August marks Camden's 2nd birthday! We had our last chemo treatment on August 9...just 3 days before Camden's birthday! Camden acted like he did the first time around - he was clingy and took a really long nap during his treatment. We didn't do that much walking or playing but we did take cupcakes for the nurses & other kids...of course, everyone loved them! On Wednesday, Camden was acting fine until that afternoon, he woke up from his nap and didn't want to play outside yet wanted to go back to sleep. We had to wake him up for dinner at 7 pm, he didn't eat very much and went right back to sleep. I called the on-call Oncologist and she said to bring him in if he started running a fever. Aroung 12 am, we were headed to Vandy. Camden slept most of the day Thursday but did wake up long enough for the Oncology nurses to spoil him with presents and a huge birthday poster they had made for him! Luckily, all he had was a viral fever - so, after being pumped full of antibiotics we were able to come home Saturday. Unfortunately, due to the circumstances we had to cancel his birthday party which was scheduled for Saturday but we're definitely going to reschedule and celebrate in a couple of weeks! He had his re-evaluation with Kristin (his physical therapist), she said the only thing he needs work on is jumping and climbing the stairs by himself. We have an Occupational Therapy evaluation on Friday. Camden still goes to speech once a week and does AWESOME...PawPaw no longer has to stay in the room with him!! He starts daycare in 3 weeks - I am so sad but I know he will love meeting and playing with all his new friends. We are going to go down there a few times during their playtime to get to know the teachers and kids before he starts! I have loved spending all of this extra time with him but knew the day was coming when I would have to head back to work....

july 4th

We had a fun filled 4th of July weekend!! We started Sunday with our annual Lovett Family Reunion at Henry Horton State Park. Camden played with Landry, a distant cousin, he wanted to hug her the whole time but she was not having it - She didn't want anything to do with him. That night, we went to MawMaw and PawPaw's house for dinner & fireworks! Everyone was there including Judy and Lynn. He had a blast...he loved riding the barbie 4-wheeler with Mackenzie, I couldn't even get him off to eat his dinner! I thought the fireworks might scare him but he sat in Mackenzie and daddy's lap and would clap for each one - he always wanted more! After all the excitement you would've thought he would have slept in but we were up before 6 am - ready to go! We were outside by 8 playing and swimming with Ava. They both went in, had lunch and napped. That afternoon they were back at it playing in the sand box and in the pool! They are so cute together, as long as Camden isn't being rough with her or taking toys from her. Speech is going great. We haven't had to go to Physical therapy but will follow up with his PT in mid July to do his evaluation. We also go for Chemo treatment #5 this Monday. Pray for all the nurses!!

Saturday was Camden's benefit - OMG! It was so great!! CaCa did an AWESOME job! She is an amazing sister and aunt...I won't ever be able to repay her for this. She misses work one Monday a month so she can go to Camden's treatments and she usually is the one doing all the work. When she is there, that's who he wants. I am thankful I have her to lean on. So anyway, back to the benefit...She had a mini train, bounce houses, face painters, balloon artists, music, an auction and tons of food. There were so many people that came out to show their support for him. I just want to say THANK YOU - Thank you to everyone who came to the benefit...it meant so much to our family to see the support we have thru this time in our lives. Thank you to all the people praying for Camden and sending us cards/letters. My cousin's daughter told her classmates about it and they all sent him handmade cards! Thank you to all the people who volunteered and/or donated and helped make the benefit such a great success. I can't say it enough but Rick and I are so blessed to have such wonderful family and friends in our lives.

On June 7th we headed to Vandy for chemo #4 -- just 2 chemo treatments left!! Camden gained 150 grams, per PaPa Dean that is 1/4 oz. Camden did great today...I think we lapped the nurse's station 3 out of the 6 hours we were there - Camden figured out how to push the IV pole in front of him and we were off! He tried to master standing on the pole and riding but couldn't quite figure out his footing! Of course we had to play with the singing animals everytime we got around to them! The nurses and Dr. Slone spoil him rotten - they are so wonderful. I can't say enough how blessed we are to have such great Doctors and Nurses taking care of us. This month we don't have to go back for bloodwork so we won't see Vandy again till July 12th!

