Another Kind of #TBT
My throwback Thursday is not an actual photograph, but written journal entries showing a journey that began on October 16, 2007 when we heard the words, “Your son has CANCER”…
The following is from several entries compiled into one document remembering back from the year he was diagnosed. These were written in 2008 on the anniversaries of the week prior to his diagnosis and milestones in our first several weeks in Memphis at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis….
I guess looking back on it now, there were signs that something was changing about Layton in the month prior to his diagnosis...but I cannot dwell on things that I didn't see. The important thing is now God has healed Layton. Now we can share our story with others to help recognize some of the warning flags of childhood cancer. It is our testimony of the Lord's glory in our lives thru His healing and the fact that He was steadfast and never-failing and He was, is and always shall be with us.
Layton had been sick early in September and diagnosed with Bronchitis. He also had begun to have some allergy issues. You know...the stuff is in the air that time of year. And so we began some Zyrtec and things to treat symptoms. He seemed to improve by the time his 2nd birthday party rolled around.
Looking back I can also recall talking with fellow moms about changes in Layton's behavior and temperment. around this time as well. Some of which we decided was possibly "the 2's" and possibly the fact that he may not feel 100% after having been sick earlier in the month. Regardless of the reason, I still felt it was uncharacteristic of Layton. He really was such an easy going, laid back little fellow. Always had been from the day he was born. No exaggeration! He slept thru the night within a couple of days of being home after his birth. Very rarely seemed to be bothered by much of anything and very content! I also noticed around the same time he began to need more and more sleep...a child who still took a good 3 hour afternoon nap and slept a good 12 hours at night. Again, it seemed logical to be age related...he was going through a growth spurt possibly, and besides he really was still a baby!
Then, the night of October 9th (a Tuesday) I got home from the studio after Travis had put the boys in bed. I went into Kamden's room to snuggle and cuddle my sleeping boy, then to Layton's room. When I scooped little Layton up into arms to sit down and rock a bit with him, I noticed he felt warm. We rocked awhile, then decided I should check his temperature. Sure enough, he had a fever of about 101. I remember giving him Motrin and Tylenol alternating throughout the night and checking and his fever pretty much hovered around 100-102. We decided I would take him to the pediatrician that very next morning. (We had planned a long weekend family trip with Travis' parents and GG to visit my Grandparents in Michigan...leaving on Thursday the 11th. Travis and I both wanted to make sure we could still go.) Well, Layton was diagnosed on October 10th with his first ear infection in one ear. Because we had caught it early and he was prescribed Antibiotics, we made a joint decision with approval from the pediatrician that we should still be able to go on our trip. His recommendation was to have the car packed on Wednesday night and if Layton rested well and seemed to improve in the 1st 24 hours after being on the Antibiotic to go ahead and leave as planned on Thursday morning....
We had trouble getting Layton to keep his antibiotic down. He was so upset about the fact that he had take anything by mouth and would get so flustered that I think having anything in his mouth made him gag. But he still would take some of it. His fever on October 10th seemed to calm down some. He also rested thru the night on Wednesday leading into the wee morning hours of Thursday the 11th...departure day.
We met Travis' parents and grandmother and caravanned down the road to Michigan. Surely by that evening Layton would improve. He slept most of the way in the car. His fever remained low grade until later in the day after arrival at my Grandparents' home. Still all of us were completely unaware of what was taking hold of our little ones' body.
Layton seemed to have an even greater decreased appetite and we had to nearly force him to drink any fluids. The night was rough. He was up restless and Travis and I took turns holding him in the rocking chair at Grandma and Grandpa's house...in hopes that he would sleep and Kamden wouldn't be awakened and that Mom and Dad might get some rest. He was having a lot of diarrhea and vomiting starting in the night.
On Friday morning we called the pediatrician's office and recommended masking his antibiotic in a sippy cup. Also
said that he might be having a sensitivity issue to the antibiotic. (This is evidently not uncommon). Dianne had to help me get his medicine down. We tried gently massaging his mouth and sides of his neck to make him want to swallow. He still wanted to gag and throw up. Again, we figured it had to do with the fact he was so upset whenever we did meds.
Layton didn't want to me to put him down. So I pretty much carried him around or laid him down on the couch in eye's view when he seemed to be drifting off to sleep.
We headed around lunchtime to a resturaunt in Ohio for GG's birthday. I held Layton the entire time in my lap as he slept. He of course didn't want anything to eat, but did end up happily sipping on some water! I was encouraged by this and in my mind he must be getting better.
October 13, 2007 was another day that seemed to see Layton's condition worsen. He rarely ate/drank...he was very lethargic and still had a fever. He had been potty trained before this trip/ear infection, but I needed to use diapers again, because he lacked the energy to even sit up on the potty to use the bathroom and had such frequent episodes of diarhea that it was necessary to use diapers.
I remember that we had originally planned to go to the zoo that day with my cousin Julie and her two children Matthew and Nicole, but since Layton was not feeling well, we decided to just meet Julie and the kids down at Aunt Nancy and Uncle Dave's (Julie's parents) house at the farm. This way we could be indoors and the kids could have some time to spend together. I remember feeling encouraged when Layton interacted a little and seemed to want to play. But he also seemed to tire out so quickly and I found him once again in my arms sleeping.
We went out to lunch again with all the family and still Layton just wanted Mommy to hold him and to sleep. Occasionally he would sip on some water out of a straw.
Saturday night we met my Grammy (Dad's mother) at Pizza Hut in Adrian. I was excited that Layton seemed slightly perkier and that he ate some pizza bites! We were so excited. :) "Surely", I thought, "he must be getting better."
Sunday morning we got up early and headed back down the road to home in Tennessee. Layton was having trouble staying asleep. He was so tired and you could tell he wanted to rest. He would fall asleep and then a few minutes later seemed very obviously uncomfortable. We stopped not far down the road at a McDonald's and Dianne and Troy decided to keep Kamden in their vehicle the rest of the trip so that I could concentrate on Layton and keeping him happy and comfortable. I can remember being in McDonald's and having to stand with Layton and cradle him and sing and try to console him, but he didn't seem to want to be held, but didn't want me to let go either. He just was hurting. He had a fever still! (Had now been on the antibiotic for 3 1/2 days now.) I knew that we were not getting better without being seen again by the pediatrician back home.
