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  • Hello, and thanks for joining me on my journey.

    This is Owen. He is a 3 1/2 year old boy who is loving, energetic and loves to have fun. He was diagnosed with Leukemia on November 18, 2012. This is his story.

Owen’s Leukemia – Day 76

Well, we are on a mission to get Owen out of our bed.  As much as we love him, he needs to sleep in his own bed.  We had some sleep issues ever since Logan was born, but it wasn’t until after we came home from the hospital when he was diagnosed that it has been a big problem.  He will not stay in his bed at all, and we have been trying EVERYTHING.  So, this is the latest… we wanted to get bunk beds so that when Logan gets older, they can be in there together.  Owen is so excited about this, so, we put them up… and moved Logan’s crib into Owen’s room until he is bigger.

They seem to really like them, but we have yet to be successful to get Owen to sleep in there.  If anyone has any great ideas that they think might help in getting him to sleep by himself, by all means please share.  I have had about enough of waking up to feet in my face:)

lizFebruary 5, 2013 - 9:27 am

What if you slept in the bottom bunk bed a few nights? It might be enough to break the cycle. Plus the only feet in your face will dangle from above. :) PS I haven’t forgotten your paint.

JessicaFebruary 5, 2013 - 1:06 pm

Try a sticker chart…Owen loved getting stickers for good behaviors and achievements while he was here.

Fill it up each day he sleeps on his own and place a picture of a toy or whatever he would like to get at the end so he can see how close he is to getting his prize.

evanshouFebruary 5, 2013 - 1:20 pm

:-) we actually made one last night, so we’ll see if it works! It worked really good for potty training and medicine, so hopefully it goes as well.

Thanks Jessica!

Brandi GaiserFebruary 6, 2013 - 10:38 am

Oh he’s so darling!! He looks so happy with his new bed. Glad to see that he’s improving. We are all thinking of him!

Ms Brandi

Owen’s Leukemia – day 75

Owen is doing good!  He had a really nice weekend.  We did a lot of things that made us feel like a “normal” family.  On Friday we got his blood counts and the one level (ANC) that we really watch that has a lot to do with his immune system was down to 1,900 after it was 9,200 last week.  They said his levels will really drop, so we kinda thought this is probably the last weekend for a while that we would be able to be out.

I will add some pics tomorrow.   Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Owen’s Leukemia – Day 73

Today was filled with Doctor’s appointments.  We started off this morning at the Cardiologist clinic.  The nurses were going to attempt to give him an EKG (which would have meant lots of stickers all over) and after a lot of high pitched screaming, they opted not to do one.  They wanted one of him in a normal state, but the doctor ended up saying that after looking at his files, they already had enough information from the hospital ones.  So what we learned from the Cardiologist… he was born with this extra electrical connection in his heart.  It is not something that has anything to do with the Leukemia or the port… he would have most likely experienced the SVT sometime in his life if he had not already.  It usually appears at 3 different age groups (babies, 5-7, and 14-16, I think those are right, but don’t quote me on that).  He is not in any of those age groups, but the port most likely brought these instances on.  There are 2 ways to treat SVT, medicine (which his is doing) or a catheter ablation.  He is going to stay on the medicine for now, but if he keeps having episodes, the ablation might be the next option.  The thing with the ablation is that it is a surgical procedure.  So, we would rather not go that route, but I guess we’ll see how he does over the next few months.  We go back in 4 months to see him again.

Next stop, Nanny and Poppy’s house!  Logan was there being watched, so we stopped in for lunch and to play for a little while before heading to the hospital.  The hospital was fine.  The hardest parts are getting the numbing cream on his port before we leave, and them accessing his port when there.  Other than that, the chemo is kinda anti-climactic.  The just push some medicine through his tubies using a pump, and 15 minutes later, we are ready to go.  They say that the next few days he might not feel the best, so hopefully it won’t be too bad.

Here he is looking super cute with his Dad.  (the fluorescent yellow liquid going through the tube is the Methotrexate.   He has fun watching it go through the syringe all the way through the tubes to him.)

DoreenFebruary 1, 2013 - 9:08 pm

Another great shot.

PattyFebruary 2, 2013 - 7:57 am

He is such an inspiration even though he is hooked up to his medicine he has a smile on his face!!!

SonyaFebruary 3, 2013 - 12:35 pm

Such a trooper! I love seeing his journey and hearing how well he is doing! Keep fighting Owen!!

Marnee Gallaher BaileyFebruary 4, 2013 - 9:45 pm

Hi Renee! I think of you and your family often and pray for your sweet Owen.

Owen’s Leukemia – Day 72

Announcing… King Owen!  He wanted to make a crown today, so we did, then I used it as a little learning activity where we learned about a scepter.  I know he misses school so much and learning, I try to come up with something new to teach him each day… even if it is something little.

He had a really good day today, and was showing his little brother some love.

DoreenJanuary 31, 2013 - 11:29 pm

That’s a great shot.

Aunt CathyFebruary 1, 2013 - 6:23 am

I love the picture of the boys looking so happy!

KimFebruary 1, 2013 - 1:40 pm

What a great shot! And what a sweet, loving king! :)