We are still in a holding pattern in terms of upcoming chemo and radiation. While both are inevitable and will happen soon, there may be some room for negotiation in terms of how aggressive.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Message from Andrea - December 27th
Julian is still in the hospital and we may stay for a few more day. After having the surgery earlier this week, he had a few days of fever, so they were watching that closely and couldn't let him go home. His temp is now back to normal. Also, he needed more nutrition so he is getting that through IV now.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Message from Rich and Andrea - December 24th
Hello again.
Julian is sleeping now after another full day. It turns out that he needed a shunt after all because his brain fluids were not draining so another surgery. He did well and is resting in the PICU tonight. Tomorrow we should be back in Room 318. I hope that the next update will say that we are home (I have a feeling we may be able to go home tomorrow). Thanks for all your wonderful, encouraging words and prayers.
We will need those prayers over the coming months.
Love, Andrea and Rich
Julian is sleeping now after another full day. It turns out that he needed a shunt after all because his brain fluids were not draining so another surgery. He did well and is resting in the PICU tonight. Tomorrow we should be back in Room 318. I hope that the next update will say that we are home (I have a feeling we may be able to go home tomorrow). Thanks for all your wonderful, encouraging words and prayers.
We will need those prayers over the coming months.
Love, Andrea and Rich
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
About Julian - From Andrea
From Julian's Care Page:
Julian is a sweet boy who loves to pick flowers for his mommy and daddy, blow kisses and prays almost daily that God will drop food from heaven for the hungry children.
He has a big brother, Nolan, two dogs and fish. His friends include kids and various stuffed animals who he accounts for each night.
He loves to draw pictures, ride his scooter and trike, build sandcastles and smash them and build Thomas the Tank engine villages and smash them. He also loves to plow through the pillows on the couch smashing through them like a race car or a train.
He attends Junior Kindergarten at Lil' Lighthouse Preschool and church at Newport Mesa Church (the Red Room). He loves his friends there and in our street.
Over the summer of 2008, he would mention from time to time that he had a headache. They were mild and didn't get in the way of his daily activities. He also had a spell of vomiting in the morning. We were puzzled with what was going on. After his well-child visit in September, we had some bloodwork done and nothing showed up as abnormal, except for a mild milk allergy. He did drink a lot of milk, so we cut back on milk and the vomiting also stopped. But he continued to mention a headache from time to time. There was no real pattern to this, though, and they were by no means severe. I had taken him to an urgent care center also in September and the MD checked his eyes to see if there was any pressure in the brain. He said he didn't see any so for several weeks I was under the impression I needn't worry that something awful like a tumor may be causing these problems. Time marched on and his weight continued to drop and his energy levels, too. He couldn't keep up with kids much younger than him. In late November we noticed he seemed unsteady and his balance was a bit off. The time had come for an MRI and we called to set up an appointment. Another week passed --including a night of worsening headaches-- and we feared going through the weekend without knowing what was going on. His MRI was at 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 5 and by 4:30 p.m. we learned he had a 'large' tumor in the lower back part of his brain.
Julian is a sweet boy who loves to pick flowers for his mommy and daddy, blow kisses and prays almost daily that God will drop food from heaven for the hungry children.
He has a big brother, Nolan, two dogs and fish. His friends include kids and various stuffed animals who he accounts for each night.
He loves to draw pictures, ride his scooter and trike, build sandcastles and smash them and build Thomas the Tank engine villages and smash them. He also loves to plow through the pillows on the couch smashing through them like a race car or a train.
He attends Junior Kindergarten at Lil' Lighthouse Preschool and church at Newport Mesa Church (the Red Room). He loves his friends there and in our street.
Over the summer of 2008, he would mention from time to time that he had a headache. They were mild and didn't get in the way of his daily activities. He also had a spell of vomiting in the morning. We were puzzled with what was going on. After his well-child visit in September, we had some bloodwork done and nothing showed up as abnormal, except for a mild milk allergy. He did drink a lot of milk, so we cut back on milk and the vomiting also stopped. But he continued to mention a headache from time to time. There was no real pattern to this, though, and they were by no means severe. I had taken him to an urgent care center also in September and the MD checked his eyes to see if there was any pressure in the brain. He said he didn't see any so for several weeks I was under the impression I needn't worry that something awful like a tumor may be causing these problems. Time marched on and his weight continued to drop and his energy levels, too. He couldn't keep up with kids much younger than him. In late November we noticed he seemed unsteady and his balance was a bit off. The time had come for an MRI and we called to set up an appointment. Another week passed --including a night of worsening headaches-- and we feared going through the weekend without knowing what was going on. His MRI was at 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 5 and by 4:30 p.m. we learned he had a 'large' tumor in the lower back part of his brain.
