tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23529819631850141032024-03-13T10:25:54.395-07:00A Journey of Love and HealingTodd Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05880162632172777051noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2352981963185014103.post-54253832253907757562011-04-10T10:56:00.000-07:002011-04-10T10:57:59.003-07:00CT Scan Results<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; ">Amy's Posting - Asher was so brave for his last CT scan. I realize it might seem strange to describe a baby as brave, but the doctors and nurses told me they would need to sedate him for the procedure since he is 4 months old and moves his arms and legs a lot. So after our hour and a half time frame of drinking the contrast, I took Asher to the CT scan room and laid him on the table. He immediately got very still and didn’t struggle with having his arms pinned. He stayed so still and looked so peaceful. The tech was able to perform the procedure without the sedation. It was huge relief to me.<br /><br />The next day Todd and I met with the oncologist and we received some of the best news we could have hoped for….Asher’s tumor has decreased in size by one centimeter. It is a true answer to our prayers. The tumor went from a diameter of 2.6 cm to 1.6 cm. We were so joyful and thankful for the news. It was amazing to see how much smaller the tumor actually is when the doctor showed us the both of the scans side by side. Early indication is that his tumor is regressing naturally and while it is still considered Stage 1 neuroblastoma.<br /><br />We’ve had so many people all across the U.S. praying for Asher and we are so thankful for all of your prayers and support. We truly believe that God answers prayers. While the news is very encouraging, we will continue to pray for further natural regression of the tumor. There is one rare case that I’m aware of where a family experienced a similar situation, only to learn that their baby’s cancer spread at 6 months. I’ve been praying for this family as they are dealing with treatment for their baby as well as trying to find peace with the “wait and watch” approach that they agreed to for their son’s treatment protocol.<br /><br />We also have some good news about Hudson. I also took him to Children’s Healthcare for an Upper GI test. The good news is the doctors did not find anything abnormal during that test. His diagnosis is that Hudson has severe reflux and increased his antacid by a large amount to try to help Hudson feel more comfortable during and immediately following feedings. His hypothesis is that babies are smart and attribute cause and effect. So that Hudson knows that after he eats his throat and stomach burn and therefore decreases his feedings. After two few weeks of increasing his dosage, we also found out that he had gained 12 ounces, which is very encouraging. We can attribute that to the addition of KARO syrup and rice cereal to his formula. The KARO syrup is packed with calories. We are now hoping to decrease the KARO syrup and see an increase in the amount of formula he takes during a feeding. He is averaging 1 ½ ounces a feeding and we need it be closer to 2 ½ per feeding. His current weight is 9 lb. 1 oz.<br /><br />Zachary celebrated his 4th birthday earlier this week. Unfortunately, he was sick on his actual birthday and had to go to the doctor's office. We will be celebrating with his friends at the end of next week (since this week is spring break for Georgia Schools). He is looking forward to his party.<br /></span>Amy Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00129129366700483498noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2352981963185014103.post-34828546578340417652011-03-22T05:40:00.000-07:002011-03-22T05:42:04.386-07:00Long Overdue Update<p class="MsoNormal">Amy’s Posting – I can’t believe it has been so long since we’ve updated the blog.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Asher and Hudson are now three months old!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Todd has been back at work about six weeks now and I’ve been settling into a routine.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Ironically enough, the routine pretty much takes every moment of my day and leaves little time for anything else, even things that I love doing like writing.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But, I’ve taken this time to try and enjoy all (well, if not all, at least most!) of these moments that I know are so precious. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I spent the little bit of free time I had in January doing research on neuroblastoma in newborns.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>One of my neighbors introduced me “via email” to another family in Atlanta that is dealing with a neuroblastoma diagnosis with their son.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I can’t explain how helpful this introduction was to us. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This new friend has been so supportive and has introduced us to several good web sites with research and information including a listserv for parents of children with neuroblastoma.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Todd and I posted an inquiry on the listserv to see if we could be connected with any families with a situation similar to our situation (we’ve since learned that the chance of a newborn being born with neuroblastoma is 24 in 1 million).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Following our post, we received several heartfelt emails from families across the country who had similar experiences to ours.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Some of the families opted for surgery on their newborn babies while others followed the “wait and watch” approach that our doctor is recommending.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>For some, that protocol has been successful and for others, the cancer spread.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Another mother, not knowing where we lived, emailed me explaining that our situation sounded very familiar to someone else she knew.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>She sent me a blog link for this family and when I started reading it, their story was exactly like ours (except that their newborn son’s diagnosis was several years ago).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As I continued reading their story, I discovered the family lived in Atlanta and that they had seen the same doctors as we had.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We’ve been able to connect with each other and she has shown me so much compassion, kindness and support.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I still feel amazed at how God works in our lives to provide comfort to us when we need it most.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A few other neighbors and friends have also given us some connections and I am hoping to find some time soon to reach out to these families for additional support and advice.