Message from Rich and Andrea - January 17th

Furry and non-furry friends
Posted 19 hours ago
Julian completed his first week as an outpatient and gets an A+ for effort (as do all the wonderful RNs, MDs and hospital staff who have worked with him this week and since Day 1). While he wasn't too happy going back and forth to the hospital each day, I think that today he began to understand that there is no pain involved with radiation and that the routine (Broviac) tube-flushing activities of the day won't hurt him either. He has been so petrified of being touched that even minor things like taking his temperature or removing his ID band could become difficult. When we arrive at CHOC Short Stay each morning, a child life therapist is there to greet us and to help make Julian comfortable. He was also greeted this week by Samson, a Leonberger (sp) breed of dog that is about the size of a small pony and has a mane like a lion. Although Julian wasn't sure what to make of such a large dog, his constant companion "Puppers" received a wet sniff and if one can interpret the response of a stuffed animal, I would say Puppers liked it. Next week, the child life therapist will bring a doll that is equipped with a Broviac so Julian can touch it and better understand what it is for. There truly are many wonderful people we encounter each day at CHOC -- hospital staff and family alike. The radiation staff seem to have a sense of reverence during those minutes when the red triangle is flashing on the computer indicating that Julian's head and spine are being zapped with more x-rays than any one person should ever have. The St. Joseph recovery nurses have a motherly concern over his welfare (and one lovely nurse brings me coffee each time we are under her care). The PT, OT and Speech Therapy staff know exactly how much to push Julian to work his muscles to regain his strength. I could go on. I ran into a parent again today who is also a CHOC M.D. Her 5-year-old son had a brain anyeurism 5 months ago and he has not yet been home. She works in the unit where he is a patient. It is a different world here.

WE'RE HOME! A MESSAGE FROM RICH AND ANDREA - JANUARY 13, 2009

9:30 p.m. After 6 weeks at CHOC, we are finally home tonight! Hooray! Julian is sleeping right now and will, hopefully, have a peaceful night's rest. Tonight, he won't be woken up to have his blood pressure and temperature taken, his blood drawn, his urine measured, tubes flushed, IV pump alarms turned down, medicines given, ID number verified, and hallway chatter by nocturnal nurses, etc. etc. Don't get me wrong: CHOC is an amazing place and we thank God for that kind of medical care, but there's nothing like home! Even this first afternoon home made a difference for him. He ate a bit more than he did in the hospital (actually, he was not eating at all the past few days and he took two bites of dinner with Nolan and his daddy, so that was wonderful) and was able to do much more walking (around the house and outside to say hi to the doggies). His endurance levels simply shot up. The first thing he did when we got home was head for the (now dried up) Christmas tree and open his presents. Tomorrow and daily for the next 5 weeks, we head back to CHOC for radiation in the a.m. but we get to go home again afterward and that will be great. We know that there will be trying days and nights in our future, but for now... we're basking in tonight.

Friday, Janaury 9 - Update

Good Afternoon Everyone,

I wanted to post an update on Julian's release from the hospital. When I picked up Nolan this morning for school he told me that Julian unfortuantely developed a fever, and would not be released today as was hoped. We are praying he comes home very soon.

I have not spoken with Rich or Andrea but as soon as I hear anything from I will update the site.

Kim

Heading Home - January 9th

I wanted to pass along the GREAT news that Julian will be heading home tomorrow (Friday the 9th)! I visited briefly with Andrea and Julian and they are excited to be leaving the hospital to be home with the family.

I will post updates as I receive them from Andrea and Rich.

Our continued prayers to the entire Dunn Family!

Kim Burton

HAPPY NEW YEAR - A MESSAGE FROM RICH AND ANDREA

Rich and I are happy to let you know that the (cerebral spinal fluid) test results came back today... negative! They found no cancer cells in the lumbar puncture from yesterday which means Julian will be treated with standard chemo/radiation therapy rather than the more aggressive, high-risk therapy. Praise God! We are so incredibly grateful for your prayers! Although our boy will still face more than a year of increasingly challenging treatment, we are so relieved that he will be spared the more damaging radiation therapy that we originally were told would likely be the case. This is the best New Year's wish we could ask for and we give God the glory!
Rejoicing,Andrea and Rich
P.S. Julian will stay in the hospital several more days. Radiation will start next week and chemo soon after.