Illnesses, Braves Games & Chemo, Oh MY!

Sorry it's been a week or so since my last update. I was hoping to have pictures from the run to post but I don't have any yet! Can you believe I didn't take any myself? It was kinda crazy...and early. But, it was a fantastic event raising $4,000! Thank you so much to all of you who participated. I know it was an early morning effort to get out there but I pray that you were blessed and had fun. You have certainly blessed us!! For those of you (like me!) who weren't able to get a T-shirt due to such a GREAT turn out, please let me know as we are going to place another order for those very soon. Just comment here or shoot me an email @ whitbradburn@gmail.com Or if you have pictures you could share with me, ditto!

In other good news, I met with one of Forester's doctors this week as a follow up to his Developmental Neuropsychological Evaluation. Basically he was given a battery of IQ tests and other neurological function tests to determine the effects of chemotherapy and radiation on his brain. All of his test scores showed Forester functioning in the average range in all categories. Most of these he was actually in the high-average range and in only 2 areas was he in the low average range. These 2 areas have to do with processing speed, and auditory working memory. These 2 areas are very commonly effected by chemo and radiation. We are thankful he is still in the average range and we also have some tools to use to help him be successful (like having more time to take tests & written directions). Hopefully we can exercise these brain areas too. All in all it was WONDERFUL to receive good news!! Initially after the brain surgery I wondered if he would ever be able to walk & talk much less complete school work... So, HAPPY!! And, this Dr. said she doesn't need to re-evaluate him for another 2 years! Isn't that amazing? So to God be the glory and give Him praise for this awesome report!!!

In more good news....ATTENTION ATLANTANS & BRAVES FANS!!! Forester has been invited by 1st base coach, Glenn Hubbard to attend a Braves game on Sunday September 6th! He'll get to meet the players, get a jersey and a glove and all other kinds of fun stuff! Isn't that awesome? We would love it if you, who have been praying for Forester, would join us for this fun day so that we could meet you and you could meet Forester. Of course there is always the possibility that this may not happen because of Forester's treatments but we are going to hope and pray that Forester's treatment stays on schedule so this works out! So get your tickets now and join us for Forester Day at the Braves Game!! SEPT 6th! We'll have to find a way to be able to recognize "Friends of Forester" at the game...I know you guys are creative so let me know if you have any ideas. Wearing your blue bracelet would help...maybe we could all wear a certain color?? Like I said...need help - comment or email me! :o)

We've had a bit of extra drama around here lately. I was just wishing we had more drama cause things were starting to get boring! ;-0 Pete has had a chest infection for the last couple weeks and has taken several meds for it. In the last week he had 4 what seemed like asthma attack episodes where he instantly could not get in any air for several minutes. It has been frightening. Horrible. I was scared to death and wanted to put him in the hospital last night! Anyway, he survived last night and is on his way to Atlanta for his 20th year high school reunion. Will you please pray for him. Pray that whatever is causing this would heal and that he wouldn't have any more of these scary episodes. You know it's bad when I went to the computer to review rescue breathing/CPR. YIKES! For Pete's sake, pray! (hee hee) Thank you.

Also, a praise and a request. Slade is sick too. She's has her very first cold and fever. So, this is where the praise comes in. She's 7 months old and this is her very 1st illness!! God has been protecting us and sweet Forester. Just pray that God will comfort her and that she will recover quickly. Apparently Micah has a hacking cough and Muzzy (my mom) is getting this cold too. Pray for quick healing and please pray protection over Forester as any illness could delay his next treatment. THANK YOU!

Crazy yucky cancer killing chemo ROUND 2 begins on Monday! We go in at 10:45 and Forester should be in the hospital until Thursday morning. Please get out that list of side effects (or look at the older post with the list) and pray protection over Forester against all of them. My general prayer has been: "Lord, please bless every cell in Forester's body. Allow the chemo to destroy unhealthy cells and place your complete protection around his healthy cells." If you don't know what else to pray, please join me in praying that prayer.

We love you all and as I continue to say, there are no words to express our gratitude,

In the palm of His hand,

Whitney

Thank You, Jesus! Can I get an AMEN?

Forester's blood work looked great this morning. In fact, his GCSF shots really gave him a boost the last couple of days and his white count/ANC was 28,ooo!! So, he is free to play like a normal kid this weekend and attend the run. Yay! Praise God for answered prayers! Remember, on Monday his ANC was 500!

Another praise report!! Forester had his first hearing test (he'll have one during each chemo cycle) and his hearing is still PERFECT! Woo-hoo! One down and 5 to go. We're PRAYING for that same result each time. Thank you, Jesus!
Forester is such a trooper and was so excited that his counts were good today. He already went swimming tonight with Pete and Micah.

Looks like we'll be right on track for his next chemo cycle which is also a praise. The sooner we move forward the sooner we're done. Cycle 2 will begin on July13th.

That's all for now. I must get to sleep soon as it's an early start tomorrow morning. Hope to see you there!!

Love you guys and thank you sooo much for your prayers. ~Whitney

Prayer Request & Reminder

Prayer request: Forester will be getting blood work done tomorrow morning. Please pray that his counts will be high enough so that he will be able to participate in the run on Friday. Pete is planning on pulling Forester and Micah in "the chariot" via bike, so that he can see and wave to everyone during the race. What a great motivation to keep running, right?

