Andrew Update #50

Mud Packer · 8/4/09, 2:18 PM

It has been a little while since anything of importance to report has come up. With the two year anniversary of this whole ordeal (has it only been two years?) is gently approaching, we again have some news to share with everyone. This Friday Andrew will be in for a double surgery to remove the Ommaya Reservoir from his brain and the port in his chest. My son and daughter-in-law have been contemplating this procedure for some time. It is a little nerve wracking to say the least. I don't handle the "routine procedures" very well, much less something of this magnitude. They had to weigh all of the options and they decided that this was the right time to consider this procedure.

On the one side he has had no problems with either one and the thought is if it isn't a problem, why do anything? The other thought process is that the risk of infection plus the thought that neither may be of any use in the future and need to come out eventually also plays into the equation. Difficult decisions but it seems that most of them so far haven't been very easy. I commend both of them for taking time to research the pros and cons and making a decision. Glad that it was there call and not mine to make.

I have told many of you that Andrew has been doing remarkably well. The summer has been full of exciting things, like swimming, bike riding, digging in the dirt, playing on his swingset, going to the zoo, etc. All things that a kid should be doing rather than hospital visits and doctors appointments. My hope is that he is back in a routine very quickly and doesn't experience any set backs. I hate it when that clock is ticking.

For all of you who follow along on Andrew's journey, I say thank you very much for your thoughts, prayers and encouragement. During difficult times you have made a remarkable difference and we appreciate your interest. I have said this before and I will say it again. We are truly blown away by the number of people around the world who follow along. Thanks for your friendship and I will keep you posted. We continue to Dream, Hope and Believe.

Charles Nungester · 8/4/09, 2:21 PM

i always pray for a

forever for Andrew

Flatrightrear · 8/4/09, 2:53 PM

Keep the faith, Mike. It all sounds like good news to me. My doctor told me that when my port comes out that he will do it in his office. I pray that all goes well for Andrew. Tom

FishBurger · 8/4/09, 4:02 PM

He has lots of folks praying for him and thinking of him.....plus, he comes from mighty good and tough stock. All will be well.

IndyBound · 8/4/09, 4:40 PM

Mike, glad to hear Andrew has been able to spend the summer doing fun little boy things. Keep believing grandpa, Andrew has allot of people praying for him. His beautiful infectious little smile touches all that see it and hear his story.

Patti

SprintManDave · 8/4/09, 5:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mud Packer

It has been a little while since anything of importance to report has come up. With the two year anniversary of this whole ordeal (has it only been two years?) is gently approaching, we again have some news to share with everyone. This Friday Andrew will be in for a double surgery to remove the Ommaya Reservoir from his brain and the port in his chest. My son and daughter-in-law have been contemplating this procedure for some time. It is a little nerve wracking to say the least. I don't handle the "routine procedures" very well, much less something of this magnitude. They had to weigh all of the options and they decided that this was the right time to consider this procedure.

On the one side he has had no problems with either one and the thought is if it isn't a problem, why do anything? The other thought process is that the risk of infection plus the thought that neither may be of any use in the future and need to come out eventually also plays into the equation. Difficult decisions but it seems that most of them so far haven't been very easy. I commend both of them for taking time to research the pros and cons and making a decision. Glad that it was there call and not mine to make.

I have told many of you that Andrew has been doing remarkably well. The summer has been full of exciting things, like swimming, bike riding, digging in the dirt, playing on his swingset, going to the zoo, etc. All things that a kid should be doing rather than hospital visits and doctors appointments. My hope is that he is back in a routine very quickly and doesn't experience any set backs. I hate it when that clock is ticking.

For all of you who follow along on Andrew's journey, I say thank you very much for your thoughts, prayers and encouragement. During difficult times you have made a remarkable difference and we appreciate your interest. I have said this before and I will say it again. We are truly blown away by the number of people around the world who follow along. Thanks for your friendship and I will keep you posted. We continue to Dream, Hope and Believe.

