Salute to Heroes This is Michael. Today is Sunday, and I want to take the time this morning to write and discuss Cannons progress, our admiration of what he has accomplished, and remembering our veterans this weekend and especially on Monday--Veterans Day in the U.S. I have heard privately from a lot of people during the past 30-35 days since we have started this journey with Cannon at CHOP and in Philadelphia, and I appreciate the words of encouragement and offers of assistance in both Orlando and Philadelphia. Some have asked me to write more on Caringbridge and Facebook, but I must say that when Cannon is admitted and the times are difficult for him, I find it very difficult to offer anything more than what Melissa has been doing with respect to his daily progress. I think those that have followed Cannon and our family for any length of time would probably know what I would write about anyway, and I can assure everyone that the horror and pain that has been experienced here in Philadelphia has only hardened me further in my determination to help erase cancer in children and to do all that we can now and in the future to quickly get more effective, and less painful, treatments to kids with cancer. Cannon is progressing. Thats the best word that I can offer for now. I truly wont say he is better (although in the true sense of the definition that is probably correct) because he is not healed from the burns all inside his mouth, lips, throat, stomach and his entire butt and private areas. It is not as bad as last week, but far from normal or what anyone could live with normally. The mucositis still persists. Those that have experienced mucositis or have seen it can relate to this---it is horrible. So much mucous builds up in the mouth and throat that it nearly prevents breathing and wont stop. It is vomited in large balls a couple times a day, or awakens Cannon and scares him because he was asleep. It is so thick that I can grab some with a tissue at the edge of Cannons mouth and roll the tissue and pull it out continuously like yarn on a spool. Cannon cries when we do this and other suctioning to get it out, but it helps him clear his mouth and throat and relieves some of his misery. We usually hit the pain pump before or after we do this, and I say progressing because now we only hit the pain pump for Cannon about 5 times a day, compared with last week and the week before at multiples of that number. So, to sum up and reply to those who graciously ask how Cannon is doing, I say that his counts are higher and he is progressing and one day closer to cancer free. We look forward to Cannon coming back to us, and seeing our first smile and giggle in more than a month (I hear this morning that it might be today). At the end of Childrens cancer Awareness Month, I shared some thoughts about heroes. I wrote of my boyhood hero and that I had a new hero and heroes in my life. I talked about kids with cancer and their suffering, and the families that suffered with them on their journey to live. I asked those without a hero to go to the 9th Floor at Sloan-Kettering, the Ronald McDonald House on the Upper East Side in Manhatten or the hallways of Arnold Palmer Childrens Hospital. I can now add another spot to that list: next time you are in Philadelphia and visiting all the history and culture in this great American city, take a short visit across the Schuylkill River just west of center city and all the historic monuments and go to the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). See a wonderful facility, among the best in the world, but see the real heart of the place: the kids. There are heroes here, and they are on all floors, but I can only speak to those I see on the 3rd/Oncology and Transplants. Here is where children suffer in so much pain and misery that is truly beyond my ability to describe it, and they do it just to live, to go home to brothers and sisters, to try to get to one more Christmas, to have more birthdays and to one day be free of the living torture of cancer. These kids are truly heroic, and I dont say that only because I have one of them---they are to be admired for their lifetimes and in memorium. There are others to be admired, and I would like to recognize them here as well. Monday is Veterans Day in the U.S., and we owe so much to our veterans and their families, and also to our active service men and women. I have written before about paying tribute to active military and our vets, and it is because of their sacrifice in the past or on a daily basis, to give us the freedoms we enjoy every day. These sacrifices by them are measured in years time. Admirable. Cannon and our family would not have the ability to seek the healthcare he has received, nor would their be much if any chance of cure, if we didnt live in the free society we live in today. Men and women have given their lives in military service for Cannon to have a chance to live, and I ask that they all be honored this weekend and especially on Monday. If you should see a member of our military in an airport or in public, or know a veteran who gave service to his or her country, take a moment to shake their hand and thank them for providing freedom to our country, and dont forget to thank the families for giving up their family member for service to the country. Honor our active service personnel and our vets---they deserve a salute as heroes as well. Last, there is a new short 8 minute video produced recently by The Truth 365 that I would like everyone to view and share. It continues the effort for awareness of childrens cancer issues and the lack of funding for research to improve therapies, find less painful treatments, develop treatments specifically designed for children and specifically designed for the 12 types of pediatric cancer, and to ultimately find a cure and eradicate childrens cancer from this Earth and our lifetimes. Please watch it here and pass it along: thetruth365.org/ Please help Melissa and me and all the parents of kids with cancer, living and now in heaven, to raise awareness so that someday, someday cancer in children will not exist. I will repeat again and say it every day about cancer in children: It is wrong. It is unjust. It is unnecessary. Saint Peregrine, JoeJoe, Nicholas, Bella, Talia, Cole, Tommy, Addison, Abigail, Christopher, Jayson, Landon, Salvatore, Zoe, Brooke and all the angels and saints, please pray for Cannon, Patrick, Eddie, Ava, Sabrina, Sophie, Andy, Calin, Parker, Ayven, Sebastian, Calvin, Ellen, Ella, Austin, Braden, Nora, Nate, Theo, Maggie, Jacob, Gage, Jace, Makayla, Angel and all those who suffer from cancer.
Posted on: Sun, 10 Nov 2013 16:08:14 +0000
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