Christmas Week Chemo and Scans

Ryan is back home after finishing a two day round of chemo. This was the first time Ryan has done this specific chemo treatment, and it has been tough on him. Ryan is fighting bouts of nausea and just not feeling well. Ryan plans on taking it easy over the next 24 hours. As long as he feels well enough he is looking forward to spending the evening with family and friends Christmas eve at his grandparents.

The results of the scans were not quite what we had planned. Ryan has completed the intensive compression chemo rounds and 30 treatments of radiation therapy. The scans in late July had shown significant progress compared to the scans in early June. This set of scans show that the tumor in the pelvic region has slightly decreased and no new tumor growth. Other than that, there was not much improvement over the scans in July. We are thankful for what we have, but we were hoping for significant improvement. Please keep praying that the chemo continues to work in his body. Ryan will receive another CT scan in mid January to follow up from this round of scans.

Ryan will have a break for the holidays and will be back in the hospital in early January. Please enjoy the holidays with your families and friends. It can be taken from you in an instant.

Please pray for Trey Martens. He and his family needs strength during this holiday season.

Have a safe and Happy Holidays!!

Brad

Ryan, Jody, and another Hockey Night to Remember!

I hope that today finds you well. Ryan had the opportunity to meet Jody Shelley and spend time in the San Jose Sharks locker room. Ryan also met Jody's father-in-law, and Bob joined Ryan, Doug and me at Ted's for a great lunch and afternoon. He met most the players and had a great day. Ryan and Michelle sat right behind the San Jose Bench and enjoyed the game with some good friends. We helped to bring home a Blue Jackets victory. Thanks to Tom Lennox, Doug Shepherd, and Brian Loe who all had a hand in making this a memorable day for Ryan.
Please review the article below. Channel 6, WSYX, did a story "Beyond the Game" as well. I have also attached the links for the article and video. (There is a commercial before the video)
http://blog.dispatch.com/cbj/2008/12/true_blue_jackets_fan.shtml
http://www.wsyx6.com/newsroom/sports/vid_143.shtml
Ryan was at Children's Friday having his MRI's. His counts are getting better, and he will be back at Children's Monday for another round of Chemo. We will find out the results of all the scans on Monday. Please keep Ryan in your prayers for great news.
Thanks and have a great holiday season with your families.
Brad

Update as of 12/15/08

Ryan spent an unexpected weekend back at Children's Hospital due to a spiked fever early Saturday morning. Though the fever did not last long, he did test positive for an infection in the blood system. Ryan returned home Sunday evening and is resting at home.



One of the issues that Ryan has been facing are very low blood counts. However, his labs on Monday have shown increases in each individual areas. Ryan has completed the CT and PET Scans, and we are waiting for the MRI's on Friday to determine how he is progressing. We are looking forward to speaking with the doctors on Monday, December 22, 2008, to go over the results of at the scans. Please keep Ryan in your thoughts and prayers during this time.



Thanks to all the people who continue to call and text Ryan as it does lift his spirits.



Brad

Today; This Year; We continue to have our Firsts!

After almost eight months of helping to care for Ryan, I have finally been invited to contribute to Ryan's blog. Actually, that is not the total truth! The truth lies somewhere between being invited and not getting the invitation and thinking about updating this at a time I can get with Barry to get access. Well, as the stars align, Barry and I connected and I am now able to add to the work Amy and Barry have done so well over the past eight months.

First, I want to thank Barry and Amy for doing such a good job of keeping you all up to date on Ryan and his progress. Without their help, Susan and I could not and did not have the time to update and care for Ryan. So for all they have done and continue to do with this blog, we are grateful.

Now to Ryan, the reason we are here. Ryan has had a tough week and weekend as he has been suffering through the side effects of the Chemo. We were scheduled to go to a concert Thursday night at the Newport Music Hall, but Ryan was unable to attend. It was for "A Christmas to Cure Cancer" and the headline band was Emerson Drive. It was a fun event but Ryan won a picture from the silent auction, courtesy of his dad. Ryan will get a chance to see them the next time they are in Columbus.

I am tired of firsts! Another first we experienced this weekend was a visit by the Jackson Township Fire Department. Ryan was enjoying dinner with us tonight and had an episode where he wasn't feeling well, and then he blacked out. A call to 911, and a visit by your local EMT's and another first in our journey. Ryan seemed ok after the several minutes and a through exam by the EMT's. We are monitoring him for any other issues at this time. Luckily he will be in the hospital tomorrow for chemo and labs, and a full check up. Please keep Ryan in your prayers as he is scheduled for scans on Wednesday of this week and Friday of next. As we find out the results, we will keep you informed.

12/4 update

So sorry for such a delay in posting. Ryan is doing pretty well. He was in the hospital Monday through Wednesday of this week for chemo. He is home now. He had a rough night Tuesday with nausea that was controlled somewhat with medication. I was able to visit with him yesterday afternoon for a couple of hours. And, he seemed to be doing alright. I thought he looked really good! From what I understand, he only has to have chemo one more time before Christmas...on the 22nd. That is great that he will be home and be able to visit with all of his friends that will be home for Christmas break.