Link to Julian's Care Page
Good Morning ~ I wanted to pass along some information from Andrea. CHOC offers a blog called Care Pages which are patient blogs that connect family and friends during a health challenge. There's alot of valuable information on the site including understanding the illness, what to say during these difficult times and how to help. Andrea is not able to access Julian's blog but she is able to update his Care Page - see link below:
http://www.carepages.com/carepages/JuliansNotes
I will continue to update this blog with messages from Rich and Andrea.
Warm Regards,
Kim Burton
http://www.carepages.com/carepages/JuliansNotes
I will continue to update this blog with messages from Rich and Andrea.
Warm Regards,
Kim Burton
Monday, December 22, 2008
Message from Rich and Andrea - December 20th
We found out yesterday that Julian has cancer down his spine, a cluster, and will likely require "high risk" radiation and chemo, which means about a 70% chance of survival after the 55 weeks of therapy and, once completed, he will not be the same, they say. He will not be in "mainstream education," which means he will be delayed and need to attend special ed.
My heart is broken forever.
Thank you for your continued prayers.
Richard Dunn
My heart is broken forever.
Thank you for your continued prayers.
Richard Dunn
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FUNDRAISER AT RUBYS
PLEASE SUPPORT THE DUNNS
For those of you who have not already received a flyer....
Eat at Ruby's Diner (428 East 17th Street)
On December 22nd from 4pm - 9pm
20% of all food and non-alcoholic beverage sales will be donated to the Dunn family! This includes all take-out orders as well.
I have attached a copy of the flyer....You must have the flyer in hand for the Dunn's to receive the 20%.
Please forward this e-mail to anyone who you think might be interested in coming....
For those of you who have not already received a flyer....
Eat at Ruby's Diner (428 East 17th Street)
On December 22nd from 4pm - 9pm
20% of all food and non-alcoholic beverage sales will be donated to the Dunn family! This includes all take-out orders as well.
I have attached a copy of the flyer....You must have the flyer in hand for the Dunn's to receive the 20%.
Please forward this e-mail to anyone who you think might be interested in coming....
Friday, December 19, 2008
December 17 - A message from Rich and Andrea
Dec. 17
Hi friends. We are now in Room 318 at CHOC. It is in the Oncology unit. Reality set in last night when we were moved here and I realized this really is happening. I remember this floor from years ago when I worked at CHOC, observing kids and families from somewhat of a distance, but never, ever thinking we would be here as patient/family. I'm sure there is a reason for all of it, or maybe many reasons. We are trusting the Lord to give us the strength we'll need as we move ahead. Julian is doing OK. I think he's pretty tired of being in the hospital, but this morning there was a Santa who visited the floor and left him some matchbox cars so I think he liked that pretty well. He hasn't asked to go home or why he's here. He's sort of accepting everything. This morning was his lumbar puncture. We'll find out tomorrow, I think, what the final results are in terms of any cancer being in the spine. I pray there isn't.
Hi friends. We are now in Room 318 at CHOC. It is in the Oncology unit. Reality set in last night when we were moved here and I realized this really is happening. I remember this floor from years ago when I worked at CHOC, observing kids and families from somewhat of a distance, but never, ever thinking we would be here as patient/family. I'm sure there is a reason for all of it, or maybe many reasons. We are trusting the Lord to give us the strength we'll need as we move ahead. Julian is doing OK. I think he's pretty tired of being in the hospital, but this morning there was a Santa who visited the floor and left him some matchbox cars so I think he liked that pretty well. He hasn't asked to go home or why he's here. He's sort of accepting everything. This morning was his lumbar puncture. We'll find out tomorrow, I think, what the final results are in terms of any cancer being in the spine. I pray there isn't.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Message from Rich and Andrea - December 10th
The MRI of Julian's spinal showed no cancer! It is pretty amazing considering the size of the tumor and how close it was to the channel where fluids go down to the spine. They will draw fluids next week and study them more closely to make sure of this, but it is definitely encouraging! Not sure when we'll be leaving the hospital. Julian's spinal fluids are not yet where they want them to be and he will need physical therapy to strengthen his muscles and speech therapy. We will have work to do before we can get to go home for a few days before the chemo starts. We are celebrating today's victories and thanking God for His grace and goodness. Please thank everyone for us for their continued prayers and support. There are people praying in many places.