It was a hard trip on all of us. But especially Layton. We stopped often to check his diaper for changes. He had not urinated since bath time Saturday night, of course I couldn't get him to drink much either. I had noticed a little diaper rash on his bottom, but it didn't seem to be bad. We called the pediatrician on call that afternoon and expressed our concerns. She said to keep trying with popsicles, ice cream, juice boxes anything to entice him into getting something in his body. She also said that she would call out a new prescription to start that night and that we would need to follow up Monday morning.
We relaxed a little because Layton seemed to quiet down and took an uninterrupted nap as well. When we got back to Johnson City, we hurried to get the new antibiotic before the pharmacy closed Sunday night. Then we picked Kamden up from Troy and Dianne's and headed home to unpack and to get the boys cleaned up and ready for bed.
Not long after being home, Travis and I just decided we didn't want to wait thru the night and that I would take Layton to the hospital ER. About that same time, Dianne called and offered to either keep Kamden so Travis and I could go to the ER or she could go with me to the ER. (She felt as we did, that we should go ahead and get him into the hospital to be seen that night.) So Travis decided to stay back with Kamden and I drove to pick up Dianne.
We went to the smaller hospital ER because we knew the wait time would be shorter. We hoped to get Layton in pretty quickly. We both felt like since he still hadn't urinated that he was now dehydrated. It seemed like a horribly long wait, but it really was only couple of hours (short for ER's).
Finally after being taken back to a room, the nurses and other staff members attempted to draw blood to check his Electrolytes and I think even a CBC. That was a horrible hour long process! His little veins were so small and constricted because of dehydration that he was poked and turned into a pincushion. It was terrible. Finally they got enough blood for a test. I got to scoop him up and turn the lights off and snuggle him until we got the results. I managed to get him to sip on some Gatorade and he eventually had a wet diaper! Dianne and I were beginning to feel a little better, but somehow both of us still were unsure...
About 45 minutes later, they came back with the Doctor who said they would give him a shot of antibiotics and that we should follow up with the pediatrician in the morning. When we inquired about the tests, the nurse said that the blood had clotted before they could run the tests, but that since he had taken in some fluids and urinated, that we could go home....I was upset, but tired and not sure what to think...But I did want to show the physician these spots I had noticed when holding Layton. We would later find out that they were petechiae (pin-prick hemorrhages underneath the skin) We noticed the spots first where the tourniquet had been used to try to draw blood for his labs. So the doctor explained that it might just be skin irritation from the latex. I didn't really like that answer, but tired and confused I thought it did sound plausible.
So Dianne and I headed home. I called Travis and he set up the portable crib next to our bed in our room for Layton. I was determined to get Layton to drink throughout the night. So I did. I kept waking him enough to have him take some sips of Gatorade from a sippy cup. I was encouraged by his progress. I tried about every 30 minutes and he was drinking some. But still, something was gnawing at me. I just didn't feel like this was the only issue.
I called the pediatrician first thing Monday morning (the 15th) to see how quickly we could be seen. I didn't care what it took but I wanted someone to look at Layton. They could see him right away. When I went to wake Layton up he felt even warmer. Sure enough fever was back up to 102. It was so difficult to wake him up. He was very weak. I was changing his clothing and noticed that he had those spots all over his chest, abdomen and some around his waist. I quickly got the boys loaded and took Kamden to Dianne. (Travis had flown out early that morning to California for the company. It was a trip that had been planned for sometime. He would have to go eventually and we both thought that he should just go ahead and go and get it out of the way. We still thought that Layton was dealing with dehydration, maybe a stomach bug on top of an ear infection...)
When I got to the ped.'s office they showed us back to a room immediately. Our doctor was very concerned by how Layton was inconsolable and obviously hurting. She had another physician and they both concluded that Layton needed to be admitted. She said he is obviously septic, but we need to treat dehydration and find out what is making him so sick. I couldn't get a hold of Travis (he was on the plane). I called my sister and recounted everything to her so she could call my mom. I called Dianne and then Staci (friend from church). I was totally freaked out!
After Dianne got Kamden down for a nap at their house, Troy stayed with him so she could come sit with me at the hospital. As the night of October 15th passed by, Layton deteriorated quickly. First of all, they got an IV started. A little quicker than the night before, but still a difficult process. They began fluids and drew blood for a CBC. We got settled into a room and the pediatrician came in to see us. She said that the CBC results were off and that there might have been a problem with the sample and that sometimes that happens. She explained that they would need to draw another set of labs to redo the CBC. She said she would follow up with us on her morning rounds on Tuesday. This was about 6:30 or so Monday night. She still said that it was not necessary to have Travis come back.
Just a couple of hours later...she knocks on our door. I knew when I saw her face, that something was wrong. I wasn't supposed to see her until Tuesday morning. She closed the door behind her and sat down. She calmly began by asking if I was going to be alone tonight at the hospital or if someone could be there with me...She said, "Layton's platelets, white blood cells, and hemoglobin are all low. That is what we saw with the first test, and it was reaffirmed with the second CBC. I have consulted with a Hematologist and she thinks that we should do a bone marrow aspirate first thing tomorrow morning. Is there anyway Travis can fly back now?" I sat there stunned and began crying. I was sobbing but there was no sound coming out of my body. I was too tired and stunned to make a sound. I finally recovered enough to ask what this meant....although I knew when she said HEMATOLOGIST and BONE MARROW ASPIRATE that Leukemia was a suspected culprit.
She said that it could be Leukemia; it could be a deficiency of some sort. Really though without the marrow results they cannot make a diagnosis.
She examined Layton and I told her some concerns I had with his "diaper rash". Even with frequent changes and diaper ointment, it was looking worse. Just since our arrival at the hospital earlier that day. It looked almost like a blister was forming near his little rectum. She prescribed a mixture of ointments, that would hopefully help it heal...(This was the start of the infamous 'fistula', for those of you who remember...)
She also mentioned that he would need a little help with his oxygen. She had noticed that he was having a little trouble keeping his stats up. So we tried the nasal canula! That was horrible and was upsetting him. One of the nurses came up with the idea of letting him get calm and fall asleep and place the canula inside a Styrofoam cup to lay next to his face to cup the air and direct it toward his little face. That seemed to work. I called my mom. She was terribly distraught not being able to be there. She asked me to get off the phone and call Dianne to come be with us at the hospital as soon as possible. So I did and she came as quickly as she could get Kamden to sleep. (Troy stayed with Kamden). I called her back to talk with her until Dianne could be there. (Of course Travis was already making arrangements to be on a red-eye flight back to Johnson City from California).
