Friday update, 8/29/08

Ryan came over to our home last night to celebrate our oldest son's birthday. He looked great and was feeling pretty well. It was soooo good to see him. Ryan spent a couple of hours yesterday at the hospital getting lab work done. And, he enjoyed a great lunch with his Grandpa Mac at Red Robin. With a Red Robin burger and fries and the pizza from last night, he proved he still has a great appetite.

Ryan hadn't been feeling well and has been very tired in this past week since he's been home from last week's chemo. But, he felt better yesterday. We got some good pictures last night so Barry will post those over the weekend.


Ryan's expected to go to Children's one day next week for a couple of hours for his Vincristine. He's also scheduled to start radiation therapy next Thursday at the James. He will have receive radiation on his spine for 10 days. Ryan will go back to Children's on the 8th for another 5 days of the chemo that he was just on last week. Please pray that Ryan will have a good week while he's off. And, pray for his strength and peace of mind while he begins the radiation again.

God Bless,
Aunt Amy

Off-week Bliss...Back to the Battle

Wow! Ten days since the last post. Here's what been going on.

Ryan has really his chemo-free week. Last weekend Ryan, Eric and Corey picked up Ryan's Accord at Grandma and Grandpa's house and took it home. Ryan spent part of the day last Saturday and Sunday making it spotless. (Hey Ryan, if you enjoy cleaning up cars, I got a couple for you!)

This past Friday night, Ryan, Brad and Susan attended a Buckeye Football dinner at the Buckeye Hall of Fame Cafe. Ryan had the privilege of eating dinner with starting quarterback Todd Boeckmann. Matter of a fact, I think Boeckmann was serving Ryan dessert. Pictures are posted online.

On Saturday, Ryan was able to pay-off a promise he made shortly after his diagnosis. Let me take you back to that time in mid-to-late-April. Ryan was pretty much bed-ridden...he just had major back surgery to remove a tumor on his spine and the cancer in his core made walking seem like an impossible dream. At that time, Ryan promised his Dad's softball buddies that he would be well-enough to walk out to the mound and throw-out the first pitch at the first game of the fall season. On Saturday as the team donned TeamSalmons shirts and wristbands, Ryan walked out the the mound and paid off his promise! Check out the photos!

Now, one request from Uncle Barry...Ryan, I call official photographer it you get the opportunity to have your picture taken with the USA Women's Volleyball team...Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh! They need to be drafted to TeamSalmons...don't you think? Back to the serious...

Ryan is back in the hospital as of today for five days of chemotherapy. He was feeling good today after his first treatment, but the medication is already making him very tired. Please keep Ryan in your prayers through this next round...he is refusing to lose!

God Bless to All!

Friday Update

In trying to update the last week's events, I'll start with the best news first. Ryan had another round of testing done while he was in for his chemo treatments last week. The MRIs showed that his leg and spine are still clear. And, that his pelvis didn't show any increase in the tumors that are there. That is very good news to say the least. Chemo is such a long, hard process but it is doing its job.

Since Ryan left the hospital on Monday, he hasn't been feeling the best. And, he has had a very, very difficult time sleeping. In fact, he hasn't slept much at all since he had been receiving his chemo last week. Please pray that this turns around for him. His body and his mind need this much needed rest.

Wednesday night Ryan was taken back to the hospital because of intense headache pain which resulted in not being able to see clearly or speak for a short period of time. A CAT scan and MRI on his head came back clear which is a blessing. I believe the doctors thought that maybe it could have been associated with some dehydration or a migraine. He was released from the hospital yesterday.

The Photos of Ryan link to the right was recently updated. Take a look at the great pictures taken which include shots from Ryan's birthday and his trip to the Mid-Ohio racetrack where he spent some time in the garages of Indy Car drivers Danica Patrick and Tony Kanaan.

Thank you for your prayers for Ryan. Please continue to pray for him. As has become all too clear to me personally recently with some very dear friends of ours as well as with Ryan, we will face many very difficult and devastating circumstances in our lives. But, I have to put my faith and trust in God to pull us through these difficult times. He will give us peace and protection because we can't do it on our own. This is what gives me hope. And, it is my trust and my faith that make me so confident that Ryan will get through this one day at a time and his body will be clear of this dreaded disease.

