Monday, November 30, 2009

DONE!!!!

Campbell completed her radiation treatments today and got to ring the Good Luck bell! We are so thankful that this chapter in what is sure to be a long story with a very happy ending. We will be in Boston for the next several days and have a follow up appointment with the neuro-oncologist on Wednesday afternoon. After that we are sprung from Boston and can come home for an extended amount of time!!!

I will try and get the video posted later today at least of her ringing the bell. We also took video of much of the process so I am going to get that up as well - in case anyone is interested.

Thank you all again for your support!!!

With Love (and quite a bit of relief as well...),

Greg, Robin, Caitlin, Caroline & Campbell

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving!

Campbell finished treatment #29 this morning and she and Robin will be coming home tomorrow morning. One more to go and then we can turn the page on this chapter. Video to come of the bell ringing and hopefully a start to finish video of her treatment day for us all to remember (thanks to David & Lisa Kotz - we continue to be astounded by this community).

We have so much to be thankful for this year - our health, family and friends (new and old). We'll be holding each other a little bit more tightly this year and in the future and remembering how quickly life can change. Be thankful for the people you have in your life and love your family and friends with all that you are.

To all of Cam's doctors, nurses, specialists, therapists....we are so thankful to you for saving our baby girls life. There is no way to ever repay you for your skill, compassion, caring, patience and understanding. You are truly amazing people.

To our friends - there are not words to express how thankful we are for everything you have done for us. You have made a difficult time a little bit easier with every hug, visit, card, meal, smile and phone call. Quite simply put, we would not have made it through this without you all. The way that you all rallied our town is a testament to the amazing people that YOU are. It is a privilege to call you our friends.

To our family - we love you all more than ever and wish we would have told you more often before now. We may have forgotten on occasion how hard this was on you as well - you were our rock when we needed you, our pharmacist on occasion, and our shoulder to cry on for both the good news and bad news. Thanks for being there always.

To Caitlin and Caroline - you are the best girls anyone could ever hope for. We love you so much and are amazed by how much strength you have shown. I hope you are as proud of yourselves as we are of you.

Wishing you all the happiest Thanksgiving.

Thank you, thank you, thank you - to all of you from all of us!

With Love,

Greg, Robin & Campbell

Monday, November 23, 2009

Update - 11/23

Another week down and only 3 more treatments left after this morning! Campbell continues to tolerate them amazingly well. She has started losing her hair in the back where the radiation is being administered but the rest of her hair covers it for the most part and she is not affected by it at all!

Campbell and Robin headed up to Boston early on Sunday morning and made it in plenty of time for her appointment. This is the "short week" and they head home on Thursday morning. We will all have Thursday - Sunday together and then head back to Boston for her FINAL TREATMENT!

Thanksgiving will be at home with just the five of us and plenty to be thankful for.

With Love,

Greg, Robin, Caitlin, Caroline & Campbell

Sunday, November 15, 2009

The Final Countdown has begun...

Campbell is down to her final 10 treatments!!! We really can't believe that it has gone so quickly! The hair around her incision where they are giving her the radiation has started to thin considerably but is mostly covered by the rest of her hair and is only noticeable if you know where to look. She has not shown any signs of fatigue thus far (much to her mothers chagrin...).

After an uneventful week last week with her treatments and an even more uneventful weekend, Campbell and Robin headed back to Boston this afternoon. After a long week by herself last week, Robin's sister Kristin will be with her this week (along with Cam's cousin 'Mimi').

Thanksgiving week she will receive treatments Sunday - Wednesday and she and Robin will most likely head home first thing Thursday morning (rather than battle the traffic on Wednesday afternoon/evening) so that we can celebrate the holiday together. We certainly have much to be thankful for this year!!!

After the Thanksgiving "break" we will head back to Boston and are still on track for her final treatment on November 30th.

This morning, Michele from "Tutus for Tots" stopped by and brought Cam and her sisters their own hand-made tutus along with some other goodies. We also had a visit from Tara Gilvar who brought a GREAT book for Cam that was created by some 6th graders and is the brainchild of Gregory Lobo. It is a fantastic idea and Cam and the "girlies" have already had fun looking through it. Again, we are truly counting our blessings for having the wonderful people in our life that we do.

With Love,

Greg, Robin, Caitlin, Caroline & Campbell

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Update - 11/8

OK, so we have been pretty slack in updating the blog....sorry about that. But we have a good excuse..Cam is doing GREAT!!!! We will update at least once a week and if there is anything that comes up during the week. She is halfway through with her radiation treatments in Boston and is showing no noticeable side effects. She is tolerating everything very well and the vomiting episodes seem to be fewer and further between.

All of us were in Boston this past week from Tuesday - Friday. Robin and Cam went up on Sunday night (their normal routine) and Greg and the girls took the train up on Tuesday evening. It gave the girls a chance to see the facility and they actually got to go into the "monkey room" and watch them put Cam out for her treatment. Caitlin braved a bit further into the room than Caroline did and was able to look out and see the big part of the machine. We think that it was good for them to see what was going on and see that Cam did very well with it all. She absolutely LOVED having them there and it gave Robin a break from having to entertain Cam all afternoon long.

This afternoon, Robin and Cam head back north for week 4 of the treatments. If everything stays the same from here on out (the machine doesn't break, she doesn't get sick), Cam's last treatment will be the Monday after Thanksgiving! Fingers crossed....

With Love,

Greg, Robin, Caitlin, Caroline & Campbell