I had cried so much that night that I began to feel numb. I was fuzzy in my head and didn't understand any of this situation and how quickly my little baby had gone from being a perfectly healthy two year old to in less than one week gone to being so ill that his doctor was considering a bone marrow aspirate procedure, blood transfusions, and Leukemia!
Dianne and I sat side by side...we were quiet; we were trying to make sense of this situation. Finally, about 11:30, I told Dianne that we should both try to rest...we had decided that since Layton would have his procedure around 9 a.m. on the Tuesday, the 16th that Kamden should go to preschool as usual. This way his life is life as usual and Dianne could be at the hospital.
Rest...no...We all lay awake...I was numb...I tried to pray...I really did. But no words came out of my mouth. I couldn't think of anything to say. As strange as that sounds...now I can think of all the things I should have been saying in prayer, but I also now know and understand what was happening. The Holy Spirit knew my soul and knew what hurts my heart felt at those moments that I couldn't find the words to speak in prayer. The Spirit spoke for me and was also my Comfort.
There was a moment in the night where my tears seemed to stop...instantaneously I felt urging to pull myself together. I knew that Travis was especially having a hard time. He has always been the strong hold in our family...still is, but at this moment it was if God was saying, "Get it together...I am here...I will be there...This is what I need you to do..." I felt scared, still, but comforted, I was still numb, but comforted.
The night was long...and Travis was concerned about not getting to Tri Cities in time for Layton's procedure on Tuesday the 16th. There was an issue on his flight departure time from Atlanta to TriCities. But God took care of this...He worked through Travis' boss at the time and the company president of AGC and made arrangements for Travis to be flown from Atlanta to Tri Cities to arrive in time to be with us before Layton was put under anesthesia for his procedure on October 16, 2007.
Before Layton was wheeled down to ICU for his procedure, Troy, Dianne, several friends from our church at Central Baptist and Carla (Preschool minister) gathered in our room for prayer. The Hematologist, Dr. Klepfenstein (spelling?) came into the room shortly after our prayer. Travis asked her, what are we really looking at? And she said, "It very well may be Leukemia, but without the bone marrow sample we will not be able to make a definitive diagnosis as to what or which type of Leukemia." We were all very anxious and scared...
Our prayer warriors waited in the waiting room. Travis and I went back to ICU to be next to Layton during his bone marrow aspirate. They placed him under conscious sedation (Versed) and began. It was so frightening to watch. Travis and I both were shaking inside and out. I literally felt like my insides were vibrating. The anesthesiologist kept a close watch on Layton and had to continue to administer small amounts the medicine as the Nurse and Hematologist worked to insert the needle in Layton's hip and draw enough marrow for a sample to make a diagnosis. Once they completed the task, Layton was allowed to "rest" off his meds while being monitored in ICU.
They insisted that Travis and I go to eat something; because it was believed that it may be a long time before our next meal...The nurses said that we would be paged as soon as Layton would start to wake. Faith Gay and Carla Kidd walked with Travis and I to the cafeteria. I remember hearing humming noises around me...the sounds of people's voices. I remember feeling jumpy every time a page came over the intercom. I tried to eat my soup and salad, but it just didn't seem to be appetizing.
Finally we were called to come to Layton's bedside. Not long afterwards, Staci and Troy and Dianne came back to sit with us in the ICU as we awaited results. Dr. Klepenstien came to speak with us. She gave us the news that we dreaded hearing. Layton has Leukemia and it seemed to be Acute Myeloid Leukemia. The survival rate of which is around 60-65%.
Travis began sobbing. I just looked at her with tears coming down my face. In my head, I was yelling..."NO! NO! Not my child!" Out loud I asked her what were supposed to do. What happens next? It was in her next statement that Travis and I felt was a God-sent blessing---"JCMC is a St. Jude Children's Research Hospital affiliate. So you will need to go to Memphis as soon as possible to seek treatment for Layton. It would be anywhere from 6-9 months of chemotherapy and transplant." I knew that this hospital was God's answer for our Layton's life!
As the morning went on and Layton had been taken back to his room, the doctors decided that he should be sent back to ICU and would have to be flown on a Medical Ambulance to Memphis immediately. He was too ill to travel by commercial airline. Before we could leave Layton would have to have his first of what would become MANY blood transfusions. His condition was worsening. He was requiring more and more help with oxygen. His diaper rash/blister was worsening and beginning to look even more festered. We also began noticing swelling or fluid retention around his eyes, feet, testicles. They put him on a diuretic to relieve some of this issue. However, the swelling in his testicle and hip area only continued, not improved.
It all seemed like a horrible tornado...Dianne took me to CBC preschool to pick up Kamden. I wanted to be able to rock him to sleep for his afternoon nap, not knowing when I would get to do that again. I remember the swell of support and love and Christian embraces when I arrived at the school. After back at Troy and Dianne's and Kamden fell asleep, Staci picked me up to go to our house and grab a quick bag of stuff for Layton and myself. Around 3:30, Travis called and said that the med. ambulance flight would be leaving Tri Cities around 5 p.m. Staci quickly drove me to the hospital and Travis and I said our good byes as Layton and I were loaded into the ambulance which would take us to the airport.
Layton was now requiring the use of an oxygen mask and was having major pain issues. It was a long flight (or so it seemed). The two paramedics worked steady on keeping tabs on his vital signs and keeping the oxygen mask on his little face. Once in Memphis, we were transferred to another ambulance to drive us to what would be our home for the six months to follow...St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
As you can see I have a very long detailed recount. I can keep going, but I would like to type more tomorrow on the 16th. It is actually emotionally draining to do this, but it is our testimony to the work we have seen in our lives and Layton's life. I am so thankful for the Lord never forsaking myself or my family, but especially thankful that I can see what He has done for me. That is such a wonderful feeling. He has provided ABUNDANCE in our lives.
I will continue to recount the days that followed our arrival into the ICU at St. Jude on October 16, 2007. For Travis and I this day in our lives has helped to put things into 'perspective'...we don't ever want to go through having one of our children suffer the way Layton had to during his treatment to fight his cancer; but we move forward in our lives knowing that the Lord was ever-present in our lives and did not forsake us, ever. He provided abundantly what we needed to support Layton and one another with our family...So while this thing...this horrible thing...Leukemia happened to Layton, we have his healed body to show others the power of prayer and the miracles that God DOES perform. We will always keep fresh in our minds and the boys' minds daily what a gift we have in life and what God has done for us. We will always try to help others understand what families and children experience on a daily basis in their battles with Childhood cancers.