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We did ask receive a second opinion from St. Jude’s, and they concurred with Asher’s oncologist’s treatment plan. It was good to have this confirmation. Overall, we are still struggling with our decision about the best path forward for Asher, but are trying not to let the situation define our lives.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I’ve have <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>spent more time going to doctor appointments than I would like to.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Since our last post, Asher has had an ultrasound and another appointment with the oncologist.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Based on the results of the ultrasound, it appears that the tumor has not grown in size.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We were very relieved to hear that news.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>His next CT Scan will be at the end of March.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Following that scan, we have an appointment with a pediatric oncology surgeon to discuss the pros and cons of surgery.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We’ve mostly accepted the new reality of our life and feel at peace with the path forward, but we still find it difficult to find strength close to his appointment times.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It seems to be the real reminder that we have a child who may have cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And, the more I read the stories of children with neuroblastoma, the more I feel led to become an advocate for childhood cancer once again.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It saddens me to read the statistics for neuroblastoma such as only 30 percent of children diagnosed survive it.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We feel so grateful that even if Asher does have neuroblastoma, the survival rate for a newborn diagnosis is very favorable.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">As February approached, Todd returned to work.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It was such a blessing to have him home with us for about two months.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It was very special to see his bond with Zachary grow even stronger.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I also started some small project work for my client.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In the beginning, I was afraid of my new responsibility of caring for three children, but in other ways, it felt comforting to get back into a normal routine.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I needed this time away from the blog in many ways so we could feel like a normal family again.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">As March begins and the weather turns warmer, we are once again spending lots of time outside, with Zachary riding his bike around the neighborhood and me walking the babies.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As many of you know, Zachary has always loved spending time outside playing so this very “normal” activity has been very comforting to me.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We are now faced with some other health-related obstacles with Hudson.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We are not seeing the rate of growth that we should be experiencing for his age.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He’s now up to 8 lbs.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>During the next several <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>weeks, we will be meeting with some specialists for consultations and test to help identify if there are any other obstacles besides his severe reflux.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The doctors feel pretty confident that the reflux is the cause of the slower weight gain.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A few weeks ago, we started adding rice cereal to his high calorie formula in hopes of promoting more rapid weight gain.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He remains one of the most content and happy babies we’ve seen.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The only thing we’ve identified that he dislikes is his bath!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Even with all of the health obstacles, we have a lot of laughter and love in our house.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Our hearts melt every time Zachary, Asher or Hudson smiles at us.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And, we continue to be amazed at how much Zachary loves his brothers even through all of the chaos we’ve experienced the past several months.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We are also planning a very important event for our family in April, Zachary’s 4<sup>th</sup> birthday party!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>To stay with his obsession with anything with wheels, he’s asked Mommy to make him a dump truck birthday cake this year.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In years past, he’s had a school bus, train and fire truck birthday cake!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We recently had some professional photos taken of the babies and our family.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We will post some of those photos to the blog soon!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We appreciate everyone’s continued prayers and friendship during this time. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>Amy Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00129129366700483498noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2352981963185014103.post-22400373627037939522011-01-07T12:28:00.000-08:002011-01-07T12:28:08.040-08:00CT Scan ResultsTodd's Posting - Wednesday morning Asher and I woke up early to get to the hospital for his CT scan. He did great during his short time in the CT machine and the images turned out well. Yesterday we all went to meet with his Oncologist to go over the imaging results. <br />
<br />
<div></div><div>The good news is that the size of the tumor is not as large as we originally thought (based on the results of a sonogram when he was 5 days old). At this point it is 2.6 cm at its longest point and sits on top of his kidney within the adrenal gland. We also learned that the tumor is cystic, meaning comprised mostly of fluid contained within a sac, whereas most neuroblastomas are solid tumors. The doctor called this cystic neuroblastoma. These are a very rare type of neuroblastoma with very few documented cases. The oncologist is still working on the assumption that Asher's tumor is neuroblastoma although without a biopsy they do not know for sure.<br />
<br />