Okay, so I am not good at the whole blog thing. CaCa takes the pictures and I forget to load them. Enough about me...Chemo #3 (May 10th) was going as planned until Camden accidentally pulled the needle out of his port. He was full of energy and so active - during a lap around the nurse's station he stepped on the IV line before one of us could get to him. He kind of rubbed it but we didn't think anything about it until Nurse Kelly (we so love her!!) came by and realized he had pulled it out. Nurse Suzie was off today but told Nurse Kelly to take great care of us!! So, she had to put in another one which led to some tears and finally A NAP!! CaCa and I felt so bad. This visit he did gain 4oz. Once he woke up we made playdough balls and threw them at the wall - very entertaining. He loves stickers as long as there stuck on someone else and of course we played with the singing animals again. We have been so blessed to have 2 great nurses that take such great care of us! Here are a couple of pictures....

Camden mopping

Camden is doing awesome! He is walking everywhere and into everything. The only thing he hasn't mastered at therapy is climbing stairs by himself (holding on to the handrails) and going up and over a step. He will be starting speech therapy one day a week. We go back for our 3rd Chemo treatment on Monday, May 10th. CaCa is going with us again. Hopefully, everything will go great. I hope the nurses take the batteries out of all the singing toys. Listening to those things for 6 hours gets kind of old. So today, Camden snuck in the laundry room while I wasn't looking and got the Swiffer out. He cleaned the floors all afternoon. Here is a little video.

FOUR MORE TO GO!!!!

We had chemo #2 on Monday.  Caca went with us.  Camden wanted to be with her more than me.  We did a lot of walking and playing with the nurse's singing toys.  Of course his favorite was the loudest.  They drive me crazy but whatever gets him through the day.  Dr. Slone decreased his prednisolone by 1/2.  He said depending on how he is doing next month we might decrease to every other day.  I got it filled at Vandy while we were there and it tastes so much better.  He didn't get sick this time.  His appetite was good.  He slept all night last night.  It was WONDERFUL!  Over the past few days, he has really started walking.  It is precious.  We bought a sand/water table last weekend.  We thought he would love it.  He does for about 10 minutes.  He enjoys walking around the cars and sitting in the garage and drawing on the Golf magazines and playing with the remote.  We got him a pool and he loves that.  He loves being in the water and being naked.   Continue to keep him in your prayers.  Also, put his benefit on your calendar.  Caca keeps me updated on everything for it.  It is going to be a blast!!   Here are some pictures for you to enjoy.

Nana and Poppy brought over dessert.  Camden wanted Nana's.  Okay, now anyone who knows me, knows he didn't get very much of this creamslush.  I knew it would be a great picture.

Well, I don't know where to start.  Cassie has been doing such a great job of keeping this up to date.  At Camden's last appt, he had gained back the 2lbs. he lost.  I can't wait to see how much he has gained on Monday.  Camden is doing awesome at therapy.  Of course, the one time Rick takes him he does the best.  He is pushing toys around and has taken about 7 steps by himself.  He is babbling up a storm and cutting a couple of teeth.  He is finally saying MOMMA again.  We go on Monday for our second Chemo treatment.  Caca is going with us this time.  Hopefully, we won't get sick afterward. 

We had an awesome Easter.  We got up and went to church with Nana, Poppy, Aunt T, Caca and granny.  Then, we were off to Aunt Kathy's house for lunch and an Easter egg hunt.  We had so much fun playing with all the eggs on the porch.  PaPa Dean got a work out catching the eggs. 

I just want to say Thank you for everything.  W have received lots of emails, cards and food.  We are surrounded by such wonderful family and friends.  Please continue to keep him in your prayers.

