11 July, 1998
BRIAN HAS COMPLETED CHEMOTHERAPY TREATMENTS !!!!!
9 April, 1998
BRIAN IS CANCER FREE !!!!!
The treatment which Brian is presently undergoing is chemotherapy. Specific to Brian's lymphoma, the chemotherapy which he is undergoing has several side effects such as fevers, itching, and mucousitis. The chemotherapy is designed to destroy the cancer cells, which it does; however, it also destroys many healthy cells. The reason that chemotherapy works is that the healthy cells are believed to recover faster than the cancer cells; hence the need for recovery periods between the treatments to rebuild his red blood cell count and recover from any possible infections that may arise.
The hospital staff is doing all that they can. Now what Brian needs is our prayers.
Brian's Treatment schedule can be found here.
Look here for more information about
Burkitt's Lymphoma.
Previous quotes of the week can be found here.
Steven is an energetic 8 year old 3rd grader who loves soccer. He collects baseball cards and loves electronic cars. He enjoys school and gets good grades! He likes to play with Brian in the hospital when he feels good. He reads stories to him.
Sara is a trained opera singer; she studied at Baylor University in Texas. She gives voice lessons and leads the teen choir at her church. She also sings in her church adult choir. Now her full time job is caring for Brian.
Stan coaches Steven's soccer team. Stan has his own business. He is a contractor, remodeling and building houses. Presently, he is trying to work 3-4 days a week.
Susan, who writes the letters, is Sara's older sister. They grew up in Virginia, but when Denny was in the Navy, she and Denny moved to the west coast. She teaches kindergarten and loves quilting. She and Sara are addicted to collecting cotton fabric, and find their cars magnetically drawn to fabric stores. Denny works at UCSF as a finance manager in the capital projects department. Together, they have two children: Sara (18) a freshman at Cal Poly State University in San Luis Obispo, and David (22) an artist working in Los Angeles painting murals on public schools with students.
Diane is a fellow quilter, and an enormous help to Sara and Stan. She takes up slack so as to allow them to rest and relax. Her husband Jim has helped both in the hospital with Diane and in driving family back and forth to San Fransisco.
Garreth is Brian's best friend. Despite Brian's appearance, having lost his hair and the medical hardware that is attached to him, Garreth has served to remind Brian that he is still a little boy (see update 11 January, 1998).
The newest member to join B-Man's team is Brett. Since Brian's pain is unceasing and all of the changes in his life are so difficult, Brett has been counceling Brian on how to deal with them. Brett and Brian get along well, and Brett is constantly amazed with B-Man's ability to express himself.
Additional photographs of Brian's friends and family can be found
here.
Newest photographs of Brian and his friends can be found
here.
Still more photographs of Brian with Funnybones the clown can be found
here.
In addition, Sara wrote this letter to her parish family.
Sara's love and thanks outpoured to all who have supported them with love and prayers.
Sorry, telephone contact has been discouraged as the noise and adult chatter disturbs Brian.
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Brian's Guestbook
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Last modified: Fri Sep 3 09:21:45 CDT 1999