However, this does not change the medical protocol for Asher which is to continue to scan and evaluate the tumor at regular intervals (every 6 to 12 weeks) to determine if it has changed size. Our doctor takes a conservative approach to ordering CTs on infants like Asher and thus will alternate CTs and ultrasounds until he is 2 years old. <br />
<br />
</div><div></div><div>Because of the high likelihood of a positive outcome due to catching it early, we are now in a wait and watch mode. There are a couple of potential scenarios:</div><div><ul><li>The tumor could resolve on its own (converts into ganglioneuroma), the best possible outcome </li>
<li>If the tumor increases size by 50% or more they will surgically remove it</li>
<li>If there is no change after two years we will need to decide what to do at that point </li>
</ul><div>We followed up with our pediatrician today (Friday) to discuss the results and our options and we've decided that we would like to pursue a second opinion to see what another pediatric oncology group would recommend before making our final treatment decision.</div><div></div></div>Todd Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05880162632172777051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2352981963185014103.post-6699223026024073882010-12-30T19:45:00.000-08:002010-12-30T19:46:36.553-08:00Oncology Appointment<p class="MsoNormal">Amy’s Posting – We appreciate everyone’s prayers for our appointment with the oncologist today. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>When I saw all of the children in the waiting room for their appointments it brought back a lot of memories from Camp Sunshine.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As I scanned the waiting room, I was once again struck by the optimism and hope that seemed to shine through the children.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They seem to exude courage and innocence which I think helps them win their battle to become cancer survivors.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The hallways of the doctor’s office are filled with professional photography and encouraging quotes from these cancer warriors.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I was quickly reminded of the survivor “case studies” I wrote for the American Cancer Society early in my public relations career.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It was strange to think that Asher might become one of those profiles and that through this blog, we are beginning to write his story.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We were very impressed with our doctor.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He spent a lot of time educating us about neuroblastoma, describing the various scenarios for diagnosis, staging and treatment and answering our questions.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We still do not have an actual diagnosis but our doctor is proceeding as if his tumor is neuroblastoma. Our session was very informative and armed us with the information we need to make decisions as move closer to the actual diagnosis.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>One of the most striking facts is even though neuroblastoma is a common childhood cancer, the actual number of annual new cases is only about 600.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And finding it in a newborn or during a prenatal ultrasound is a very rare occurrence.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We feel very fortunate that this was discovered prior to Asher’s birth as the prognosis for children over two with neuroblastoma is not as favorable.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It is too complicated to explain all of the potential scenarios until we have more information from additional tests that the doctor is recommending.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Our immediate next step is for Asher to have a CT scan early next week.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The images from the CT scan will give the doctor a precise measurement of the tumor and confirm if the diagnosis of neuroblastoma at a stage 1 is accurate.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>If that is the case, the prognosis is very favorable, but we will be faced with some uncertainty for his first two years as the doctors will continue to monitor the tumor with CT scans and ultrasounds to ensure it does not grow.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We do have one area that does cause some concern as we prepare for the CT scan results.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Asher’s tumor is about twice the size of what they typically see in newborns.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>If the measurement is confirmed to be of a certain size, then Asher may have to have surgery to remove it.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We are relieved to be starting our journey toward cancer survivorship with Asher.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We hope to exude optimism, hope and courage for Asher as we write his story.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Amy Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00129129366700483498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2352981963185014103.post-29210043191293252782010-12-23T12:24:00.000-08:002010-12-24T20:37:52.647-08:00And Hudson Makes Five<div><p class="MsoNormal">Amy's Posting - Sunday was a very special day for us as were able to reunite our entire family of five.<span> </span>During Hudson’s last day in NICU, we said our farewells to the nurses, the physician assistant and the occupational therapist who treated Asher and Hudson.<span> </span>As we made our way to the atrium, everyone was so excited to see the twins I was holding in the wheelchair.</p><p class="MsoNormal">For the past three weeks, we had been making daily trips to the hospital and were looking forward to not have to split our time between home and the hospital.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">During our time in NICU, we had the unique opportunity to recommend MotherWise to two of the caretakers working with our sons. MotherWise is an international discipleship ministry that produces, distributes, teachers and translates Bible study materials for the family. <span></span>During our conversations with them, they both expressed an interest in going on a mission trip next year.<span></span>They both read more about the program and are thinking about doing a mission trip together.<span></span>We know their skills will be invaluable to the program. This seemed to make the stay in NICU have special meaning.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">It was touching to see Zachary’s reaction to his other brother.<span> </span>He was all smiles and looked like a proud big brother.<span> </span>For the next few days, Zachary would ask us, “Which one is Asher and which one is Hudson?”<span> </span>We’ve taught him that Asher has dark hair and Hudson has lighter hair.<span> </span>He’s now able to identify them himself.<span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">The past week has been a blur.