We will never forget the wonderful gift the Lord blessed us with when He sent Layton to St. Jude which we believe placed us in the hands of His "angels" doing God's work on earth! We will never forget…
October 16, 2007...upon our arrival into the ICU at St. Jude, there was a flurry of doctors and nurses surrounding Layton. In order to start taking care of him, they had a nurse escort me downstairs to registration to get Layton input into their system to assign a Medical Record Number. To have to leave his side was horrible. They reassured me that they would get me if something happened and that they would quickly complete the task at hand. The young lady at registration knew I was on edge and ministered to me about the HOPE that they wanted to give us and she wanted to know if she could pray for Layton right at that moment...what a relief!
I was shaking and my voice actually vibrated when I was answering her questions. A few minutes after her prayer a couple of volunteers wheeling around a beverage cart asked me if I would like a cup of hot cocoa or coffee. She insisted that I take a cup to help calm my nerves. I did. After we finished Layton's registration, she called for the nurse to come back down and help me find my way back the ICU. I was so lost! It seemed like a really big maze inside this humungous strange hospital...one that I would soon know my way around with my eyes closed!
Once I was back upstairs, I was asked many questions by the physicians and nurses. I gave an in depth history of the events of the whole month leading up to his diagnosis in Johnson City so that the team of Oncologists and Infectious Disease doctors could hopefully place the puzzle pieces together. (This was something that I would do over and over the next 24 hours in hopes that I may remember something new...they were like Layton's own biological "investigators".)
Several nurses attempted to find a vein that would hold long enough draw blood to check his counts. They would continue to draw his labs at least twice a day during his stay in ICU. They also checked his vitals every 2 hours. Until Layton got used to this, it was difficult for him to handle the blood pressure, temperature reading, and someone listening to his respirations. He would finally learn to sleep through this and eventually became an old pro at being a "helper" when awake.
Anyway, once Layton seemed to fall asleep, his nurse insisted that I go take a shower and get something to eat. She would watch him when I wasn't in the room. When I finished my shower and got back to the "parent room" (which had an observation window and monitor into Layton's room), I saw a tray with a meal on it for me that the nurse had ordered to make sure that I ate.
I then, went back into Layton's room and stayed with him occasionally getting to doze off in the recliner. This was a hard night, because as the night wore on he began having more breathing troubles. His swelling in his testicles was increasing and the "blister" on his bottom, looked like it had opened and had an actual gaping hole, now.
The morning of October 17, 2007 I met Dr. Inaba and Dr. Giles. I also met a few Infectious Disease doctors. I was waiting for Layton to be taken down to the OR for the placement of his line (first one in thru his neck, because they did not feel he was stable enough to put it in place near the heart). They also would do a spinal tap (lumbar puncture--here giving him his first dose of chemotherapy: Intrathecal therapy), bone marrow aspirate, EKG of the heart, ultrasound of the scrotum (because of the severe swelling) and a surgical assessment of the infected areas in his rectum. Before they could take him, though they had to do a few blood transfusions. He was so sick.
Finally the time had come for us to go downstairs...I remember leaning over him to try to block his view of all the strange faces surrounding him. I sang to him and kissed his sweet face as the nurses and anesthesiologists worked around him to prepare to put him to sleep. I was allowed to lift him from his bed to the cold hard, sterile surgical table. Once his little eyes rolled back and lids closed they asked me to "kiss your baby, good bye"...I lost it and began to sob. I suddenly felt extremely nauseated and dizzy. The fear of what could happen to him began to swarm in upon me. I started to stumble and quiver. Two nurses helped me into a wheel chair and got me upstairs in Layton's ICU room. Our social worker came to help me prepare for our long stay at St. Jude.
Once I felt okay to get up and walk, she wanted to sit with me while we waited for Layton to finish in surgery. The time seemed to drag by. Regina (a nurse we still remain in touch with today) continued to go and check on him and bring me updates on where he was in surgery. Finally we received word that all the procedures were completed and that he would be going back up to ICU for recovery. We quickly walked back around to the elevators. Around that same time, I noticed the group of Layton’s surgery team surrounding his bed going into the elevator. When the anesthesiologist saw me she quickly blocked my view and got into the elevator. I wondered what was happening and why she would have done that. But when we arrived back into his room, it was apparent to me why she had done that. I was completely shocked to see Layton hooked up to a ventilator. The anesthesiologist informed me that Layton’s stats kept dropping and so they needed to stabilize him by putting a tube down his throat and hooking him up to a machine to breathe for him.
I was totally stunned…and then I realized that I needed to call Travis immediately. He, his parents, and Kamden would be arriving at any time. Our social worker called a child life specialist to help Travis and I prepare on how to explain what was going on to our 3 year old Kamden. Before Kamden was escorted back to see Layton, Amy (child life) took Polaroid pics of Layton and all of his equipment. She said it would help Kamden to know what he would see before he enters the room. It can be very overwhelming for an adult, let alone a 3 year old child to see and hear all of the machines and their strange sounds. We were to explain that Layton has a sick part in his blood—Leukemia, and that no one did anything to cause it. He would have to have special medicines (none like he gets) to help make the sick part get better. And that he is very tired, so this “breathing” machine helps him breathe so that he can rest…it is blowing air in and out like this…and we demonstrated. We showed him the pictures. He acted like he wasn’t listening, but Amy said to keep speaking calmly. She said at 3 he was hearing more than we thought. The biggest thing was to always prepare both boys for things that would happen in advance, so there were no surprises and to put in 2 and 3 year old terms…
Once we had set the pictures down she asked him if he would like to clean his hands to get rid of germs and pick a clean toy to take to Layton. He picked out a bright hot pink hot wheels car! Too funny!!!! ☺
Layton was so heavily sedated that he was seemed to be sleeping all the time. We took Kamden in the room and he quickly walked up to Layton’s bed and said, “Love you, Layton.” And set the car down by his hand. He was ready to leave. Amy told us that his visits would eventually get longer, but that he was still trying to grasp what was going on around him.
That night Travis and I began taking “shifts” by Layton’s bedside while the other one of us attempted to sleep in the family room. We kept a hold of one his little hands encouraging him to be strong. Travis talked to him about playing “dog pile”---a Daddy and boys' game: where the boys take turns running across the room and jumping into Travis’ arms and wrestling with him. He said that when he was talking to him that Layton squeezed his hand. He also talked to him about his ‘blankie’ and his race car that Kamden had brought to him. During my visit he began rubbing his ‘blankie’ and then at one point he moved his hand to feel for the race car, picked it up and struggled to open his eyes as he held it up over his face and looked at it. As the night wore on into the morning of the 18th, he became more alert and pretty FIESTY…He wanted to pull at the ventilator to get it out of his mouth.