Good luck with Andrew and I will be praying for him.

STP · 8/4/09, 6:44 PM

Continued prayers for Andrew. It's good to hear he's enjoying his summer. Every moment is a precious one.
Posted via Mobile Device

Pat O'Connor Fan · 8/4/09, 6:50 PM

Mike,
Marv hit the nail on the head when he commented on Andrew's bloodlines. Andrew's familial ancestry is a huge plus factor for the boy. And having Andrew in the thoughts and prayers of so many people is yet another plus.

8/4/09, 2:18 PM	#1 Andrew Update #50
Mud Packer Senior Member Race Count Last Year: 59 Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,093	It has been a little while since anything of importance to report has come up. With the two year anniversary of this whole ordeal (has it only been two years?) is gently approaching, we again have some news to share with everyone. This Friday Andrew will be in for a double surgery to remove the Ommaya Reservoir from his brain and the port in his chest. My son and daughter-in-law have been contemplating this procedure for some time. It is a little nerve wracking to say the least. I don't handle the "routine procedures" very well, much less something of this magnitude. They had to weigh all of the options and they decided that this was the right time to consider this procedure. On the one side he has had no problems with either one and the thought is if it isn't a problem, why do anything? The other thought process is that the risk of infection plus the thought that neither may be of any use in the future and need to come out eventually also plays into the equation. Difficult decisions but it seems that most of them so far haven't been very easy. I commend both of them for taking time to research the pros and cons and making a decision. Glad that it was there call and not mine to make. I have told many of you that Andrew has been doing remarkably well. The summer has been full of exciting things, like swimming, bike riding, digging in the dirt, playing on his swingset, going to the zoo, etc. All things that a kid should be doing rather than hospital visits and doctors appointments. My hope is that he is back in a routine very quickly and doesn't experience any set backs. I hate it when that clock is ticking. For all of you who follow along on Andrew's journey, I say thank you very much for your thoughts, prayers and encouragement. During difficult times you have made a remarkable difference and we appreciate your interest. I have said this before and I will say it again. We are truly blown away by the number of people around the world who follow along. Thanks for your friendship and I will keep you posted. We continue to Dream, Hope and Believe. __________________ Mike Be nice to people on the way up. You might need them on the way down. Jimmy Durante _________________________________________________ Last edited by Mud Packer; 8/4/09 at 2:20 PM.

8/4/09, 2:21 PM	#2 Re: Andrew Update #50
Charles Nungester Senior Member Race Count This Year: 6 Race Count Last Year: 14 Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 22,027	i always pray for a forever for Andrew __________________ Charles Nungester

8/4/09, 2:53 PM	#3 Re: Andrew Update #50
Flatrightrear Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,385	Keep the faith, Mike. It all sounds like good news to me. My doctor told me that when my port comes out that he will do it in his office. I pray that all goes well for Andrew. Tom

8/4/09, 4:02 PM	#4 Re: Andrew Update #50
FishBurger Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 4,356	He has lots of folks praying for him and thinking of him.....plus, he comes from mighty good and tough stock. All will be well.

8/4/09, 4:40 PM	#5 Re: Andrew Update #50
IndyBound Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 2,626	Mike, glad to hear Andrew has been able to spend the summer doing fun little boy things. Keep believing grandpa, Andrew has allot of people praying for him. His beautiful infectious little smile touches all that see it and hear his story. Patti

8/4/09, 6:44 PM	#7
STP Senior Member Race Count Last Year: 1 Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 410	Continued prayers for Andrew. It's good to hear he's enjoying his summer. Every moment is a precious one. Posted via Mobile Device

8/4/09, 6:50 PM	#8 Re: Andrew Update #50
Pat O'Connor Fan Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 8,029	Mike, Marv hit the nail on the head when he commented on Andrew's bloodlines. Andrew's familial ancestry is a huge plus factor for the boy. And having Andrew in the thoughts and prayers of so many people is yet another plus.