Welcome to Nathan's Cancer Journey

This blog is a reposting of Nathan's Caringbridge page which we updated throughout his battle with Neuroblastoma.

Nathan was born on June 16, 2000, diagnosed with Stage IV Neuroblastoma on April 1, 2003 and died on July 29, 2007.

I have posted the journal here to make it easier to look up by date and also to be able to easily add pictures to the journal entries.

Some of the pictures go along with the text, but many of the pictures you will see were pictures taken on the same date the journal was added, even if the pictures have nothing to do with the text. In the future I may add additional journal entries to go along with pictures to add more explanation/memories.

I am just getting started posting the years of entries and so this will be incomplete for some time. I hope to eventually also post the guestbook entries by date as a comment on the post.

Thursday, August 12, 2004 AM

Thursday, August 12, 2004 8:25 AM CDT


Good morning..

We've been having a good week so far.

Monday I was able to talk to Nathan's doctor about some things. Oh - to back up a little I called Denver Children's hospital about the kidney scan and was told that they were very hesitant to do it since he doesn't have a broviak any more. The test invloves timed blood draws and with an IV blood draws can be difficult. The IV could stop drawing blood at any time. and then the test would be thrown off. So...another failed attempt. Then I talked to Nathan's doctor and we both agreed it ouwld be a good idea to run the urine test again and if it is normal not to worry about the other test. Nathan was due to have his blood drawn today anyway so it would all work out. Well - yesterday as we had been colleting urine all day - I was on the phone and Nathan went into the bathroom and used it and I notived a moment too late so the collection was aborted. So - I am going to talk to his doctor today about how important it is the test be done soon and what are the risks if he has kidney damage and we don't know it. We have tried so hard and so many times to get him a test it is just so frustrating.

The rash Nathan had was most likely from sun exposure. I described it and its location to his doctor and that is what he said it was. It is mostly gone now and didn't bother Nathan anyway.

He had his first shot yesterday. He was not too happy about it but was very good. The poor thing got his usally very large welt where I injected him. It swells and itches him like mad.

Today he will go meet his preschool teacher and see his classroom and then go to the clinic this afternoon. Julia will go to daycare today.

One other complication we are dealing with is that the Ronald McDonald House is very full next week and we may not have a room. I should have an idea on Friday but not know for sure until Saturday (I will call on the way to the airport) or even until we arrive. So - I am sure something will work out but what a pain not to know....

Well - I think that is all the news for now...I will try to update sooner next time!









At the children's playroom next door to the clinic

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