Early that morning a sea of ICU staff and respiratory therapists gathered around to take Layton off the ventilator. As the therapist leaned over she told him to cough as she pulled the tube out. Praise God! He had to remain on oxygen for some time following removal from the ventilator but at least he had come that far!
As the day went by we were met with an emotional rollercoaster of exams and pain issues with Layton’s swelling. Dr. Inaba did confirm his diagnosis of AML. He said that he was too unstable at that moment to begin therapy because of the infections. The groin, scrotum and private area were not only swollen but extremely red from what was a suspected yeast infection. The Infectious Disease doctors continued IV treatment with a broad spectrum of antibiotics and anti-fungal meds.
That afternoon (10/18), Dr. Inaba and Dr. Giles met with Travis and I in a private room to discuss what Layton would need to treat his Leukemia. Even though Layton was very sick from other issues other than the cancer, they were concerned about waiting on chemotherapy. The team of doctors had discussed his case and thought that the swelling was because of the build up of Leukemic cells in the scrotum and that it was preventing the antibiotics and anti-fungal treatments from penetrating to treat the infections there. So we made a very difficult decision to move forward with aggressive chemotherapy to combat his Leukemia. We had stacks of papers about side effects and types of drugs that he would have to receive along with information about the many blood and platelt transfusions he would need throughout therapy.
On October 18, 2007 at about 8:30 p.m. they began Layton’s chemotherapy.
Kamden quickly adjusted (by the grace of God) to going throughout the day back and forth from the temporary housing on the campus of the hospital of St. Jude to the hospital to visit Layton in the ICU. In fact each night as my sister and Mom (who arrived on the night of the 18th) would leave with Kamden, he would look up to the ICU windows at the front on the 3rd floor and wave and say, "Night Mommy and Daddy and my Layton." He began referring to Layton as "my Layton".
On the morning of the 19th (Friday) Layton actually wanted to eat and drink. I remember my brother came in that morning and was playing "finding Nemo" game on the TV video game at Layton's bedside early this morning. It was like the most alert Layton had been all week. He wanted Cheerios and had some apple juice. After the first small bites of cereal, the bites got bigger and bigger until they became "fistfuls" and sweetly Layton's little eyelids were heavy and heavier and he fell asleep with a fistful of Cheerios almost to his little mouth. (It was a sweet moment of quiet rest that I was so glad to see him get.)
Kamden had some fun with Nana, Aunt Sarah, Ryleigh and Uncle Will that morning around Memphis. Then just after lunch we had to take Kamden with us downstairs to the TRIAGE area. It was something we knew we had to do, but were so afraid of how it would upset Kamden. It was time for the three of us to be checked for a potential bone marrow transplant for Layton. This would mean a venous puncture and blood draw with several viles of blood for the numerous tests needed to decide if one of the three of us could be the marrow donor.
Our sweet child life counselor helped us with Kamden. We began by saying, "We had to have our blood checked. Our only job is to be still. We can cry or scream, or be quiet, but we have to be still. We will have a tight rubberband on your arm, some tapping, then a sting and some pressure..." It took two nurses, Travis, myself and Aimee the child life counselor to get the blood draw on Kamden. It took a good 20 minutes because he was flailing so much. Travis had him on his lap facing him with his legs straddled around his Daddy's waist. I was behind Travis trying to keep Kamden's legs still and leaning over in his face trying to talk calmly and hopefully soothe his sweet spirit. Aimee tried to help the nurse steady his arm so the 2nd nurse could get the stick and the blood. Finally after Kamden seemed to nearly hyperventilate and having a pee pee accident, we were finished.
St. Jude was hosting a carnival outside the hospital for the kids. So after Kamden was finished I scooped him up and carried him outside to pick his cotton candy out. He picked blue. I carried him over to Grizzlies where I gave him a bath and then laid down with him to snuggle for naptime. Travis had gone back up to ICU. That was a upsetting experience for Kamden. Both boys throughout this whole last year have amazed me with how much they have grown up and have become tolerant to uncomfortable procedures and pokes at the doctors. They were so brave!
Only about 24 hours into the chemotherapy for Layton, we also began to see improvements in the massive swelling in his pelvic area. This was unexpected. According to the physicians we were to not see such changes until after his full 10 days of therapy if not possibly until after the next round of chemo a few weeks later. But our God is so good. He had begun his work. Layton had swollen so much that the skin on his private areas was actually so stretched it was transparent. I don't have to tell you, I am sure you can imagine...but I actually was frightened that that area would rupture. His little area had swollen to the size of a softball! He had been requiring the use of a jelly donut support underneath his enlarged areas. It had been a major source of extreme pain. Layton wanted me to hold him, but it was hard to do so because movement of his legs hurt the swollen areas due to tenderness and inflammation. Also there was pain that was occuring due to the gaping hole (fistula) in his rectum.
Anyway, we were thankful for this change toward the right direction. Travis and I knew that the Lord had special plans for Layton and for Kamden and our family as a whole. We prayed for comfort as therapy would continue for 8 more days before he would be ready to have another bone marrow test to see if the amount of cancer had decreased.
After Kamden's long nap, he came back to the hospital to help decorate Layton's ICU windows and sliding doors. We painted with washable paints all over so that "his Layton" could see his pictures he had painted for him. We even traced his hands, dotted his nose with paint so he could put dots on the doors, and then he stood up, leaned against the door and asked me to trace his head! Then I filled in the blanks as best I could and made a stick version of Kamden! :) The whole paint on the nose thing was so precious, we let Kamden walk around the rest of the day with his painted nose! :)
Uncle Dave, Grandma and Grandpa Raymond arrived from Michigan that night. They visited with us in the ICU for a little before taking Kamden and my mom and sister out to eat. They also found the now famous "trolley" to ride in downtown and had a blast!
Saturday, Troy and Dianne left to head back to Johnson City. My brother also had to leave that morning. He had been there all week and had been so sweet and so much help with the boys. Before all our family hit the road, we had more good news about Layton's continued response to chemotherapy. It was great to have some good news before they hit the road. It was apparent the drugs were working. The number of cells were dropping quickly...this meant that the cancer cells were being killed!