<span> </span>It seems like all we are doing is feeding, changing diapers, eating our meals and then it is time to start all over again!<span> </span>The twins are on a schedule, feeding every three hours and our lives are lived in three hour increments.<span> </span>For now, we are lucky that they do sleep a lot between the feedings.<span> </span>And, we’ve been carving out time to make special Christmas memories for Zachary.<span> </span>Zachary had lots of fun decorating a gingerbread house that one of our sweet neighbors gave him as a Christmas present.<span> We also made Christmas-themed sugar cookies and Zachary was designated the chief decorator. More sugar landed on the floor than on the cookies but we all had a blast.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">I’m still in awe that we actually have two new babies in our family.<span> </span>The past two and a half years have been tough as I struggled with infertility and a miscarriage.<span> </span>I think every new mother will always remember what it was like to see their baby(ies) for the first time.<span> T</span>his time was even more special than I even imagined.<span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">During the two years of trying to conceive, I remember reading the story of Hannah and praying her prayer.<span> </span><span></span>“Dear God, if You will only give me a son, I will give him back to You, to serve You all his days.”<span> </span>As we continue waiting to confirm Asher’s medical diagnosis, I am reminded of my prayer and recognize that Zachary, Asher and Hudson are truly blessings from God and I need to trust in his plan for their lives.</p><p class="MsoNormal">As tired as we both are right now, we are both taking every opportunity to truly enjoy and embrace the tender moments of feeding and caring for newborns.<span> </span>They both look so peaceful and content, which gives us a reminder of the true meaning of the holiday season and life itself. We wish each of you and your families a very Merry Christmas!</p></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EibRh13nhig/TRVzrJtRWrI/AAAAAAAAAAs/ChKtUnISbdE/s1600/IMG_1945.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EibRh13nhig/TRVzrJtRWrI/AAAAAAAAAAs/ChKtUnISbdE/s320/IMG_1945.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554472900608744114" style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EibRh13nhig/TRVy67ENQPI/AAAAAAAAAAk/Te_nTzhQSkE/s1600/IMG_1938.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EibRh13nhig/TRVy67ENQPI/AAAAAAAAAAk/Te_nTzhQSkE/s320/IMG_1938.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554472072044691698" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EibRh13nhig/TRV0iHlMU-I/AAAAAAAAABU/od4Nnp5bKg8/s1600/IMG_3107.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EibRh13nhig/TRV0iHlMU-I/AAAAAAAAABU/od4Nnp5bKg8/s320/IMG_3107.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554473844930794466" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EibRh13nhig/TRVzr8ALM0I/AAAAAAAAABM/_4XfWwpAnaE/s1600/IMG_1955.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EibRh13nhig/TRVzr8ALM0I/AAAAAAAAABM/_4XfWwpAnaE/s320/IMG_1955.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554472914109805378" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EibRh13nhig/TRVzrmiCzqI/AAAAAAAAABE/L3ALq4P7YUo/s1600/IMG_1953.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EibRh13nhig/TRVzrmiCzqI/AAAAAAAAABE/L3ALq4P7YUo/s320/IMG_1953.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554472908346281634" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EibRh13nhig/TRVzrWSF7gI/AAAAAAAAAA8/MGr0how7D0E/s1600/IMG_1949.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EibRh13nhig/TRVzrWSF7gI/AAAAAAAAAA8/MGr0how7D0E/s320/IMG_1949.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554472903984410114" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EibRh13nhig/TRVzrcqShNI/AAAAAAAAAA0/WDxnDEu3bZs/s1600/IMG_1947.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EibRh13nhig/TRVzrcqShNI/AAAAAAAAAA0/WDxnDEu3bZs/s320/IMG_1947.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554472905696511186" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EibRh13nhig/TRV0iUVQywI/AAAAAAAAABc/FR27tIirCVs/s1600/IMG_1970.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EibRh13nhig/TRV0iUVQywI/AAAAAAAAABc/FR27tIirCVs/s320/IMG_1970.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554473848353639170" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Amy Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00129129366700483498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2352981963185014103.post-44817952339572047472010-12-18T07:15:00.000-08:002010-12-18T15:11:13.983-08:00Our Christmas PresentAmy's Posting - We received a call early this morning with some good news. Hudson should be able to come home tomorrow! We are delighted and surprised by the news as we were thinking it could be Monday or Tuesday at the earliest. He completed eight bottles yesterday and passed his car seat test on Thursday. He is still gaining weight and strength and is currently 5 lbs 3 oz. Having our three sons at home is the most special Christmas present we could receive.<br /><br />Yesterday, Zachary and Amy made some Christmas cookies and started making a gingerbread house.<br /><table style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><br /><tbody><br /><tr><br /><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CK1evR0C70o/TQ05Si2jTyI/AAAAAAAABvA/tgKG9J1SpqU/s1600/IMG_3090.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CK1evR0C70o/TQ05Si2jTyI/AAAAAAAABvA/tgKG9J1SpqU/s320/IMG_3090.JPG" width="240" height="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><br /><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="tr-caption">Zachary and Asher hanging out under the tree</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><br /><tbody><br /><tr><br /><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CK1evR0C70o/TQ05WHv6suI/AAAAAAAABvE/UKhIjuk2BFs/s1600/IMG_3100.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CK1evR0C70o/TQ05WHv6suI/AAAAAAAABvE/UKhIjuk2BFs/s320/IMG_3100.JPG" width="320" height="240" /></a></td></tr><br /><tr><br /><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="tr-caption">"He's asleep and it tickles"</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><br /><tbody><br /><tr><br /><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CK1evR0C70o/TQ08cw1H5VI/AAAAAAAABvI/768N_n85BC0/s1600/IMG_1912.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CK1evR0C70o/TQ08cw1H5VI/AAAAAAAABvI/768N_n85BC0/s320/IMG_1912.JPG" width="320" height="240" /></a></td></tr><br /><tr><br /><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="tr-caption">Amy and Zach making cookies</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CK1evR0C70o/TQ08kQcpXFI/AAAAAAAABvM/jhjFrFqicUU/s1600/IMG_1916.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CK1evR0C70o/TQ08kQcpXFI/AAAAAAAABvM/jhjFrFqicUU/s320/IMG_1916.JPG" width="320" height="240" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CK1evR0C70o/TQ08qjQZ_MI/AAAAAAAABvQ/gXAdfPnNl98/s1600/IMG_1920.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CK1evR0C70o/TQ08qjQZ_MI/AAAAAAAABvQ/gXAdfPnNl98/s320/IMG_1920.JPG" width="320" height="240" /></a></div>Amy Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00129129366700483498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2352981963185014103.post-38134182259215971002010-12-16T14:27:00.000-08:002010-12-16T14:27:12.445-08:00On the Lighter SideTodd's Posting - Asher has been home for 4 days now and we are all adjusting to each other. We are keeping him on the same schedule as the NICU used; changing and feeding him every 3 hours (2, 5, 8, and 11).<br />
