Heath, Live in concert with the "The Allen Lynchberg Experience"

Heath has been feeling pretty good lately. This round of chemo was not as tuff on him as the first round. He was able to practice with a group of friends ("The Allen Lynchberg Experience") enough to be able to perform at the annual Tiger Fest at Palmetto High School on Saturday, April 22, 2006. There is a whole other story behind the band name but I won't go into that. Heath commented that he can sing better and he could not hold or hit some on the notes that he normally can but the chemo did cause him to have a severe case of thrush. His throat was still a little raw but we thought he sounded great, and so did everyone else that was there. Here are a few pictures from the performance (sorry if the pictures look a little distorted, that's how they came off the tape).

Prayer request for Pastor Paul

Pastor Paul, the senior pastor at New Hope Baptist Church in Ellenton, is on the same floor that Heath was just on. He is in severe pain. They are still trying to manage his pain. They want to surgically install a pain pump that may control his pain. They were doing something yesterday that should determine if the pump will work on him.

Please pray that they are able to install the pain pump and that it will control his pain.

Up coming travel plans

We will be trying to work out the details for the trip to Boston for the Proton Beam Radiation Therapy. We don't know the exact dates yet but it should be around the middle of June.

Our biggest concern now is finding comfortable and clean housing for the 7 week visit for Karis and Heath as well as the rest of us as we come and go. Karis' concern is not splitting up the family for 7 weeks. I'd like to be up there as much as possible as well as bringing Colt and Karissa up for at least a few visits.

Please pray for our travel arrangements.

Home and resting

Heath's second round of chemo is over. This completes his first cycle of chemo. He came home yesterday. He has been having pains in his legs and left foot. He also has a very sore throat. Overall, he has tolerated this round of chemo much better than the other type of chemo.

Allan will be saying with Heath during his visit. That should help keep his spirits up. They are a funny pair.

Please pray for Heath's pains to lessen so he can recover from the chemo treatment more comfortably.

Heath's friend is in town for spring break visit

We picked up Heath's best friend Allan at the airport on Saturday. Allan is on spring break and will be here for the Tiger Fest that their band will perform at. Heath spent most of Saturday late afternoon and early evening playing video games with his friends Allan, Louie and Randy. Heath's dad Gary brought him the old Super Nintendo and they played Mario Brothers. Heath said that game is the best video game for therapy. They were laughing and having a good time for several hours. Heath has a lot of very good friends.

Second round of chemo

Heath was admitted back at Moffitt yesterday, 4/13, for another round of chemo. He will be given Methotrexate/Leucovorin during this round. The Methotrexate is given in an IV fast drip over four hours. They ran an IV previously for 6 hours that had something in it that will help keep the Methotrexate in his system for a 24 hour period. Leucovorin will be used to remove the Methotrexate. They will monitor the Methotrexate counts. When it goes below a certain level, Heath can come home.

This round will complete the first cycle of chemo. Heath will have one more cycle of chemo before we travel to Harvard.

There are 3 different kinds of chemo that they are giving him. Each cycle will consist of Adriamycin, Cisplatin and Methotrexate. The Adriamycin and Cisplatin are given during the same round and the Methotrexate is given in a round by itself.

Heath had the Adriamycin and Cisplatin on 3/28 to 4/1. This chemo causes the white blood cell levels to drop very drastically. A Neulasta shot was given 24 hours after this round as a rescue agent. It causes the body to produce white blood cells to keep Heath from getting an infection.

Thanks for all the prayers.

Good news

Heath was at Moffitt today. He had some blood work done and his counts were very good.

Also, we talked to Dr. Letson and he said he would call us as soon as he heard from Harvard about Heath's status for getting Proton Beam Radiation Therapy at Harvard. Before we left the hospital, Dr. Letson called to tell us that Heath has been accepted for the Proton Radiation. This is what we were praying for. From what we have been told, this is the best possible treatment that he can get for this type of cancer more many reasons.

Thank You Dr. Letson

Heath got his braces off

Heath got his braces off yesterday. He had them on for 2 1/2 years. His teeth look great and he can eat more confortably. The chemo has caused him to develop sores in his mouth and the braces were not helping the matter. Many thanks to Dr. Morrish for working him in.

History of earlier events

I have been meaning to post a thread that gives some of the past events that lead to where we are at but haven't had time. I will edit this post with that info in the near future.

Note: See post on 5/12/2006 for updated history.

Heath's Diagnosis

Heath has been diagnosed with Chondroblastic Osteosarcoma in the sacrum.

On 3/8/06, an incisional biopsy was performed on the left sacrum area by Dr. Letson. The pathology was prepared by Moffitt. It was reviewed by Moffitt, Harvard and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.

On 3/20/06, we were told that the pathology was showing that Heath has Chondroblastic Osteosarcoma.

On 3/21/06, a PET scan was performed at USF's University Diagnostic Center. The results from the scan showed that the cancer has not spread to any other parts of the body.

On 3/28/06, Heath was admitted back at Moffitt. His first chemo treatment was started late that evening and lasted until about 2AM on 4/1/06.

His strength and appetite are coming back slowly.

Keep praying for his healing and strength.

Song that Karis found and wanted posted

"He's My Son" by Mark Schultz

I'm down on my knees again tonight
I'm hoping this prayer will turn out right
See there is a boy that needs Your help
I've done all that I can do myself
His mother is tired
I'm sure You can understand
Each night as he sleeps
She goes in to hold his hand
And she tries not to cry
As the tears fill her eyes

CHORUS:
Can You hear me?
Am I getting through tonight?
Can You see him?
Can You make him feel all right?
If You can hear me
Let me take his place somehow
See, he's not just anyone
He's my son

Sometimes late at night I watch him sleep
I dream of the boy he'd like to be
I try to be strong and see him through
But God who he needs right now is You
Let him grow old
Live life without this fear
What would I be
Living without him here
He's so tired and he's scared
Let him know that You're there

CHORUS

Can You hear me?
Can You see him?
Please don't leave him
He's my son

Heath's Update

Please keep Heath in your prayers. Pray for healing and strength for Heath and his family.

This blog has been setup to help keep Heath’s family and friends updated on what is going on.

Sometimes it is hard to remember who we have talked to and who we still need to call. This will also allow Karis and Heath to fellowship with most of the people calling without having to give them an update first. Also, this will help keep all the facts straight. We all remember the childhood game that we played called Telephone.

Links to this blog will be posted on our Sunday School Class Website, http://www.buckandverajosclass.com/. Heath may also post this link on his MySpace.com site. The direct link to this blog is http://heathsupdate.blogspot.com/.

Please keep Heath in your prayers.