Jinxed!

Just to spite us for that last post, RJ went and got a fever this morning and is in the hospital. Fine. Whatever. We won't post things like that in the future - we get the point.

RJ was scheduled for chemo this morning anyway, but just as Jessica had the car packed and they were headed south, they got a call that his white blood count was ridiculously low and that he couldn't have chemo until it was higher. They had some other appointments, so they decided to head down anyway - they even stopped so that RJ could see his friend's band play, although blog central could tell last night that he wasn't feeling great. His temp this morning was a bit over 101 and at last hospital check it was 102.6. We think they're going to put him on antibiotics and keep an eye on him, but we'll let you know. Hopefully, this will all clear up quickly and he can start chemo next week. Stay tuned...

The Last Round!

Tonight, RJ, Courtney and Jessica make their way down for RJ's last round of chemo! The doctors had originally said that it would take months longer, but the oncologists hadn't figured on RJ having no major complications from each round. He's been able to take each chemo on schedule which has shortened the time considerably. He hasn't felt all that great at times, but his body is handling everything better than anyone expected.

Do you live in the East Bay and want to help? Jessica usually stays at the hospital to have dinner with RJ every night and hospital food isn't...the best. Wonderful friend Dede has been bringing tasty meals for them to share and we'd like to know if anyone else would like to do the same. It doesn't have to be anything fancy, but a home cooked meal can make the end of a long day special. If you live near Oakland and want to help, contact Dede at DHeitma@bart.gov.

RJ Goes to the MRI

So RJ got to go on a trip today. He needed an MRI to check on the cause of his headaches and the nearest MRI machine was in the next building.










So...he went by ambulance.


















They loaded him up, drove the 100 or so feet to the driveway next door,unloaded him and took him up to the MRI.



















RJ got a nice change of scene and it was an interesting adventure for all.

(We put this older picture of RJ and Gypsy in just because it's cute.)

Not Slacking Off

I was just told by the boy himself to stop slacking off on the blog, so here we are ;)

You might be able to tell by the comment that RJ is feeling much better this round of chemo. He went to the hospital on Wednesday with a more positive outlook and that has followed him through this week of treatment - the change really is remarkable. It's hard to pinpoint what's different, but the nursing staff at the hospital got a jump on his nausea medications and his blinding headaches so he feels physically much better and because of that everything has been much easier. He's pretty active on Facebook, so feel free to comment over there too. RJ finally shaved his head last weekend (not that we didn't love the ostrich style chemo-do) and everyone agrees that he looks awesome - thank God he doesn't have a weirdly shaped head. Unfortunately, he won't allow us to post any non-hat photos, but we're working on that.

There have been some great things happening recently - the Dr. Pepper company sent RJ a great package full of cool stuff: a Tshirt, hat, pin, a patch and dogtags (which he'd better keep around his neck or they might find their way into the hands of a few of his friends who covet them). Now he can wear a Dr. Pepper T-shirt pretty much every day of the week.

Blog friend DeDe has shown up at the hospital three nights running with awesome food that RJ is gulping down (despite his particular taste in meatloaf, hers passed with flying colors) and hopefully he'll start to put on some weight. Despite the weight loss, blog central swears he's grown taller the past few months - we are tall, but he's just about to pass us which isn't right at all.

One of the best gifts for Christmas was a new iPad so that RJ can watch movies, play games and read books (even textbooks-ha!). Unfortunately, the night before he went into the hospital it just stopped working - no power, no nothing. Jessica didn't have the packaging or a receipt with her down here in the East Bay, so blog central decided to venture to the Apple Store (which, not owning even an iPod, felt a little like being a heathen in church) and explain the situation. The tech plugged it in, fiddled around for a few seconds and within five minutes we were walking out with a brand new iPad which has been great for him to have this visit. Go Apple. Blog central might have to investigate getting an iPad for headquarters.

RJ's grandma found a great program called PJammin' where kids wear pajamas as a fundraising and awareness effort as part of World Cancer Day on February 4th. Follow this link for information if your school is interested in taking part.

So - that's it for the slack from blog central. Stay tuned for any new developments!

Buh Bye Tumors!

The first symptom of RJs illness was incredible stomach pain. After several days and two CAT scans, the doctors found several tumors in both his large and small intestines and diagnosed him with Burkitt's lymphoma. With this type of cancer, the tumors can double in size every 24 hours, but luckily, they can shrink just as quickly with proper treatment.