With love,
Rich and Andrea
With love,
Rich and Andrea
Message from Rich and Andrea - December 8th
Dec. 8, 2008
We are finally coming up for air and wanted to send an e-mail to everyone thanking you for your amazing outpouring of support for us. Your prayers are our strength and the best medicine Julian can have. Thank you so much and for your offers of help. I think we are looking at months, maybe a year, of chemo and radiation ahead. We'll know more soon. Knowing we have a wonderful support system is an incredible blessing. I can't put into words how thankful we are for the kindness of friends and family. God is so very good to us. This hospital is amazing. This afternoon, Julian began to say a few words, the first time since Saturday. That was a huge relief. He is still tired from the surgery, but he is making little bits of progress. We would like to ask for your prayers for some specifics:
-- that the bit of cancer on the brain stem will be treatable
-- and especially that the cancer has not spread to the spinal cord (they are doing an MRI tomorrow to find out)
-- that the antibiotics will continue to prevent any infection
-- and in the coming months that his chemo and radiation will work but with the least amount of damage to him.
Thank you for everything, for how you're helping Nolan and our family, and especially for your prayers. We really are blessed.
Sincerely,
Rich and Andrea Dunn
We are finally coming up for air and wanted to send an e-mail to everyone thanking you for your amazing outpouring of support for us. Your prayers are our strength and the best medicine Julian can have. Thank you so much and for your offers of help. I think we are looking at months, maybe a year, of chemo and radiation ahead. We'll know more soon. Knowing we have a wonderful support system is an incredible blessing. I can't put into words how thankful we are for the kindness of friends and family. God is so very good to us. This hospital is amazing. This afternoon, Julian began to say a few words, the first time since Saturday. That was a huge relief. He is still tired from the surgery, but he is making little bits of progress. We would like to ask for your prayers for some specifics:
-- that the bit of cancer on the brain stem will be treatable
-- and especially that the cancer has not spread to the spinal cord (they are doing an MRI tomorrow to find out)
-- that the antibiotics will continue to prevent any infection
-- and in the coming months that his chemo and radiation will work but with the least amount of damage to him.
Thank you for everything, for how you're helping Nolan and our family, and especially for your prayers. We really are blessed.
Sincerely,
Rich and Andrea Dunn
Meal Calendar
Good Morning Everyone,
Below is a calendar where you can sign-up to deliver meals to the Dunns and where Andrea and Rich can post days they may need assistance with Nolan, carpool, babysitting, etc... I have tried to give everyone on the e-mail list rights to edit and manage the calendar so you needn't go through me to add items. To add a entry to the calendar click on the Google icon on the bottom right of the screen and that will take you to the calendar. Please make sure you are adding to Julians calendar - there in one under my name that I cannot delete otherwise it appears to delete Julians' calendar as well.
If you are not able to post please send me the information and I will edit/update Monday - Friday.
LUNCH DETAILS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Andrea is on the 6th floor at CHOC. There is a Ronald McDonald Family area there with a small kitchen and refrigerator. Food can be labeled/dated and just put in the refrigerator (there are labels on the side of the refrigerator). That way, in case she can't visit, you can always just go directly to that kitchen area. Thanks for everything.
PS - Andrea loves healthy, salads, ham sandwiches, turkey sandwiches, soups....
DINNER DETAILS~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please drop off meals between 4 and 4:30 p.m. at the Dunn house...
20201 Spruce
Newport Beach, CA 92660
There will be a container/cooler on the front porch - just in case Rich is not home. The meals can put the food in there, if needed.
Some food preferences are comfort foods, basic meals like meat/potato/vegetables/ pastas. There are no allergies to any foods. The only dislikes are white sauces - such as sour cream and mayo. Healthy dishes are preferred - if possible
Warm Wishes,
Kim
Below is a calendar where you can sign-up to deliver meals to the Dunns and where Andrea and Rich can post days they may need assistance with Nolan, carpool, babysitting, etc... I have tried to give everyone on the e-mail list rights to edit and manage the calendar so you needn't go through me to add items. To add a entry to the calendar click on the Google icon on the bottom right of the screen and that will take you to the calendar. Please make sure you are adding to Julians calendar - there in one under my name that I cannot delete otherwise it appears to delete Julians' calendar as well.
If you are not able to post please send me the information and I will edit/update Monday - Friday.
LUNCH DETAILS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Andrea is on the 6th floor at CHOC. There is a Ronald McDonald Family area there with a small kitchen and refrigerator. Food can be labeled/dated and just put in the refrigerator (there are labels on the side of the refrigerator). That way, in case she can't visit, you can always just go directly to that kitchen area. Thanks for everything.
PS - Andrea loves healthy, salads, ham sandwiches, turkey sandwiches, soups....
DINNER DETAILS~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please drop off meals between 4 and 4:30 p.m. at the Dunn house...
20201 Spruce
Newport Beach, CA 92660
There will be a container/cooler on the front porch - just in case Rich is not home. The meals can put the food in there, if needed.
Some food preferences are comfort foods, basic meals like meat/potato/vegetables/ pastas. There are no allergies to any foods. The only dislikes are white sauces - such as sour cream and mayo. Healthy dishes are preferred - if possible
Warm Wishes,
Kim
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