~Aunt Amy

Happy Birthday and Message from New Team Salmons Supporter

Today is Ryan's 19th Birthday! Let's everyone shower him with birthday wishes by posting a comment at the end of this article. HAPPY BIRTHDAY RYAN!

On a completely different note, I had a special opportunity to meet Dick Vitale today. It Was Awesome Baby! He is doing some noble work in support of his dear friend Jimmy Valvano's V-Foundation for Cancer Research. Jimmy lost his fight in 1993 but his legacy is alive and Dick shared a couple of his fundraising initiatives with me. Dick shared with me how he is determined to raise $1,000,000 for research grants for pediatric cancer. I shared a little about Ryan's battle and he was kind enough to send this special video message to Ryan. Thanks Dickie V...YOU are Awesome Baby!

As an aside, if you are unfamiliar with Jimmy Valvano's story, I encourage you to watch or read his acceptance speech from the first annual ESPY awards on March 4, 1993. I think we all can learn something from his speech.

As an update to last week, Ryan spent a couple of days in the hospital battling a urinary tract infection which was the cause of his high temperature. After arriving at the hospital they quickly got him on antibiotics and his temperature came down. They have determined his sore throat was a side effect of the chemo from the week prior. This is a side effect he has not experienced before..so next time, he'll be ready for it. Now, he is home and he is feeling much better.

Request and Mid-Week Update

First, let me start with the request. Ryan has not been feeling well today, he feels run-down, has a soar throat and is running a high fever. This means, as I type this update, he is being taken back to the hospital for evaluation and treatment...probably antibiotics. Please pray that the fever is quickly controlled and that he feels better soon.

Now for the brief update. Ryan has had a good week in spite of dealing with the continued side effects of last week's 48 hour treatment and Monday's Vincristine treatment. He has been getting progressive stronger each day.

On Sunday he was invited to go up the Mid-Ohio Indy Car race and tour the Danica Patrick garage and meet some of the drivers. Pre-race the rains came and Ryan spent the rain-delay time in the Tony Kanaan garage. He was not able to stay for the race, but he certainly enjoyed his time at Mid-Ohio.

Thank you all for your support and prayers! God Bless!

Friday Update

Ryan is now home again. He left the hospital late yesterday afternoon. He wasn't feeling the greatest during his treatment but I thought he looked good. He didn't sleep much at all on Wednesday night so hopefully today will be a day at home playing catch up with sleep in between appointments he has lined up. He'll go in next Monday for a push of Vincristine. But then I believe he won't have any chemo treatments until the end of July. So, I hope that he enjoys every minute of being at home.

~Amy

Update

Hey Guys,

Before i go back to the hospital tomorrow while i still feel good i wanted to post an update and tell everyone a little about my week without chemo. First off i would like to thank everyone who has helped out, donated money, or has sent thoughts and prayers. Like i said i had the week off from chemo and i had a great and strong week. Once i got the chemo from last week out of my system i was able to be sitting up and standing up all day with no problems. Before when i was sitting or standing i would get light headed. Throughout the week i got to do some activities and make a few visits that i wanted to. One of my favorite hobbies before i got diagnosed with cancer and got put in the hospital for so long was to work on cars so this week i took out one of my buddies good speakers from his truck and put his factory speakers back in because hes selling his truck. On friday night i went up and visited the Dodds. This was very good for helping my spirit because i got to see all of them and talk to the all of the neighbors that i know because they were all together. Saturday morning i got up early to go down to cinncinatti to one of my good family friend Mark Congdon's dads funeral. Mark has always been here for me so i wanted to be there for him. When i showed up i could tell how much it meant to Mark which made me feel awesome. When i got back from the funeral i just hung out for the day. On sunday i cleaned up my dads motor cycle for him. So overall i had a great week.

I would like to clear up a rumor that i have been hearing. I have heard a rumor of me, my dad, and step mom not wanting people to visit or come around. That is the farthest thing from the truth. my dad wants whats best for me and wants me to be happy and if thats me wanting people to come visit then people are going to come visit. There was a time when i was in the hospital a month or to ago that i felt terrible and i told my dad and step mom that i didnt want any visitors that night and they told everyone for me. maybe some how people mistaked that. so if you want to visit you are more than welcome to but call me first.

I go in for chemo tomorrow(tuesday) morning and i go home Thursday night. I hope to give you an update personally but if i am not feeling up to it i will leave it to Barry or Amy.

Thanks, Ryan