RJ had another CAT scan on Monday and the results came back yesterday - the tumors are gone! This is the news that everyone has been waiting to hear and we're all so thrilled for him. The treatment is difficult but it is working.

Blog central got to visit with RJ yesterday afternoon and he made a valiant effort to participate, but ultimately he slept in a recliner most of the day. He did wake up to eat some pasta and have his favorite Berry Best smoothie which was encouraging. This seems to be the pattern - five days of chemo followed by over a week of pain, nausea, headaches and fatigue. Despite fears, he managed to get through this round of chemo and recovery without having to make a return trip to the hospital. His blood counts look great, kidney function is strong and his lungs are clear. It's ironic, but except for the whole cancer thing, he is actually a really healthy kid.

We're hoping that he'll feel well enough in the next few days to eat lots of high-fat foods and visit with his friends before going back for another round of chemo on January 5th. RJ got his very own iPad for Christmas which means that he can keep in touch with friends on Facebook much more easily as well as make all of his friends jealous with such a high level of cool. Watch for him on a computer screen near you.

Merry Christmas from Blog Central!

Rolling truffles always gets us here at blog central in a contemplative mood and this morning was no different. As we were scooping chocolate and rolling powder, we got to thinking about all of the miracles that have happened in the past six weeks.

It really is a miracle that RJ is with us and doing so well. On the last visit to the hospital, Jessica talked with several of the ICU nurses who were with us during the scary days and it became very clear just how badly things could have gone. Blog central will never forget one seasoned ICU nurse, looking at RJ heavily sedated, swollen almost beyond recognition and on a loud aggressive ventilator saying, "I've seen worse get better." Its frightening when that is the most positive statement that can be made. But he did get better, and will continue to do so until the chemo therapy is over. As of this moment, RJ is home with his family despite a visit to the ER yesterday. We all hope that he gets to spend this Christmas in his own bed, and know that by next Christmas, all of this will just be a bad memory.

The doctors and nurses at the hospital were each a little miracle on their own. So attentive to both RJ and Jessica (and baby Courtney when she arrived), so accommodating to the unusual situation and so supportive in their own professional way. It is to their credit that this Christmas is joyous rather than somber. The giant pile of presents that arrived from the 5th floor yesterday for all of the Romeros went above and beyond the call of medical duty.

The community that came together to help Jessica and RJ is one of the biggest miracles of all, and we don't mean just the Sebastopol or Castro Valley communities, but the people far and wide who focused on any way they could help. Throughout this part of the journey there have been so many small but amazing moments. Classmates who went out on their own to raise money, a rockin' benefit last week that raised several thousand dollars (still waiting for photographic evidence of such - nudge, nudge), a teacher who held her own raffle of handmade jewelery, Christine at Swiss Delices who gave 30% of her profits last weekend and continues to raise money with the "Jessica and RJ tip jar", landlords who have been very accomodating and even offered up their vacation house for the auction, people who have taken it upon themselves to get utility bills reduced and secure corporate donations, the friends and neighbors who made RJ's first homecoming so special, the many generous donations that continue to come in through the blog (you all continue to amaze every day), the family who made special RJ and Courtney cards to show that a donation had been made in relative's names in lieu of gifts this year (waves to Jill) and all of the amazing cards and blog comments that really brighten the darkest days.

Everything that has happened since RJ's diagnosis has shown that now, more than ever, it not only takes a village to raise a child, but to help save the life of one too.

Merry Christmas to everyone who reads this. Give all of your loved ones an extra hug from blog central.

End of a Rough Visit

Today is the last day of RJ's five day chemo hospital stay, and he's glad to see it go. It was difficult to walk back into the hospital again, knowing what was ahead and with the memories of what happened last time he was here, but he faced it bravely. Although he's said that it wasn't as bad as he thought it would be (and we can only imagine how bad he thought it would be), it's been a long five days. As with all things medical with RJ, it's been difficult to get the nausea under control so he's felt sick most of the time despite all of the staff's efforts. He's been trying to eat six small meals every day, but most days we're lucky enough to get a window of feeling good to cram in just one.

If all goes well, he should be able to go home today and rest for about two and a half weeks before the next round of chemo. Because his whiteblood cell count will go down sometime in the next three to four days, he has to basically hibernate and avoid other people and our germs until the neutropenic phase passes and he can join the world again. Everyone is hoping that he'll get through this phase without getting sick and having to return to the hospital - we all want RJ home for Christmas!

Thanks again for all of the cards and packages - RJ loves opening all of the things that come and they really put a smile on his face, even when he's in the middle of a bad patch.