Owen's Story

Yesterday marked the 5 year anniversary that Owen was diagnosed with Leukemia.  Not a day goes by that we are not extremely thankful that he is healthy and happy and enjoying his life as a typical 8 year old boy.

Owen had the opportunity to “make his wish” this year.  It was a fun process of meeting with the volunteers to discuss what he wished and seeing it actually come to life.  He wished to fly over a volcano.  The Make a Wish program did an outstanding job making his wish come true.  They couldn’t have us fly over the volcano, but we walked up close enough to see the lava sputtering out of the lava lake.  Truly and experience that he will never forget.  As a family, we ended up taking the helicopter ride and the kids absolutely LOVED it!  The boys got to learn how to surf, we took a glass bottom boat ride, spent numerous hours on the beach snorkeling and riding the waves.  It was the most amazing vacation we have ever been on.

As you sit around your Thanksgiving tables this week, say some extra prayers for all of those families fighting battles with sickness.  Happy Thanksgiving!!

Renee Evans (www.evanshousephotography.com)

Renee Evans (www.evanshousephotography.com)

Renee Evans (www.evanshousephotography.com)

Renee Evans (www.evanshousephotography.com)

It is once again that date.  November 18.  The date that will never be the same.  It has now been 4 years since we found out Owen had Leukemia.  And though it feels like forever ago, I still remember it like it was yesterday.  I think I probably always will.

Owen is now almost 10 months past the date of his last chemo.  All of his check ups have been normal to date.  We continue to go to the hospital every 6 weeks for bloodwork.  I think that continues until we hit a year and then it will spread out a little more.

Owen has been enjoying his 2nd grade of school.  His favorite subject is Science.  He loves having fun with his friends at recess.  Owen and Logan both played soccer this fall and had a great time.  Everything is pretty much back to normal.  Such a wonderful blessing.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving and give thanks for all of the miracles that you have been given.  Also pray for all that are suffering and going through hard times.

Hello!  It’s been a while.  Everything has been going good since Owen stopped taking his medicine.  We have been in to the hospital two times for bloodwork and all of his counts were where they would expect them to be post treatment.  He has been feeling great.  He has had a few days where he has felt tired, but according to the doctors it is his body readjusting to being off all of the medicines.  Owen has also lost 2 pounds in the past month, but this is most likely due to being off of steroids.  We are to keep an eye on it and as long as he doesn’t have a long stretch of not wanting to eat, there should be nothing to worry about.

I think Owen is more excited for this Wednesday then he was for the end of his medicine.  He is getting his medi-port taken out!!!  It has been about 3 1/2 years of having this foreign body in his chest, and he doesn’t remember a time that he didn’t have it.  They said the surgery should be relatively short and healing time shouldn’t be bad.  His brother, on the other hand, is having his tonsils and adenoids out the very next day and healing time will be considerably longer for him.  People think that we are a little crazy for doing 2 surgeries in 2 days, but we figured that maybe they will both just want to take it easy and rest at the same time.  Hopefully that works out.

I really wanted to capture Owen with his port because I know someday he will think back and might not remember.

Well, it’s official.  Owen took his last dose of chemo!  We had a celebration for him at Dave & Buster’s this past Saturday, and at the beginning of the party we had him take his last chemo pill.  Such excitement!!!  The kids had a blast playing games and celebrating!!!

It’s weird not having to remind him to take his medicine every night before bed.  There is such a mixture of emotions running through me.  Excitement that he is done, but nerve racking at the same time.  I know anytime he has strange symptoms I will be nervous.  For example, last night I was washing his hair and tons of his hair was coming out.  Similar to how it did when it started coming out 3 years ago.  I emailed the doctor, and he thinks there is nothing to worry about.  He is not sure of the cause, but it didn’t seem to be concerning.  We go back in two weeks for a blood check.  I think that will be a hard one.  We will also be talking about a date for his port removal.  Owen asked if we are going to have a celebration for that as well… this kid…

Thanks for all of the prayers and notes!  Owen loves hearing them.

Here is my Superman.

Whoo Hoo!  We are coming to the end.  Yesterday Owen has his last dose of IV chemo.  It was a pretty exciting ordeal at the hospital!  The push of drug was the same as always, but afterward, a lot of the staff that has seen him all along came in to sing him a song.  Then he got to ring an enormous bell that was the loudest I have ever heard! (As you can tell from Owen’s expression, he thought it was loud too!) We updated his bead necklace and got the newest beads for him to put on.  We had to get another string because all of the others are full.

He still has two more weeks of taking chemo orally, then he stops.  We got back to the hospital in 5 weeks for a blood draw and will talk about a date of when to remove his port.  For the first 6 months to year, he will still go in monthly for blood draws, then they will start spreading out.  This will continue for the next 5 years.  That is crazy to think he will be 11 at that time!

It was superhero day at school yesterday, so he had his batman shirt on, and wore a cape.  When getting his vitals when first getting to the hospital the girls were asking him about superheros, and Owen came out with, “ya, I am a superhero.  My friends call me O-Lightning”.  We all cracked up.  I have never heard that one before, but that will stick.  He originally wanted to wear his Elephant shirt at the hospital, but it has short sleeves, and he was cold and kept his superhero shirt on.  Elephants are his favorite animal and have been so ever since I can remember.  It seems kinda fitting that he would like elephants.  Many cultures view elephants as a symbol of strength and power.  They are also known for their longevity, mental capacity and loyalty.  I think Owen chose a favorite animal that really fits his character.