that it has been almost a year since Jamey was diagnosed. What a long time . . . what a short time. I wonder when I will stop reliving the night he was diagnosed - when I will really be able to wrap my brain around the fact that Jamey has cancer. It is still hard to get.

Jamey is having a great week - he's been going to the gym (lifting light weights and doing some cardio), and today he played soccer at Noah's practice. It was so nice to see him running around! I think the nice weather is definitely keeping his spirits up. He has been in such a good place this week - something we don't take for granted anymore. He is very excited to go to Richmond on Saturday, as well as to the Jason Campbell Classic on Monday. :-)

Today in Congress . . .

Today Jamey and I went with an advocacy group, Children's Cancer, to lobby members of Congress. Our main goals were to ask for increased funding for NIH (National Institutes of Health), and for the Congressmen to support bill HR 4450, which is the Pediatric, Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivorship and Quality of Life Act (phew!). This Act creates and mandate and funding for NIH to research the late effects of cancer treatment on kids. It also requires the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) to expand their cancer program. We met several other survivors and their parents, and it was wonderful to be part of the process. It was really neat, and I feel like I did something to help with this very important cause.

When we got home from DC, David took Jamey to the gym. He really needs to start getting back into shape. He's barely done any exercise this year (with good reason), but he is able to now. He will be going on a new medicine soon, and it has the potential to give him osteoporosis or osteonecrosis (as do the steroids and chemo he is on). The bone specialist told us that Jamey's bone density is excellent, but that he will need to have good nutrition and exercise to keep it up. Anyway, he went to the gym for the first time and had a ball. He was so excited when he got home! David and he will do this together after Hebrew school on Mondays and Wednesdays, and he can go with me another day during the week.

We are also getting ready for Passover. Saturday we are going to Orly's, then we will have people over on Sunday, then Monday is the Jason Campbell Golf Classic for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. It will be a busy weekend.

Steroid Week

Sorry for not writing for such a long time. This week is steroid week for Jamey. It hit him pretty hard. He gets so tired, with no energy to do anything and he can't concentrate. He also gets very sensitive during this time and has a difficult time controlling himself. We feel so bad for him, but are happy that it's only one week a month!

One of the things we've been looking at carefully is the health of Jamey's bones. The steroids that he is on can give him osteonecrosis (dying of the bone), and he will be starting a new medicine next week that can also affect the bones. On Monday we went to see an endocrinologist who specializes in bones (go figure - there's a doctor for everything). She ordered some tests and will be keeping an eye on Jamey to make sure his bones stay healthy. Today he got a dexascan, and we will get the results tomorrow. The doctor, though, told us the preliminary results look good. Yeah!

I tell you one thing, this experience is never dull . . .

Tonight I would like you to send a prayer for a little boy names Elijah. He relapsed last month after a bone marrow transplant (2nd relapse), and his parents found out today that there is no chance for a cure. He is two years old.

SPAIN

Sorry it's been so long since we've written, but we had a fabulous time in Spain. The boys were great. We walked everywhere and visited Madrid, Toledo, Seville, Cordoba, Cadiz, Ronda, Mijas, and other interesting towns. We got to see our good friends Todd and Eva and their family. They treated us great and became our tour guides. Jamey got to see Alex whom he missed, since they moved to Spain last summer. This was a very much-needed family vacation. The nicest thing about Spain, though, was that Jamey was just about as energetic as he used to be.

Spain is a gorgeous country. It was so interesting to see the castles and palaces, as well as the daily modern life over there. The history is amazing - we saw things built in the first century. How cool is that!?

We are back in town getting back to real life. We have some scheduled doctor's appointments for Jamey (SO MANY). We are starting up with the sports and Spring activities. We'll put some pictures once we had the chance to go through them.

Next week Jamey starts steroids, so we are expecting that he will be feeling sick. :-(

By for now.