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Zachary is really taken with his little brother and looks for ways to help out. We try to promote that sweet spirit by involving Zachary and ask him what he thinks Asher needs when he is crying. There are a few cute stories that make us laugh that I want to share.<br />
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<ul><li>As Amy mentioned in the last posting, during his first diaper change at home, he managed to spray down everyone, including his big brother Zachary. Now, when we go to change Asher's diaper, Zachary runs and puts on his rainboots and then comes over to help. Doesn't matter what he is wearing, PJs or regular clothes, the boots go on before help is offered.</li>
<li>The other day Zachary was playing on his bike in the garage (it is really cold in Atlanta this week) when he heard his brother crying. He came charging in running like a typical 3 year old with head down, arms plunging, and awkward gait and yelled at the top of his lungs "GUYS! THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG!!!" He then charged upstairs to find his brother and see how he could help. </li>
<li>I took Zachary out earlier this week to run some errands. We were gone over lunch so we went to Zaxby's for something quick. Zachary looked at me at the end of lunch and said "I want to go home and see my little brother." What a sweet moment, we will endeavor to encourage that spirit within him. </li>
</ul><br />
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Hudson is now up to 5 bottles per day (he needs to get to 8 to be released). It is harder to visit him as much given that we have two kids at home now and we have gone from double coverage to zone coverage (skipping man on man completely).<br />
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The joy of the holiday season to all of you.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CK1evR0C70o/TQqPbdKvcCI/AAAAAAAABug/Yv2cVoF1D64/s1600/IMG_3072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CK1evR0C70o/TQqPbdKvcCI/AAAAAAAABug/Yv2cVoF1D64/s320/IMG_3072.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CK1evR0C70o/TQqPf5ZOIAI/AAAAAAAABuk/I_5twV5L0qw/s1600/IMG_3078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CK1evR0C70o/TQqPf5ZOIAI/AAAAAAAABuk/I_5twV5L0qw/s320/IMG_3078.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CK1evR0C70o/TQqPkCgnIxI/AAAAAAAABuo/HfVCeL_w8eM/s1600/IMG_3087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CK1evR0C70o/TQqPkCgnIxI/AAAAAAAABuo/HfVCeL_w8eM/s320/IMG_3087.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Todd Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05880162632172777051noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2352981963185014103.post-83204379014042488272010-12-12T17:41:00.001-08:002010-12-12T19:23:25.797-08:00Asher's Homecoming<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EibRh13nhig/TQWN2g1b9xI/AAAAAAAAAAc/4FlvpOLynp8/s1600/IMG_3064.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549998083470522130" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EibRh13nhig/TQWN2g1b9xI/AAAAAAAAAAc/4FlvpOLynp8/s320/IMG_3064.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EibRh13nhig/TQWNY9iOXbI/AAAAAAAAAAU/mkcDEKCTYTc/s1600/IMG_3059.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549997575778491826" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EibRh13nhig/TQWNY9iOXbI/AAAAAAAAAAU/mkcDEKCTYTc/s320/IMG_3059.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>After two long weeks of being in the NICU, Asher is finally home with us. One of the best moments of the day was introducing Zachary to his little brother. Much to our surprise, the introduction went smoothly! He started talking to him right away and wanted to push Amy and Asher in the wheelchair out of the hospital and down to the car. On the way home, he would alternate between calling him Asher and Baby A. He also asked if he could show Asher his toy room when we got home and wondered if he would want to play with his trains. As soon as we got home, he ran into the dining room, grabbed the toy musical panda he picked out for Asher a few weeks ago as a welcome home gift and gave it to him. He also enjoyed helping with the first diaper change at home up until when Asher sprinkled on his big brother t-shirt. When Asher's cries come out of the monitor, Zachary rushes upstairs to check on him.<br /></div><br /><div>We received some very encouraging news about Hudson today. So far, he finished two bottles today and he even gained 3 1/2 ounces from yesterday. We are hoping he will continue to gain strength to increase his feedings and be home with us soon, too. It was a little sad to leave Hudson at the NICU by himself, but we know he is getting great care and it will give us the opportunity to ease into the transition of having two newborns at home. </div><br /><br /><div></div></div><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwZple_2K1Z4AGlLhtsVZ6Ha4st6Ls3gHHHkOcgWo-rBSMevE6Afkdd1gkKiE4Ue0CVS6VZ0gjXDX0fzLrT-g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Amy Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00129129366700483498noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2352981963185014103.post-12821955728213091552010-12-12T08:51:00.000-08:002010-12-12T08:51:42.858-08:00Break Out!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We got the call this morning and Asher passed all his tests. We are on the way to the hospital to bring him home. Hudson is going to stay at the spa a little longer to build up his strength. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CK1evR0C70o/TQT8XT7-y9I/AAAAAAAABt0/A3S0iFLai50/s1600/IMG_3009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CK1evR0C70o/TQT8XT7-y9I/AAAAAAAABt0/A3S0iFLai50/s320/IMG_3009.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Asher discovering his hands</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CK1evR0C70o/TQT8iQVvx8I/AAAAAAAABt4/ZyF_rdMDMZA/s1600/IMG_3016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CK1evR0C70o/TQT8iQVvx8I/AAAAAAAABt4/ZyF_rdMDMZA/s320/IMG_3016.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Asher taking his car seat test</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CK1evR0C70o/TQT8ujn3VUI/AAAAAAAABt8/86VxReIjb50/s1600/IMG_3013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CK1evR0C70o/TQT8ujn3VUI/AAAAAAAABt8/86VxReIjb50/s320/IMG_3013.