I took Kamden to lunch in the cafateria and spent some time with my grandparents and Uncle Dave. I had only been gone from Layton for a couple of hours. But when I came back I noticed a huge difference in his pain control. He was very restless. We tried changing the pain meds and that was a disaster. The pain control only worsened and he seemed to have a reaction of irritation and itchiness (a common reaction with this particular med). We needed another pain med fast, but because of the amount of narcotics in his little body, we had to wait for them to move out. The doctors feared we would cause further respiratory distress if we medicated anymore. We would have to go several hours before the next meds could be administred.
Travis and I braced ourselves and prayed in silence. They brought us a rocker into the room. Unfortunately the movement from the bed to my lap made the pain worse. They don't like you to get into bed (infectious control) with patients, but I had to do something. So I snuggled him up and crawled into his bed to hold him. He was so exhausted. But he hurt so badly. He would start to fall asleep but would scream and toss back and forth after only a minute or two of sleep. It was turning out to be a very difficult fight for him today.
Finally, it was time for the new pain meds. It was about 10 p.m. I just remember it seemed almost instantaneously that Layton feel asleep and stayed asleep. (He was on a pain pump and would remain on a pump for the next several weeks.)
Mom and Sarah had to pick up a few things at the store. And since Kamden had been so good that day, she felt the Nana impulse to take him to the toy aisle. He picked out a really cool Thomas train set and tracks. He couldn't wait to play with them. As they turned to leave the toy section, he pulled his Nana's hand and said, "Wait! We need a toy for my Layton! My brother needs a train too, Nana." She smiled and I know it was one of those many proud moments of watching Kamden grow in his compassion to his brother throughout this whole experience. He chose a small table top version with a little windup Thomas. Some of you may remember seeing a picture from my cell phone camera when Layton first began to play with it. It was so exciting for us.
They headed back to the Grizzlies' with Kamden. The Memphis skyline was lit up with big city buildings and lights, Kamden commented as they turned onto the interstate, "Look Nana! Look Aunt Sarah! There's my Layton's hospital!" He had already begun to recognize certain places and what a special place St. Jude would be for his brother!
Layton slept soundly that night. Travis and I were very obviously stressed, so the night nurse moved our bed into his room. (This ICU room had a parent bed in the adjoining room and a family room for another parent down the hall) She insisted that we both sleep in our parent bed next to one another in Layton's room. This way we didn't sit in a chair all night long. It was the first time in a very long time that Travis and I slept and held each other closely. What a comfort and true God sent blessing thru the nurse's compassion and concern for Layton's parents.
On Sunday, the 21st, we had more good news! Layton's bloodwork was continuing to show decrase in the number of blasts. PRAISE THE LORD!!!!
Layton after having a good night's sleep ate ravenously. Apple Jacks, Fruit Loops, and some juice. Kamden came for a visit and brought his train set for Layton. The boys were both adjusting well to their new home and surroundings.
They also had been weaning Layton from oxygen. Finally at 11 or so that morning he went off oxygen use!
Later in the morning, my Uncle Dave, and grandparents to Kamden to the PEABODY HOTEL for the march of the ducks. Kamden had a blast! After lunch, Travis and Layton took a nap at the hospital while I played with Kamden and his new train set then snuggled down later with him for a nap. After naptimes, everyone stopped by to visit Layton. He had begun playing with his new trainset.
That night Travis spent time with Kamden and brought him back for one more visit with Layton. Layton snuggled in bed watching a movie with us. The four of us together as a family, calmly, watching a movie. It was so nice.
On October 22, 2007 at 4:30 am I wrote:
"So far this night has been restful. We had done a number of cleansing sit baths yesterday. (Betadine and warm water) After having several loose stools his care team felt that the baths were necessary to keep his fistula cleaned out. He had another bath last night after they finally took the foley catheter out. He seemed very relaxed. His stats have been great since going off the oxygen at 11:30 a.m.
He even had lots of urine output. The nurse tells me this is good. She said the diueretic is helping with that. But since he had been catherized, it was good that he was still able to urinate. I have to change his diapers often because of the toxic chemicals in the chemotherapy drugs. We cleanse the area and sponge bathe the areas that have been in contact with the urine to prevent skin irritation.
The nurse just finished 4 a.m. vitals and blood draw. I am going to doze back off for a little bit before the doctors make their rounds this morning."
Often my sleeping habits were just short spurts of power naps for a few minutes in between vitals, blood work, or doctors visits. It was hard to sleep. I was worried I would miss something that needed to be taken care of for Layton.
That morning Kamden came in for a visit and crawled onto Layton's bed and had cheerios with him and watched cartoons. Then after Kamden left we did Layton's sits bath and put pajama pants/shirt on him with his Lightning McQueen slippers. Regina (the nurse we had quite a bit in ICU) helped Layton to get situated in the recliner and sitting up. He watched Aladdin while eating breakfast. I ordered him sasauge/pancake on a stick and waffle sticks. He devoured it! After a couple of hours sitting up, he was ready to lay back down and rest. Meanwhile, the doctor had been in to tell us he was pleased with Layton's progress. He also said we may get to go to the Luekemia floor in the next day or so.
Layton began leaning toward you when you asked for kisses. This was a big thing. He had been very withdrawn since becoming so sick. He even spoke and said "CHOO CHOO" while watching Polar Express. He chowed down on a bowl of corn at lunch and then took a good nap. He had a popsicle after nap and cheetos and a brownie...real healthy, huh? But as long as he was willing to eat...we were all happy.
The nurse helped me give him a sits-bath and then got him snuggled down in bed. I sat down and we read one of his favorite books "SNUGGLE UP, SLEEPY ONES". He did some of the motions just like he used to before getting sick. Then we said our prayers. He fell asleep pretty quickly.
He had another procedure (he had to be put to sleep) the next morning (23rd). He would have his more permanent line put in place (into his chest). My mom was putting Kamden to sleep and would leave him with my sister so that she could come and sit in Layton's room. She wanted Travis and I to try and get some rest in the family room.
Layton rested well on the night of the 22nd. I was still struggling with anxiety and nerves here in the ICU> I just kept playing the previous week's events over and over in my mind. I was worried that following his procedure the next morning that he would end up on the ventilator again.
