Buccaneers Ball
posted by Steph in
Thank Yous, Letters to Asher, on Saturday, April 28. 2007 at
Steph,
Last night, we attended the 5th Annual Mike Alstott Celebrity Softball Challenge here in Clearwater, Florida, benefiting the Children's Cancer Center. Now that we have been touched by Asher and his battle with cancer, we are a lot more aware of events in our area that support cancer research, and we make every attempt to attend as many of them as possible.
The event started with a meet and greet with many NFL and Major League players, which included getting autographs of each and every one of them. Following a home run derby, the celebrities played an actual softball game against one another. During the game, Sean (my oldest son), caught one of the game balls. I was sitting behind him when he caught it, and he immediately turned around to me and said, "This is going to Asher." One of the field officials came over to Sean, and asked him to return the game ball in exchange for another ball that they would allow him to take down to the field and get autographed by some of the Tampa Bay Buccanner football players. And he did. Sean went alone down onto the field, and when he returned he had the ball that you see attached. He explained to Mike Alstott that the ball was to go to Asher, a four year old brain cancer survivor. You can see the message that he wrote on the ball:
To: Asher
Believe in your dreams
Several of the major Buccaneer players signed this ball, and Sean has also asked that I send the banner that he had signed by ALL of the NFL and Major League players to Asher. So they will both be on the way to Asher on Monday.
We continue to pray for Asher, and he is in the hearts of every member of my family. Each of my children has followed his journey, and each of them hold a special place in their heart for a little boy that they have never met. I hope that these momentos will be something that he will enjoy as he gets older.
With love,
Michelle and family
The Quilt
posted by Steph in
Thank Yous, Home after Treatment, on Friday, April 20. 2007 at
This quilt was made by the ladies at the First United Methodist Church in Round Rock. A friend of mine works with a lady who is in charge of the children's quilting program. Asher is the first child outside of the state of Texas to get one. It has been well prayed over.
The last couple of days, I had Asher create a couple of home-made thank you notes to send out soon, and today, I was so proud of Asher. He just suddenly said, "Lets make a thank you note!" As he looked around the corner for his quilt and pointed, "For my quilt," he said.
Unbounded Energy
posted by Scott in
Thank Yous, Photos, Videos, Counts, Chemo Round 5, on Monday, February 12. 2007 at
Monday brought seemingly unlimited energy. I have no idea where this energy came from, but it started from the time he woke up until I made him to go sleep at 10:30pm.
His ANC is absolute zero today. I really suspected that he would not have much energy and would sit lethargic on the bed, watching movies or playing Gameboy. Instead, I got the total opposite.
Counts from 02/12/07 04:00
wbc 0.1 (4-12)
rbc 3.37 (4-5.3)
hemoglobin 10.4 (11.5-14.5)
hematocrit 29.0
platelet 60 (140-450)
anc 0
magnesium 1.7
phosphorus 4.2
potassium 3.1
Total Cells counted 5
Our roommates seemed to have some problems last night with their son and were up with the light on past 2 I think, so Asher didn't settle into a deep sleep until after they turned the light off. I've considered and asked about getting a different room, but with so many kids coming in so quickly, the chances that I'll get something better are pretty small. We may get this room to ourselves starting Friday since our roommate is scheduled for Surgery. The really are pretty Good roommates except for leaving the light on late some nights. It wouldn't be such a problem for me since I stay up until about 2am most nights at the hospital, but with the overhead light on, Asher never really gets into a deep sleep.
Anyway, Asher has been having some diarrhea due to the stool softener that we had given him over the past few days. I had forgotten that he has a delayed reaction to it, so we kept it up until I mentioned we stopped due to this starting. At about 2am, he had a big mess, and a few times more today. he doesn't seem to be able to control it, and it seems to hurt a lot when he has to go.
The stool sample that was sent in yesterday came back negative for all of the normal sickness bacteria like e-coli, so that's a good thing. Tells us that the blood that was in there was most likely just part of bleeding due to his sores.
Steph brought over some toys for Asher about noon, and so did a friend, Brandie (thanks Brandie!!), and for the rest of the day Asher went from toy to toy to toy to toy, playing with the majority of them over and over. His favorite seems to be ZINGO, which is basically bingo with Animals and a slight twist. At one point when he was watching cartoons, he stuck his head through one of them and then took off in a drumming frenzy with some of the pieces.
Video 230k: PlayingTheDrums.3gp
Also, thank you Jennifer for mailing Asher crayons and coloring books! So thoughtful of you!
During dinner time, Asher said he wanted to eat. He licked the frosting off of one more cupcake, and then called room service and ordered himself a hot dog. when it came, he put the ketchup on it, and then proceeded to eat 1/2 of the meat. We pealed the bun off of it, so he could eat the meat while I held it up for him, and he really liked it, and he kept it down. He topped it off with some Mt. Dew.