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amy feeding Hudson</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Todd Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05880162632172777051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2352981963185014103.post-62493116606989915482010-12-11T14:34:00.001-08:002010-12-11T17:14:20.427-08:00Breakout?We received great news this morning. The Nurse Practitioner called and told us that both boys gained weight and improved in their feeding. Asher finished the maximum 8 bottles (1 bottle every 3 hours) on Friday/Saturday morning and if he met other specific requirements he could come home as early as tomorrow (Sunday). The requirements are:<br /><br /><ul><li>Continue his 8 bottle feedings again on Saturday/Sunday morning and gain weight</li><li>Pass his car seat test which consists of sitting in his seat for 90 minutes without setting off any alarms (breathing, pulse, oxygen level) </li><li>Not set off any alarms today or tonight </li></ul><div>We are super excited to be able to bring Asher home. It does feel a bit surreal that he will actually be coming home with us tomorrow. We are looking forward to changing his diapers, feeding him and holding him whenever we want to. We realize now how much we took all of those things for granted when we brought Zachary home. We also are looking forward to introducing Zachary to one of his new little brothers. Although Hudson is improving he does not have the stamina required and is still only at 4-5 partial bottles per day. We know he will continue to get stronger each day. It will be a little sad leaving Hudson alone in the NICU tomorrow, but we will continue to figure out how to make daily trips to the hospital to spend time with him. Our visits will be a bit harder as they aren't allowing any infants or children in the NICU due to the outbreak of flu in Georgia.</div><div> </div><div>Todd's brother (Uncle Brad to Zach, Asher and Hudson), came in from New York city yesterday to be with Zach this weekend. Today they went to the ZooAtlanta which allowed us to spend more time with Hudson and Asher. Amy was able to give both Asher and Hudson a bottle for the first time since they were born. Both boys looked great and it was really nice to spend a lot of time with them. We were able to speak in person with the Neonatal doctor about the results of the protein test (see the earlier posting) and he said that it could be read either way, in essence the cancer could be a different type than what they thought or that it could be that it is not cancer after all and ends up to be nothing. Obviously this was not a diagnosis and we will still need to follow-up with the Hemo Oncologist but it offers us some portion of hope for our son's condition. We will continue to draw strength from God as we wait for the next appointment with the Hemo Oncologist in about three weeks.</div><div> </div><div>We are so touched by all of the emails and support from everyone. It so hard to articulate how comforting it is. So many people have added our family to their Church's prayer lists. Some of the most touching emails are from neighbors and friends whose children have put Asher and Hudson on the prayer lists at their schools. One of Amy's friends wrote, "Kids praying for kids is a beautiful thing." One of Amy's friends from high school started a facebook prayer page for Asher. We appreciate your continued prayers for Hudson's growth and development and for Asher's upcoming doctor appointment. </div>Todd Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05880162632172777051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2352981963185014103.post-80849471235072564832010-12-10T06:01:00.000-08:002010-12-10T06:01:56.430-08:00AmbiguityYesterday the boys were moved into a twin room at the NICU. They now share a larger room which makes it easier when we visit. Even Zach's artwork got moved. We are really impressed with the NICU staff. All of their doctors, nurses and other experts are amazing not just because they are technical experts that can execute flawless medical care, but because to that they add a level of compassion and caring. Its a great combination and they really do an excellent job. Unfortunately Amy ran a brief fever on Wednesday and so stayed away from them for 2 days in case she was contagious. She is fine now, it was just a short-term thing and she is looking forward to seeing them this morning.<br />
<br />
The results of the last test came back and we were told they were "Normal," not to sound crazy but that is not what we were expecting, let me explain. The Hemo Oncologist from Children's Hospital told us earlier that Neuroblastoma excretes a certain protein and they were looking for elevated levels of that protein to confirm that it was Neuroblastoma. Without the elevated levels Amy and I are not sure that we have a clear diagnosis and that it may require more testing. We did a lot of reading on Neuroblastoma and while we don't wish any type of cancer for our child, this one has very good chances for full recovery when found in infants Asher's age. So, more ambiguity than answers at this point. Our follow-up is in a few weeks.<br />
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Both Asher and Hudson are growing stronger and increasing their bottle feedings. Asher is up to 6 full per day and gaining weight (target is 8 full feedings per day over two days with weight gain). Hudson is up to 5 partial feedings. He finishes a portion of a bottle and then stops and has to be fed the rest through his feeding tube. If they continue at their current rate Asher will come home first while Hudson will need to stay longer.Todd Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05880162632172777051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2352981963185014103.post-90133247010686707992010-12-08T08:06:00.000-08:002010-12-08T08:06:27.870-08:00Cancer diagnosisWe received a call from the pediatric cancer expert at Children's Hospital that examined Asher. She told us that the evidence in his case would point to the neuroblastoma diagnosis we received on Saturday. However, she wanted to receive the results of one more test before determining the next steps for treatment. She shared that in many cases of neuroblastoma found in infants, the cancer will regress on its own. Part of this may be true but I believe that part of this is testament to the extraordinary gift of life given to us by God and that a new baby is closer to perfection than adults are and can fight off the foreign elements better.<br />
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Once she receives the final test results she will be able to exactly determine the next steps, but for now they want to see Asher again in about 2-3 weeks. She had some great news in that once Asher is discharged from the NICU he will come home with us. Praise God! If the cancer has not spread, they will want to see him every 3 months to continue to monitor the size of the tumor to see if it is shrinking or not. If not, then we will need to look at different treatment options.<br />
