Cancer Perks

Layne is the first to attest that there are not many perks to having cancer but the term "cancer perk" has been thrown around at our house. Whenever someone goes out of their way and does something nice, we say "well that's a cancer perk". This week he definitely had a major cancer perk. Layne's dad along with the help of a few other's was able to get in touch with Kris Versteeg who plays hockey for the Chicago Blackhawks, as well as a rep with the Calgary Flames. He set up that we would be able to meet Kris in Calgary the morning before they played the Flames at their morning skate. Then we were able to meet some of the Flames players after the game that night. Let's just say the day turned out much better than expected. Layne is still on cloud nine.

The week started off not so nice. Blake had 2 nights in a row where he was having waves of severe abdominal pain. Let's just say after watching Layne go through such horrific pain and then watching our son have it as well, almost put us all over the edge. The weird thing was during the day the pain went away but you could tell he was not feeling well. On night 2 when the pain started again I was able to take him to our Doctors house and get him assessed to make sure it wasn't anything like appendicitis. He didn't have a fever and at that point no nausea. After he was assessed we knew it was nothing crazy at that point but he told me to call first thing in the morning if things didn't get better. We gave him gravel and tylenol and a heat pad which seemed to kind of help the pain. He did throw up once after a wave of pain. So by the morning I called the Dr again and he got him in to do abdominal X-rays, blood work and urinalysis. The x-ray showed nothing significant but he called the paediatrician on call at the hospital to discuss everything with her. They were concerned that perhaps maybe he had something called intussusception. (I would explain it but haven't researched it enough but long story short if he had it it would cause a small bowel obstruction and surgery may have been required) So she asked to see Blake at the hospital and ordered an ultrasound. At this point Blake was no longer allowed to eat or drink. Thankfully he didn't have an appetite or it would have been a much longer day.  We got there just after 11 AM and were there until 6ish. By the time the Dr came to see us Blake was ready to go home. The ultrasound showed he did not have intussusception. The only thing it showed was he had a piece of stool sitting right by his appendix (they could actually feel it when they were feeling around his tummy) which had a little fluid around it and he had some swollen lymph nodes around that area but after consulting with the surgeon they did not think it was appendicitis. She noticed it looked like he might have strep throat and said that can sometimes cause stomach pain in children. So she started him on antibiotics until we got the results back and said she would call if the swab they took came back negative, and then Blake could stop the antibiotics. We never got a call so he must have had it. So we went home. It took Blake a few days to get back to his normal self. He was wiped from having two rough nights but thankfully the pain didn't come back that night. He just had a follow up ultrasound today and we will meet with the paediatrician next week. Hopefully this was just some sort of nasty stomach bug and that's the end of it! I am so glad they ruled out anything serious and took us seriously. We needed it at this time of our lives. Again I am so glad we are living at Jackie and Rusty's house. We needed the help those few days. Jackie sometimes says that our family should be on a reality TV show... sometimes I think she is right haha.

For a few days when Blake would get tired his cheeks would go bright red

Looking around his room in emerge

Having a snooze waiting for the Dr to come

He got a sticker after his follow up ultrasound today

He had to fast for the ultrasound so Grandma took him for pancakes after his appointment! 

Thankfully Blake was feeling better and it didn't spoil Layne's exciting day.  When Layne found out he was going to the Calgary VS. Blackhawks game he was so excited and decided to invite me! I for sure thought he would invite someone who would be as excited as he was but he was adamant he was taking me. Between his siblings and some friends I thought for sure someone would slip something in my drink to take me out of the running to go with him. Thankfully everyone was nice and bit their tongue... for the most part :) Layne had a friend one night surprise him by dropping off a Blackhawks Jersey to take with him to get signed. People are truly kind and amazing. Because we weren't sure if Layne would be extremely tired after his last round of chemo, we planned to drive up wednesday night and stay at my Aunt and Uncle's house, get a good sleep and then go to the practice in the morning. We are so grateful for their hospitality and yummy food :) On the way up we were able to meet Layne's good friend Kevin for some supper. The first thing Layne wanted to eat after his last surgery was Famoso pizza and has been craving it ever since. So we decided that would be a good place to stop and catch up with Kevin. Layne has wonderful friend's. I am so glad he has kept in touch with all of them.

Thankfully Layne has done awesome after this round of chemo. He had a few days where he was drained and had diarrhea. His other brother and wife came home to visit him from Arizona and were able to take him to the hospital to get hydrated a few times. This really seemed to help. I am so happy Layne has such supportive family.

The big day finally came and we made our way to the Saddledome to go to the Blackhawks morning skate. While we were there Layne noticed Kelly Hrudey sitting across the way and decided to go and chat with him. He was very nice and Layne was glad he got to meet him.

Kelly and Layne at the morning skate

When the practice was over, before the players got off the ice they called Layne down to the dressing room area. Kris was the first one to come off the ice and introduced himself and handed Layne his signed practice stick. We got a picture and he told Layne not to go anywhere. That he had something for him and told him everyone else would be coming off and to get pictures with them and he would be back when he was dressed. At that point you could see Layne was ecstatic. I thought he might collapse haha. I was the official photographer and Layne got to get pictures with all the players as they came off and had a few of them sign his Jersey. All of them were so kind and wished him well with his fight with cancer. When Kris came back he brought Layne a Jersey that had been signed by the whole team. The back had his number, one sleeve had Kane's number and the other sleeve had Toew's number. I thought Layne would die. Let's just say this Jersey is going up in Layne's future "mancave". He was able to talk with Layne for a while. He reserved tickets for Layne and Russ (Layne's dad) and I for that night's game. We got to sit with his family and they were awesome seats. He was so kind. Thank you so much!

Layne and Versteeg

Layne and Toews

Layne and Carcillo

Layne and Kane

Layne talking to the assistant coach Kevin Dineen

Versteeg, Layne and Hossa

Layne and Seabrook

After that We went back to my Aunt and Uncle's house so Layne could have a nap. He was wasted after all the excitement from the morning. When he woke up we were treated to a nice roast beef dinner and then we headed back to the Saddledome for the game. The game was an awesome one to be at. Layne has been a diehard Flames fan all his life but after the morning he decided he would be cheering for the Blackhawks. I wore Layne's flames jersey so he wasn't completely cheating on them. The Blackhawk's won. Kris Versteeg got two assists. It was an intense third period. At the end of the period we went up to the top of the section to meet a rep from the Flames. Layne quickly switched his jersey. She took us downstairs and Layne was able to go into the Flame's locker room. Layne was in awe. He was able to meet a few of the player's. He was able to have Monahan sign his Jersey. Sadly no body hung around because they had lost. As we were driving home Layne still couldn't believe all that had happened that day. He slept like a baby that night and has been in awesome spirits since. A big thank you to Layne's dad for getting all this set up and for those willing to brighten his day and bring him some happiness during this difficult time. Thank you to all our family for watching the boys, so we were able to do this. This week isn't over yet. While Layne was in the hospital in extreme pain our sister in law Paige got ahold of Flame's former player Theoren Fleury. He is Layne's hero. She set up for him to have breakfast with him later this week. So we will be having another exciting post coming soon!

Waiting for the game to start

We were 18 rows up!

Walking into the Flame's dressing room

All of their sticks

Layne loved looking at all of their equipment

Layne and Monahan

Glencross and Layne

Layne and Hiller