Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Zack had chemo with spinal tap (intrathecal chemo) today and it was his smoothest of these procedures to date. His nurse said he used the least amount of pain medication/conscious sedation meds she'd ever seen for a spinal tap. Best were the small amount of pain he experienced and the quickness with which it was over. Today was Dr. Tilford and RN Jen.

Zack's blood counts are right where the docs want them to be! He's taking it easy for the rest of the day, looking forward to Ken's Artisan Pizza for dinner and tomorrow he'll visit Meigra for a Bowen bodywork session.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Zack had another chemo appointment at Doernbecher this week. We were in and out of there in an hour which must be a record for us. Dr. Malempati said Zack's doing great and Cyndi administered vincristine...and then we were off to Yuki's for tofu and home to finish homework. Zack felt nauseous later that evening but it passed quickly and he slept well that night.

We've been reading The Hunchback of Notre Dame and it ended in all its grisliness this week so we've moved on to The Call of the Wild. Zack's enjoying school. The class just finished a writing block during which Zack wrote a short story about murder and revenge in Russia during World War II. Now the class is studying chemistry.

Zack's excited about Halloween and is planning to be Skulduggery Pleasant.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Hello folks...It's been a few months (give or take) and Zack is now in the 8th grade. He spent the summer with family...and somewhere along the way he managed to grow back most of his hair. Chemo continues: pills daily and treatments at Doernbecher once every four weeks. (Thankfully, spinal taps (intrathecal chemo) are only once every 12 weeks.) 

Below are some of my favorite pictures of Zack from the past several months. I'll try (really I will) to update this blog every four weeks. Our love to family and friends. 


March, 2009 - Olympia, WA


March, 2009 - Fort Lewis, WA


June, 2009 - Portland, OR with Aunt Cathy

July, 2009 - Pacifica, CA with cousins Rafa & Mikey

July, 2009 - Portland, OR

Friday, March 27, 2009

Today was a chemo appointment with Dr. Anur...Zack's blood counts are very healthy and his appointments will continue every four weeks until March, 2011...Zack's nurse today was Alicia. She took care of Zack this summer after the ICU. It was great to see her again. Dr. Chang was also present in the procedure room for Zack's intrathecal.

It's been a couple months since my last post and Zack is now a teenager!

In February, we went to Miami for his Make-a-Wish trip. Miami was beautiful...we visited the Everglades and the Keys and swam in the ocean. Also in February, Zack played a pirate in his class play, A Pirate's Life for Me (a musical).

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Zack is continuing to thrive! He had a chemo appt on Friday, January 2nd - vincristine and intrathecal methotrexate with Dr. Chang. His blood counts are healthy and he's gained about 10 pounds during the past month, weighing in at 90 lbs! He's been enjoying time off from school, spending the holidays with family and friends. 

Mission District, San Francisco