Fun times with family in Boston

We all had a great time last week seeing some of the sites. Gary, Peggy, Colt and Karissa came up to Boston to spend time with Heath. Gary, Peggy and Karissa flew up on Wednesday; Colt and I flew up on Thursday.

We started off going to the Boston Museum of Science. Here are a couple of pictures.


This is a picture of us all while we were waiting to go on the Duck Tour, where we saw parts of Boston by land and by river in an old World War II amphibious landing vehicle. Karissa and Allen got to drive for awhile.

Here are some pictures at the New England Aquarium.

Prayers needed for Heath and Jonah

Heath has been doing ok lately but has had some problems since his last chemo. His blood counts were so bad that he had two different days where he had to get blood and platelet transfusions. He was very weak for several days and didn't have much energy to do anything. He is also having severe pains in his right foot. The doctor says that it is probably caused by inflammation from his radiation treatments but we are not completely sure what is causing the pain. They want to start him back on pain meds to try and get the pain under control. He is still getting daily Proton radiation treatments. He may start his next round of chemo on Friday or Saturday. Please continue to pray for healing and strength for Heath.

We found out that Dave and Patty's grandson Jonah was diagnose with leukemia. Jonah is 11 years old. Heath knows Jonah from when Heath worked at Kings Kids. Jonah already had surgery to put in a port and to do a spinal tap. He started chemo treatments which will continue for at least two years. Please pray for Jonah's family, Jonah's doctors and specifically for Jonah as he goes through his treatments.

Boston pictures

Here are a couple of pictures from Mass General when they organized trick or treat for the kids on Ellison 18.

Above we have Heath as the "Mask" and Allen as a big "Hotdog".

Below is a group shot of the kids during their trick or treat tour. They had it very well organized and it was great to see the kids having a good time.

Below is a picture from the hospital and from the apartment, respectively.

Proton Treatments started on 11/02/06

Heath started his Proton Radiation treatments today. He will get a total of 29 treatments. This is why he is in Boston so let's pray that these treatments completely kill his tumor in his sacrum.

Heath finished his Photon Radiation treatments on Wednesday, November 1st. He had 10 treatments. His treatments were scheduled for 4:20PM every day but the staff at Mass General in the Cox Building was very helpful and changed Heath's schedule to help him get done with the chemo earlier. Mass General, just like Moffitt, is a wonderful hospital and we are very glad to be there.

Heath finished his first of two rounds of chemo that he will get in Boston on Monday night and was released from Mass General on Tuesday afternoon. He seemed to tolerate this round fairly well. We'll know in the next 2 weeks how his blood counts hold up and when they can schedule him for the next round of chemo.

Tuesday was Halloween so Mass General Ellison 18 (that's the pediatric floor that Heath was on) organized a trick or treat tour of Mass General for the kids on the floor. It ended with a pizza party where they fed us lunch. Heath and Allen had a good time and yes they were in custom. I'll post some pictures later when I get them.