The time came to go downstairs. Layton sat in my lap and I sat in wheelchair. Travis wheeled us downstairs and our nurse escorted us to the surgery area. Both of us were extremely nervous. They had informed us that he would be put on the ventilator during the procedure since he had so many issues the last time. They were hopeful that he would be able to come off the ventilator before going to recovery. We both stayed with Layton until he fell asleep and then stepped out to try to pass the time. We walked all over the hospital. Then we had breakfast in the cafateria together. After that it was hard to pass the time, but finally someone came to let us know the line was put in without any problems and the old one was removed. They also let us know that they removed the breathing tube easily and that he would be taken directly up to the ICU to recover. Travis and I raced upstairs to be with him as he woke up.
As they wheeled his bed into the room he was saying, Mommy...Mommy...barely awake, but doing great!
One of his Leukemia physicians came to speak with us. The surgeon had found that the infection was gone from the abcess (fistula), but that it was deeper back then they thought. He had flushed it clean when Layton was under anesthesia.
That day after lunch, Layton had such frequent bowel movements (every 20 to 30 minutes). It was very loose. We had to flush and cleanse this area each time. It was a painful occurrence for Layton. The nurses and I were very discouraged with this setback. They had to adjust his pain meds, again. The original transfer from ICU to regular patient care floor was postponed. They felt that there was still too much involved with care and the fistula to leave the ICU. The surgeons also made the decision to take Layton off all solids and fluids. He would be given nutrition via his line (TPN and lipids). Surgeons felt that the frequency of his stools and his counts being so low would be a breeding ground for an infection to come back in the fistula. (As many of you may recall...Layton would remain on TPN for several more weeks---with no allowance for anything by mouth, except meds).
I was so worn out by the end of the day. I had been by myself, because Travis was with my family trying to take care of getting us moved into our long term housing at Target house. I was so impressed with our new home when I went over to put Kamden down for bed that night. He really liked it there too!
Layton's pain meds seemed to work well with the adjustment in dosing and frequency. By the morning of the 24th
his stools had already stopped...just as the surgeons had hoped. The surgeons came by to flush out his fistula. Layton was put under concious sedation during this bedside procedure in ICU. Surgeons worked hard to clean the pocket out completely. He said he would be by again on the next morning to flush it again.
Layton was beginning to interact more with us. This was a sign that his pain was under control. Nurses said when a patient is hurting they will often totally withdraw and of course there is the whole emotional trauma that Layton was dealing with in his 2 year old mind trying to grasp why his life was suddenly so different.
October 25, 2007 was Travis' birthday. It was hardly the way any of us expected we would be spending his birthday. Layton had begun to have some pain control and seemed to be resting better.
The surgeon's continued to come to his ICU room daily for sedation and flushing out his fistula. This was a concious sedation, so Layton was still awake, but pretty out of it. The hope was to keep this fistula cleaned out so that bacteria from stool wouldn't erode away anymore than it already had, especially now that Layton's counts had plummitted due to the chemotherapy.
Travis and I traded off time between Kamden and Layton and also donating blood and platelets in the blood donor center downstairs in the hospital. We felt while we had family there to help us and during the boy's naptimes we should try to donate. Just in the short time that Layton had already been at the hospital, he had received several transfusions of blood and platelets.
Dana (Travis' sister) and her oldest son Kieran flew into Memphis. This was a nice surprise for Kamden. He and Kieran are only a year apart in age.
October 26th marked a milestone in Layton's progress. He had been up early in the morning, so was ready to rest during naptime. The nurse and I later got him out of his bed, dressed him, put on his Lightning McQueen slippers and had him walk around the room for almost 10 minutes. He was very wobbly and weak, but did very well! This was his first time to walk even before we went to Michigan. If you remember, he wanted me to hold him continuously.
After his hard work to walk around, he napped again.
Dr. Pui (one of the Leukemia docs) came by to examine his bottom. Layton let him know that he wanted to be left alone...he pee-peed right at him as he leaned over! I had to chuckle but tried to muffle it. To my relief, Dr. Pui also laughed and said, "You sure have a good stream little boy!" (these are things that make me laugh when I go back and read my journal from last year!)
On the night of the 26th we said our good byes to my Mom, Sarah and Ryleigh. They were glad to see Layton improve in the week long stay and were already planning their next visit.
This was also the first night on a regular floor in the hospital. He was officialy discharged. However, they were full in the Leukemia wing, so he was put in a room on the solid tumor side until one comes available. Regina (our ICU nurse) walked us down as we pulled Layton in a wagon. This was the first time that we had him outside of his room so we had to put on his mask. (He was netropenic=no ANC) The mask was not a welcomed thing initially. But for those of you who were able to come and visit again or who had heard my stories, you know that he quickly adapted to wearing it as a necessity. I was amazed at how all the children we met adapted so easily to the changes in their lives. Masks, diets, extreme changes in play time and hygiene...and they did it as far as I could see with very little to no grumblings.
We were moved the next day to a new room in the Leukemia wing. It was tiring because I tried to get our stuff settled in for a long stay (which I knew we would have), but we just kept moving. I was tired at the end of this day.
Reading back at my journal, I noticed I put a snippit that I forgot to include with the day that the three of us had to go to Triage for blood draws to check for marrow matches....Kamden told the nurse who was about to stick him with the needle, "No you don't do that! That's dangerous!" (That was a phrase that he used often before that and to hear him say that at that moment was so frustrating, because here his mom and dad were letting this "dangerous" thing--in his mind, happen to him.) The nurse was a stranger (to him), she was holding a sharp object and was pointing it toward him. Of course it was dangerous!
Layton began to get used to having a central line and also all the tubes and wires and began sleeping on his stomach and side again as opposed to just his back. He also was really becoming a pro at sleeping thru the nurse visits throughout the night for meds and vitals.
For several days there was a period of up and downs with his fistula issue and letting him have soft solids and fluids by mouth and then taking him back off of foods again. It was tiring for him and painful for us to flush out his bottom everytime he had a stool and then frequently being sedated so that surgeons could do a more invasive flush.
Oct. 31st marked the first time Layton was outside the hospital. We rolled him across in the wagon lugging the IV pole to the Danny Thomas Memorial Gardens. It was so nice for him to see things outside.
We also did some trick or treating in the halls of the hospital. Layton was Peter Pan and Kamden was Capt. Hook. I even put on my Tinkerbell wings. Layton found a way to put nibbles of fruit snacks and skittles under his mask into his sweet mouth! :) He was determined to enjoy his TREATS! During naptime, Dianne kept Layton while Travis and I went back to the Target House for a party there with Kamden.