Ryan had a good week last week. Even though Thanksgiving food isn't Ryan's favorite [Uncle Barry's right there with you Ryan], Ryan came with our family to our chuch - Cypress Wesleyan- on Monday the 24th for a Thanksgiving Feast with the choir and orchestra [Barry plays the trumpet in our church's orchestra]. It was sooo wonderful spending the evening with him. And, it was awesome for people to meet the man they've been praying for over the last 8 months. I've heard from several people what a blessing it was for them to meet him.

We celebrated Thanksgiving Day at Brad's house. It was a really nice day. My boys really loved playing PS3 with Ryan that afternoon. It was awesome for them to get to spend some time with him. Alex will be ready for a rematch, Ryan! Ryan also spent a lot of time with his friends over the weekend while they were home on break which he enjoyed so much.

Please keep your prayers coming for Ryan. He will be having another round of scans done on the 15th. Please let us all pray that these scans will show that the chemotherapy and radiation have done their job and rid his body of the cancer cells.

One last thing, Trey's [Ryan's buddy from J5] cousin is having a fundraiser at the school she teaches to provide toys that will be handed out to the kids on J5 [Children's Hospital's oncology floor] for Christmas. If you are interested in donating to a worthy cause, please let them know. Donations can be made through this Saturday, 12/6. Here's a link to Trey's Caring Bridge site that has the infomation on it.

http://www.caringbridge.org/cb/viewHome.do

J5 is not the place that any of these kids or families want to be during Christmas. Paula is doing such a wonderful thing!

God Bless,
Aunt Amy

A Special Thanks and A Execlusive Opportunity to Donate to the Blue Jackets Foundation on Wednesday!

Hey everyone its Ryan, i would like to put a quick post up for a few reasons. I would like to say Thank You to many people for the opportunity to go to the Columbus Blue Jackets game on the 12th. Second i would like to say that there is an excellent opportunity Wednesday the 19th to donate to my favorite foundation the Blue Jackets Foundation.

On the 12th, I got invited to the Columbus Blue Jackets vs. the Pheonix Cyotes by the Blue Jackets Foundation and the zebras care organization. the night that i had at the game was amazing. I got opportunity after opportunity throughout the night. First off i was given tickets through the Blue Jackets foundation that were donated by Doug and Lorie a very nice couple who have a love for the blue jackets like i have never seen. we got to sit in their seats that are front row of section 105. After i met up with Kate, Doug, and Lorie we went down under the stand to get to Meet the refs for the game. With the Zebra's care program in each city one child with a life threatining disease is picked to go down before the game and hang out with the on ice officials. So for columbus i was picked. A very neat experiance. After hanging out down in the refs lockerroom talking hockey and saying our good byes I got an experiance offered to me i never thought i would hear. I got to go meet Wayne Gretsky. This was histericle because i was fumbling for words the whole time Wayne was around me. So after talking to Wayne and snaping a few pictures with him it was time to make our way to our seats. The game was a exciting game and the veiw was amazing. i really enjoyed sitting with Doug, Lorie, Joe Friend, Holly, and my dad. it was a good time. As much that i had already done in the night i got another oppurtunuity to go down into the Blue Jackets lockerroom was by far the highlight of my night because i got to hang out with Manny Malhotra and Jason Chimera on a personal level and got to see all the lockerroom, fitness area, and the lounge. All the guys were awesome i really didnt wanted to bother them at all while they were streching out but i just cant say enough about the guys on the team and how they help the childhood cancer kids .

My special thanks goes out to Kate, Jason, and Manny for all you guys have done for me. I first met Manny and Jason at the hospital when they came to visit patients of J5. They both stood there and talked to me for about a half hour. Thanks again guys for taking the time and talking with me. It really has made me really feel pretty good recently.

NOW THERE IS A EXCLUSIVE OPPORTUNITY TO DONATE TO THE BLUE JACKETS FOUNDATION!!!
Today Wednesday, November, 19th
Once a year The Columbus Foundation will match all online credit card donations to THE BLUE JACKETS FOUNDATION in the amount of 50 cents of every dollar up to $2,500 per individual. The Foundation is one of only 300 local non-profit organizations that are eligible for this exclusive opportunity.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION or TO DONATE! <http://www.columbusfoundation.org/give/matchday_2b.aspx>



sorry its so few and far between ill try and get on here more for you.
THANKS AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING YOU GUYS DO FOR ME!
-RYAN

Chemo Week and Blue Jackets tonight

After a week of rest at home, Ryan is back at Children's for his scheduled 5-day chemo treatment. He went in Monday and should be home on Saturday. To get a great break from the hospital, he will get out for awhile today to go to tonight's Columbus Blue Jackets game. He is able to do this thanks to the Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation and Zebra's Care, which is a charity of the National Hockey League Officials Association. Tyler will be going to the game as well.

~Aunt Amy