I'm so excited about those of you who are coming to the race! It's going to be a great time. I just wanted to reiterate that it is on Friday. The logo above is a prototype for the t-shirt and it says 07.04.09 and this may have confused you. This race is not on the 4th but on the 3rd. The logo will be correct on the t-shirts of course! Anyway, it's not too late to sign up. Just call 768-7964 to register so you can get onto the island and pay the $15 when you arrive. It's going to be a great day of family fun. Please join us!

Run Forester RUN!!

ATTENTION LOCALS!

Run Forester Run

FRIDAY July 3 2009

Seabrook Island 2nd Annual 10k Charity Run

PLEASE join us for Seabrook Island's 2nd annual 10k charity run/walk & silent auction! You'll get a groovy t-shirt and help us with the burden of medical bills! Before and after the walk/run there will be the opportunity to bid at a silent auction. Also, a cash bar with Bloody Marys and Mimosas will be available before and after the race! Mimosa before running? Sounds like a great idea!!

When: Friday(this Friday!), July 3rd @ 8:30 am

Where: The run begins at Seabrook Island Fitness Center - arrive at 8am

Registration is $15 (which can be paid when you arrive)

Please call 768-7964 to register. You must be on the roster so that you can get through the Seabrook Island gate on Friday morning.

PLEASE JOIN US!! If you have to work on Friday, get your workout in early while looking at the beautiful beach and help us in the process. You know you want to! Got kids? Stick them in a stroller or have them walk with you & then frolick by the beach! Scared of a 10k? You can walk at your own pace - no pressure to run. And, if Forester's blood counts are safe he will be in the race too via chariot or stroller!

Some of you may be saying...uh...where is Seabrook Island? If I knew how to insert a mapquest link I would do it here but I don't...so...It's right next to Kiawah. Make a family day of it! Visit the shops at Fresh Fields Village after the race, or spend the day on Kiawah's public beach. I mean really, don't you find yourselves saying, how could I not do this race? It sounds FABULOUS! Right, Staci McLain? John Fortney? Quin Johnson? Jimmy K? Greg Shore? Come on you runners out there! Bring your competitive spirits and race!

Kick off this 4th of July weekend on July 3rd bright and early with the Bradburns!

...don't forget to call to register!

Coming Home!

Forester's ANC count was 211 this morning and is being discharged. YAY! He is SO ready to be back home. But, I want to thank you all for you prayers for good spirits because yesterday he really was in good spirits! Giggling and laughing a lot and just being his silly old self. Such a joy to see. And, SEE?!! We ask God and He answers! He is good and deserves all our praise and worship! Can you tell I'm HAPPY!?!

Love ya'll ~ Whit

Quick Update

Forester was sad and tired most of the day yesterday. He really wants to come home. He was so convinced that he would be coming home today he asked me if they could go ahead and de-access his port before he fell asleep last night. Of course the answer was no. His ANC this morning is 114 and we are thankful for the improvement. It looks to me that we will have a couple more days in the hospital before we reach 500. Poor Forester. Also, he is currently receiving a platelet transfusion. This is the first time his platelet count has been low enough to need one. Normal platelet range is 150-400. They usually don't do a transfusion unless it's under 10. I'm not at the hospital at the moment and I'm unsure of his platelet count but it still stinks. No one wants their child to be sick in any way and to know that his blood counts are so low...it just hurts my heart. I just have to keep reminding myself that this is a season and our goal is complete healing.

Please pray that Forester will be in good spirits today and for all of his counts to go back up. Thank you! I'm off to church to get my praise on...

~Whit

Quick Update

I think I told you yesterday(did I?) that Forester's ANC (absolute neutrophil count) was 8 and his total white blood cell count was 4. I am still trying to understand the difference...but no matter. Normal white blood cell range is 5,000-11,000 & normal ANC range is 2,000-6,000. This morning his ANC is 54 and the 24 hour blood culture showed no infection. YIPPEE!!! We're thankful his numbers are going up, though they have to get to 500 before they will discharge Forester. But, I thought they would have to get to 1200 before they would let him come home so this is another praise! They will also do a 48 hour and 72 hour blood culture to be sure there is no infection.

I'll be back later today with another update. Thank you SO much for praying!

All my love and gratitude ~ Whit

Forester is being admitted - please pray

So far, Forester has been doing really well. Still no vomiting & we finally won the war with the insurance company to be able to get more Zofran each month! Praise God for that!! He's actually felt so good that apparently he's been doing more than he should. I am still amazed at what is not communicated to us... His white cell count is as low as it can go which is completely expected a week or so past chemo. We were not told this. We are not doctors or nurses. We're learning as we go. This is the first time he's been neutropenic (huh?) and we had no idea what that meant and what the guidelines are. So...he's gone swimming the last couple of days, went to Toys R Us and a few other places without any immunity to infection! Great. I am thankful we have wonderful friends who are also doctors who clued me in, but it makes me see red to think that we were ignorantly jeopardizing Forester because no one told us what was going on...or assumed someone else had already told us. I want to scream "We've never done this before people! A little help here!" Pardon my vent but it's a little frustrating.
**Forester is currently at the hospital with Grandma to get a blood transfusion. We just got word that he has a fever of 101 and he is being admitted to the hospital. They will postpone the transfusion and give antibiotics right away and try to pinpoint what may be an infection. Re-read the beginning of this post and insert an angry growl here. UGH! Maybe this could have been avoided! Maybe not. Anyway, please pray for Forester. Pray for healing for his body. He also complained of mouth sores when he woke up this morning. OUCH! Pray for healing and comfort his mouth. We're trying to figure out what to do next..who goes to the hospital, what about the other kids, etc,...so pray for us too. Thanks so much, warriors. I (or April) will keep you posted.
Love,
Whitney