That night Layton developped hives. No one could think of what caused them. His hives were worsening quickly. By Nov. 2nd the doctors had him scheduled with meds to help the itchiness and to soothe his skin. He also began to have pain again while struggling to have a bowel movement. His pain control even with the continual use of the pain pump was no longer keeping him comfortable.
Since he had had a rough morning on that day I got him bathed and snuggled down for a nap around noon. When he fell asleep and turned his head I noticed quite a bit of hair on his pillow. On Nov. 2nd, Layton had begun losing his hair. I remember crying...I think I had been strong for awhile and was so tired and then the fact that it had been a rough day and to see his hair coming out...it was a reality check that this was happening to Layton.
Dianne took Kamden back to Johnson City for a change of pace. It was hard to see him go. But he was ready. He wanted to go home and see Poppa's John Deere. (The boys often would ride with Poppa on his big mower.) He was telling me of going to see his dogs (naming each of the family dogs), and his friends (from CBC preschool).
Our church provided us with a prayer pager. It would constantly buzz and go off. If Layton was awake we would show him and tell him when it makes a noise that meant that someone was letting us know that they were praying to God for him.
Another long day. He had begun to have tearing in his fistula. This was leaving blood in his diaper when he would have a stool. While the rash seemed to improve, I began noticing the petichiae all over his little body.
A blessing on this difficult day (Nov. 4th) was the fact that Layton was beginning to talk again. He hadn't spoken in so long. He even wanted to talk on the phone to Gaga and Poppa and GG and Kamden. He also called Nana and Aunt Sarah. He said hello to everyone and "Wuv youuuu." (that was the very way he would say "love you" before he got sick. What a gift to hear him say those words!
On the 5th the pain control was still an issue. And now he also has begun to run fever of 103-104. Doctors began to get concerned about the amount of pain and the fevers occurring. So Layton was now being scheduled for sedation and CT scans of his abdomen/pelvis to rule out a fungal infection. The surgeons also wanted to take another look at his fistula while he was asleep.
The scans came back normal. The surgeon said his fistula had healed more. They decided to release him to eat solids again. The next day we were scheduled for sedation and another CT scan this time of the lungs. This was under anesthesia 3x's in one week. This was hard for Travis and I to get used to.
Layton's fevers still spiked at night. Still no reason or explanation as to their cause.
November 10, 2007...this day was stressful and very hectic. This was Layton's first bone marrow aspirate since his diagnosis and his first round of chemotherapy being completed. They had to wait for his ANC to recover to at least 200 because they were also going to do a lumbar puncture and intrethecal therapy. At 9 a.m. the nurse came in with the numbing cream to put on his back and hips.
The anesthesia team had begun to realize that Layton was very apprehensive about being in the procedures area. So this time they gave him the concious sedation drug, then the "sleepy" drug. This was a much more pleasant experience for all of us. We sang, tickled, and laughed until he fell asleep.
Travis and waited outside the procedures area. We saw the surgeon first. He said Layton's fistula looked much worse. He wanted him returned to a liquid diet. I began sobbing. I didn't know if I could handle it if Layton's Leukemia doctor than came out and said that his marrow still had cancer! Travis and I just stood there in the hallway. He was holding me closely.
Once Layton had recovered and then we moved up to 2nd floor again, Dr. Inaba came and said he could see 9% blasts. He said he couldn't tell under the microscope if they were healthy or cancer cells. He said we would have to wait for the MRD results. That would be late that day or the next day (Saturday). Waiting was excruciating!
About 5:30 that night Layton began trying to have another bowel movement. His pain increased tremendously. (Even after extra boluses and boosts and increased in dosage.) The surgeons prescribed numbing lidocane jelly for us to apply to his fistula area throughout the day in hopes that would help the pain control as well. Once we calmed him down and the docs had once again upped his pain medicine dosage given through the pump, I held him on the couch. He laid his head on my lap as he watched Toy Story on his TV. It was almost 7 p.m. Travis thought we should eat something (we hadn't all day). He headed out to the elevators when he ran back into the room. He had run into Dr. Giles he signaled him "thumbs up". Just a minute or so passed and he came into the room. He had barely made it all the way in from the hallway before he hollared, "Layton's MRD was negative...negative...NEGATIVE!" Our nurse was crying, I was crying, he and Travis were crying. Everyone was hugging and high5-ing. A little bit later, Dr. Inaba made it in to the room to join the celebration. He came in dancing and singing. They had hoped there would be a decrase in the cancer cells, but they had told us not to expect negative with only his first round of chemotherapy. This was truly our MIRACLE from God!
We couldn't wait to share the good news of the Lord's healing on our precious Layton's body....Since his marrow was negative for Leukemic cells, this would allow us to wait on the next round of chemotherapy. This would hopefully give his body time to generate good white blood cells and neutrophils to heal that awful fistula.
The night of the 11th was hard. Layton was still struggling with potty issues and the fistula. We had frequent episodes of having to clean his little bottom every 30 minutes and then rest for 30 minutes. Then he would awaken again hurting.
The surgeons came by again for another bedside flushing. But we also had the Infectious Disease team stop by. They wanted to forewarn Travis and I that his fistula may not heal until after his chemotherapy is finished. I just said that that is not acceptable. Travis and I were not going to believe in that...the Lord had more than answered our prayers with Layton's MRD results, so we would place this request in his hands as well. We felt that He would either hela the fistula before the next round of chemotherapy or would give additional wisdom to the talented doctors to figure something out. I know that there is no way that I am going to let Layton remain in this much pain the next several months during his treatment.
November 12th also marked another milestone/breakthrough with Layton. This was when he decided to put a "buddy" (central line) on his teddy bear and do exams on his teddy bear. He wanted to use the otoscope, stethoscope and even checked teddy's bottom! :) He even wanted a wipe to clean teddy's bottom with and then once he diapered it he hugged and kissed it and said, "It's okay Teddy." Travis, myself and his entire care team said that this was a really good sign now that he was role playing with his beloved teddy bear.
November 13th Travis had to return to work from Kingsport's office. That was hard to be truly on my own again...But I wasn't alone...Thanks to God and His holy presence. He also gave us the blessing of such a wonderful support group through friends and family and Layton's medical careteam at St. Jude.
- Amanda Burrow's son, Layton McKinleigh Burrow, was diagnosed at age 2 with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. This is a recounting the days just before and following his diagnosis. Because of her journey with Layton, she and her husband felt led to go back to school once he was well. They both graduated with Baccalaureate degrees in Nursing in December 2012.
Hope Finds Joy…in the Midst of Sorrow.