In the evening, Asher got a little coloring kit from the playroom, and in it was a harmonica (just like Grandpa he kept saying) that he played and played and played and played. He reallllly likes it and isn't so bad at it. Once I taught him how to suck AND blow (not just blow) to make music, he went to town.
The sores in his mouth didn't get any worse today, so that's a blessing. Still only 4 of them in there. I suspect that it will still get worse as he sits at ANC zero and then comes back higher. Hopefully it doesn't get too bad.
Thank you for the wonderful Christmas
posted by Steph in
Thank Yous, Home during Treatment, Photos, on Monday, December 25. 2006 at
Here are photos of the gifts Asher, Alexa, and Aubree received:
Whether or not you were able to buy the kit, if you visited this blog and sent comments, thoughts, and prayers to us, we are most thankful to you, too! Just getting awareness out there, about brain tumors, cancer, Asher, and the painful days our family has had to endure....that means so much to us that the word has spread and the prayers pour in. Please continue to pray, for minimal suffering, for complete healing, and for God's presence in our daily lives. Thank you so much!!
Touching Lives
posted by Steph in
Thank Yous, Feelings, Digital Scrapbooking, on Friday, November 3. 2006 at
Through all the pain of Asher's diagnosis and treatment, people have touched our lives in ways that you can't know unless you have been through something like this. The love and prayers....emails, cards, and toys....the emotional support, a place to vent (here in this blog) and know I'll get an encouraging note in return....supporting our walk for the National Brain Tumor Foundation....fundraising to help pay for hospital bills.... It means a lot to me knowing that what I share in this blog means I share my son with you. I have heard some people have stopped reading the blog because they cry too much, but I have also received a few notes saying Asher is an inspiration. I love that Asher can touch lives, all over the world. Some day, I know Asher is going to understand what it means to reach out to others from the example you have shown to him. You are all an inspiration. I am so thankful to you, for being here with us during this difficult journey.
Anyway, enough with the emotional outpouring and on to two thank yous that I wanted to make public:
I want to say THANK YOU, here, to each of the moms in my AZ moms group (AMU) who are planning to share a dish for a Thanksgiving feast for us. We aren't sure if Asher will be back in the hospital or still at home, but my friends are already planning the meal and will bring it to us whereever we may be. We are so lucky to have you as supporters, and as you know, we have a lot to be thankful for this year! THANK YOU for thinking of us and including us in your Thanksgiving!
I also want to say THANK YOU, to Sara Carling and her Creative Team. Sara is an amazing digital designer, designing kits for digital scrapbookers at Scrapbookgraphics. She and her team have adopted Asher for Christmas! So generous of her!! 
Her 2006 Christmas Kit is called "Share in the Season" ("share" is an anagram of "Asher") and is beautiful!! Check out these layouts using the "Share in the Season" kit. THANK YOU, again, Sara! I know many new people will be praying for Asher this holiday season.
Kenzie Kase
posted by Steph in
Thank Yous, on Friday, September 15. 2006 at
I noticed today (9/16) would have been McKenzie's 8th birthday; McKenzie, we're all thinking about you and your family today!
Relay for Life
posted by Scott in
Thank Yous, on Wednesday, August 9. 2006 at
This past weekend, Linda, a long time friend of Asher's Grandma Val (Steph's mom), participated in this event in Steph's home town from Friday thru Saturday with her family. They lit a luminary bag in honor of Asher fighting cancer. She says "Even though the pictures don't show it, each bag had a candle inside which burned from 9:30 Friday night and some had to be blown out (including Asher's) when they went around to pick them up around 9:00 Saturday morning...." " I believe they had a total of 1,022 bags honoring people who have or had cancer, or in memory of those who passed on because of cancer."
Linda's son, Adam, is also fighting cancer.
Hearing about this touched me in a way very few things ever have. Just knowing that people like Linda exist in the world who take time out of their lives to do a little extra for others, one of which is my son..... It's inspiring, humbling, and just so..... nice.
I don't show my emotions much and this brought tears to my eyes. Thank you Linda for doing this and for giving me permission to post about this and use the pictures.
Beautiful Bookmarks
posted by Steph in
Thank Yous, on Tuesday, August 1. 2006 at
When Alexa and I opened an envelope today we saw these beautifully made bookmarks on cardstock, laminated, and with ribbon! WE LOVE THEM!! Alexa immediately started to sort by color 
That's my girl.
Thank you Amy (my digital scrapbooking friend) and Heidi; so wonderful of you to make these for us!! We'll be giving them out right away!