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While the prognosis is good, Amy and I are struggling with a 'wait and see' treatment approach for a few reasons. First, we worry that something worse could happen during the observation period and that we inadvertently cause harm. Second, we both have a bias for action and are very results focused in our lives. Set a goal, build a plan, and execute the plan...right? Waiting feels passive and ineffective. But, we are relying on our faith and will trust in God's plan during this time. Obviously we want to do what is best for our little guy and will follow the advice of the experts but that doesn't mean we won't challenge to make sure that this really is the best treatment plan for him.<br />
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Ways to pray for our family:<br />
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<ul><li>That Asher and Hudson continue to gain strength and learn to eat fully on their own so that can come home before Christmas </li>
<li>That Zachary (our 3 1/2 year old) will accept and love his little brothers as real people and not just a concept. He still has not seen them and doesn't really understand what is going on </li>
<li>That when we ask the doctors a million questions that they will understand that we are not calling their expertise into question, only that we are probing and testing to ensure that this is the best treatment plan for Asher </li>
<li>That Amy continues to heal and strengthen following the loss of so much blood during the birth </li>
<li>That our family's faith in our Saviour will grow and strengthen through this adversity in our lives and that we will be a testament to His love</li>
</ul>Todd Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05880162632172777051noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2352981963185014103.post-51150273759352838282010-12-06T20:18:00.000-08:002010-12-06T20:18:15.681-08:00First Week Pictures<div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CK1evR0C70o/TP2zOqQTNEI/AAAAAAAABs8/YjtbGtOYWdQ/s1600/IMG_2864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CK1evR0C70o/TP2zOqQTNEI/AAAAAAAABs8/YjtbGtOYWdQ/s320/IMG_2864.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Asher sleeping under his yellow knit blanket. <br />
Volunteers make blankets and hats like this and donate them to babies in NICU<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zachary had a great time with his NiNi</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Asher sleeping under his bean bag hand. <br />
Only in the NICU where they are hooked up to all sorts of monitors are babies allowed to sleep on their side. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hudson cuddling with Mommy.<br />
His blue knit hat was also a gift from a kind volunteer. He has a matching blue blanket but someone needs to learn to keep his lunch down</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sleeping under the bean bag hand.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zachary made pictures for his little brothers. These are hanging on Asher's wall in the NICU</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CK1evR0C70o/TP2zPtHZJyI/AAAAAAAABtE/AYHHNAONbQQ/s1600/IMG_0500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CK1evR0C70o/TP2zPtHZJyI/AAAAAAAABtE/AYHHNAONbQQ/s320/IMG_0500.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zachary's pictures hanging on his brother Hudson's wall</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aunt Michelle came to visit and snuggle with the twins</td></tr>
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</div>Todd Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05880162632172777051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2352981963185014103.post-52136449973776816742010-12-06T19:53:00.000-08:002010-12-06T19:53:57.518-08:00Neuroblastoma - Todd's StoryTodd's Posting - On Saturday we all went to the hospital to visit the twins. Zach and my mom met us in the cafeteria and we took turns playing with him outside the NICU as he is too young to go in to see his brothers. By mid-afternoon, we decided to take Zach and run some errands in order to give my mom some extra time with them given that she was leaving the next day. We had just left Target and Carters (trying to buy some preemie clothes) when Dr. Troyer from the NICU called. Asher had an ultrasound on Friday and we had been waiting for the results. She said that there was blood flow into the cyst on his right kidney and that it looked like neuroblastoma, a cancer commonly found in infants and young children. She said that she was referring us to pediatric cancer experts from Children's Hospital to determine the next steps for assessment and treatment options. Although we knew that Asher had a cyst on his right kidney, the early reports we received were that it was a simple cyst and did not appear to be cancerous. Amy had some suspicions while I was more prone to believe the good news.<br />
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With one phone call our world was devastated. We both tried to be strong because Zach was in the car, but that didn't prevent us from weeping. We immediately returned to the hospital to see our little boy who was carrying a burden that no infant should have to carry. Both of us did the one thing that we could do, turn to God for support and ask him to heal our son. The rest of the day was raw and an emotional roller coaster. I found myself breaking down every time I tried to talk about it. One moment I would be composed and the next minute I would start to cry for my son.<br />
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We both researched the condition and found some great info on both the American Cancer Society website as well as Mayo Clinic's site.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CK1evR0C70o/TP2vuV7PK2I/AAAAAAAABsA/iU7GHUAV0Mw/s1600/IMG_2805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CK1evR0C70o/TP2vuV7PK2I/AAAAAAAABsA/iU7GHUAV0Mw/s320/IMG_2805.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CK1evR0C70o/TP2vxzvDwQI/AAAAAAAABsE/dy3008GYb60/s1600/IMG_2853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CK1evR0C70o/TP2vxzvDwQI/AAAAAAAABsE/dy3008GYb60/s320/IMG_2853.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Todd Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05880162632172777051noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2352981963185014103.post-45550344342053096352010-12-06T19:51:00.000-08:002010-12-06T19:51:49.432-08:00Neuroblastoma - Amy's StoryThis is Amy - We had been settling into our new life, juggling hospital visits and trying to keep a normal routine for Zachary. We were so thankful that both Asher and Hudson were progressing with their breathing and feedings. Then, on Saturday, December 4th at 4:00 p.m., we received a call that instantly changed our world. The neonatal doctor at our hospital called to give us an update on the cyst on Asher's right kidney. The diagnosis was neuroblastoma, a very common form of cancer. We had known about the cyst since I was 32 weeks pregnant, but the doctors told us it was a simple cyst on the kidney because the ultrasound didn't show any blood flow through the cyst. Hearing the words neuroblasta immediately brought tears to my eyes. As a cancer survivor myself, I couldn't believe how much sadness and pain overcame me instantly to hear that my newborn had cancer. This has now become one of the most difficult moments of my life. My thoughts quickly turned to a need to do research and know what our plan of action would be. And I started to wonder how I would find the strength to be the mother of a child with cancer. As many of you know, I dedicated some time earlier in my life to volunteering at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta with the Aflac Cancer Center and volunteering as a camp counselor at Camp Sunshine, a camp for children surviving cancer. Ironically, now I would be on the other side, experiencing what it would be like to be the parent of one of these precious children.<br />
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We immediately returned to the hospital to visit Asher. I will never forget looking at his face and watching him sleep so peacefully. He looked so perfect, swaddled in his blankets. I prayed for the strength to face what tomorrow would bring for our family. At one point, it looked like he smiled at us.<br />
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The doctors didn't have very much information to give us during the call on Saturday. They said the specialist from the Aflac Cancer Center would evaluate Asher in a few days. We are anxiously awaiting the information from the doctor.<br />
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We've been overwhelmed with all of the support and kindness from our family, friends and neighbors. At times, it has brought us to tears. The emails, phone calls and offers to help provide so much comfort during this difficult time. With each note, I find that I'm becoming emotionally stronger to face our future. We've also really relied on our faith to get us through this difficult time. I know God has a perfect plan for Asher's life and I'm looking forward to seeing how it is revealed to us.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CK1evR0C70o/TP2vMamHe_I/AAAAAAAABr4/ortRd7FiGNE/s1600/IMG_2856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CK1evR0C70o/TP2vMamHe_I/AAAAAAAABr4/ortRd7FiGNE/s320/IMG_2856.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CK1evR0C70o/TP2vP8lnzJI/AAAAAAAABr8/FuPHzAxMhzI/s1600/IMG_2862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CK1evR0C70o/TP2vP8lnzJI/AAAAAAAABr8/FuPHzAxMhzI/s320/IMG_2862.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Amy Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00129129366700483498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2352981963185014103.post-53691644300508513702010-12-05T12:50:00.000-08:002010-12-06T18:57:07.056-08:00Background - The Birth of our TwinsTodd's Posting - This is our first posting so we want to bring everyone up to speed with our story. Amy was having a relatively event free pregnancy until the week before Thanksgiving. She didn't feel well on Monday but she had an appointment to see her doctor on Tuesday. Her blood pressure was very high, so they sent her directly from their office to the hospital. I was on a business trip in San Antonio TX and got a call from Amy that she was being hospitalized so I caught the next flight home. They were able to get her BP back down so she was released that night but put on bed rest. We had a quiet Thanksgiving at home. On Saturday night, Amy's BP was elevated but borderline. By Sunday it exceeded the tolerances we were told to look for and so Amy called and they ordered her back to the hospital.<br /><br />At the hospital, Amy was still showing an elevated BP along with other concerning signs from the blood test. While she was there her random contractions started to get more frequent and more rhythmic...Amy went into labor. There was a brief debate whether to kick her out of it or let her go on, but her medical team decided to let her stay in labor and deliver if she was ready. On Monday, November 29 at 2:35pm, our second son Asher Dennison (6lbs 2ozs) was born. Following Asher's delivery, his brother, Hudson Taylor, flipped. Fortunately, the doctor and mid-wife were able to turn him so Amy could avoid a c-section. Hudson (4lbs 13ozs) was born 8 minutes later at 2:43pm. Because they were preemies at 35 weeks with some trouble breathing, Amy was allowed to hold them for a few minuets then they were taken to the transition nursery for close observation. Later that evening they were admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).<br /><br />The doctors explained to us that preemies at that gestational age (35 weeks) tended to use their abdominal muscles to breath rather than their chest. We will post video of our sweet little boys that shows you this condition. However, the doctors told us not to worry as most infants would get over that fairly quickly, but that their ticket out of the NICU was the ability to feed sufficiently on their own. Preemies at this age have a few developmental issues, specifically, they don't have the consistent automatic reflex to be able to eat and even if they take a few pulls, they don't have the strength to continue feeding too long.<br /><br />On Wednesday both boys were transferred to a different section of the NICU with less intensive oversight (lower nurse to baby ratio). This was a very good sign that they were progressing in their development. that was also the day Amy came home from the hospital. She had to stay an extra day because of the high level of blood loss she experienced during the birth. Fortunately she did not need a transfusion but it was close.<br /><br />One of our current struggles is that our son Zachary (3 and 1/2 years old) hasn't seen his brothers and they are only a vague concept to him at this point. Fortunately his Nini (my mom) came up from Florida to take care of him this week and provided him ample love and attention.<br /><br />The twins are still in NICU as of today and we visit and spend as much time with them as we can. They are getting excellent care and attention.<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CK1evR0C70o/TPUzISxYU1I/AAAAAAAABnY/oKkfeaz5mS4/s1600/IMG_2761.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CK1evR0C70o/TPUzISxYU1I/AAAAAAAABnY/oKkfeaz5mS4/s320/IMG_2761.JPG" width="320" height="240" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator">Asher is baby "A" on the left and Hudson is baby "B" on the right. </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=toddwilliams2&target=ALBUM&id=5545394697409202305&authkey=Gv1sRgCLWUuOicsfTcUw&invite=CIDHhM4H&feat=email">You can link to more pictures and some videos here </a></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:11;"><br /></span></span></div>Todd Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05880162632172777051noreply@blogger.com0