March Madness!!!

Now where did we leave off...yes good mood/no appetite after 1st chemo & IVIG treatment...that week was pretty rough!  Camden was pretty weak  all week...he was getting sick and didn't have an appetite at all, Carrie couldn't even get him to eat his favorite - yogurt.  Finally, he started getting his appetite back and was definitely on his way to catching up on the missed meals!! 


He was also starting to warm up to his physical therapist...during his 1st few sessions he would cry everytime she made him switch exercises!!!  Just until he got comfortable doing it...then he would be happy!  Last week, Carrie said he was doing so good with all the exercises and was flirting with Mrs. Kristen!!  They have matted their living room floor with those big soft ABC mats so he can be in the floor with all of his toys and work on getting around again...Carrie said Thursday he stood by himself for 10 seconds and then did it again this weekend -- he is so tough and determined to get things on his own again...even though it is nice just pointing with a little grunt and having someone grab for everything in sight to see just what it is his sweetness wants!  This morning Camden had a Dr's appointment to have some blood drawn - his blood cell count was good and he had gained 2 pounds...he's back up to a whoppin' 27.4 lbs!  My friend Lindsey found out about this organization that provides little chemo ducks to chemo patients and each little duck gets a port just like it's new owner...the lady that started the foundation actually lives in Spring Hill & assured us since Camden was at Vandy he would receive a duck -- today he got his little chemo duck, Carrie said it is soo cute...even came with a little do rag!!   Please check out http://www.gabesmyheart.com/ to see more information regarding their organization!!  Carrie also got a HUGE binder full of trusted information regarding Camden's illnesses...neuroblastoma and opsoclonus myoclonus syndrome...(Auntie Robin sure got her workout carrying all that stuff all over Vandy today!!)  They have received some amazing gifts and dinners - they are so thankful for everything: your thoughts, prayers and generosity.  So, I will leave you with this 'precious moment'....

He loved the sink baths!!

Till next time,

Caca

*Watch for upcoming details on Camden's benefit...June 12...Save the Date!!

Camden's Next Steps...

Alright, where to start...1st to make you all smile with some sweet pictures of precious Camden, his 1st day home from the hospital!! 

Camden bounced back from surgery in no time!!  He is rolling around, getting the hang of crawling again and working on pulling himself up - Such an improvement and blessing!  During the next couple of weeks, Camden started physical therapy and had a portacath put in his chest.  On March 8, Rick and Carrie met with the oncologists at Vandy...Camden will start 48 weeks of treatment including 6 rounds of chemotherapy, 12 IVIG treatments and daily steroid medication.  The state came out last Friday to evaluate him - if he qualifies they will pay for all of his therapies to include physical, occupational & speech.  Camden had his 1st IVIG and chemo treatments yesterday - last night he was in a great mood, didn't have much of an appetite but was thoroughly enjoying throwing all of his balls everywhere to watch us go pick them up!!  It is definitely going to be a very long year for Camden, Rick and Carrie; and your continued thoughts and prayers are truly appreciated. 

~CaCa

**Please mark your calendars for June 12 - I am organizing a benefit for Camden and also notice I put a calendar under dinner schedule on the blog for anyone who wants to take dinner to Rick and Carrie - just click the date and add your name!!

Some pictures from this morning at the hospital!!! 

I just got home from the hospital...this morning Camden was smiling and playing with Nana and I in the floor on his mat and had kept down about a quarter of a banana and some pedialyte!  The Dr. said if he could keep down his food and have a poop they will get to come home at 6 tonight!!  So, back to Thursday, they did the bone scan - the results came back negative!!  Friday he was scheduled for his MIBG scan at 1...at 10ish Mom called me to tell me they were about to take him back they had a spot open and were going to be able to do it early and 90% sure would be doing surgery after that!  About 11:30 they finally took him back for the scan which was over pretty quick - he came back to his room and got to sit with mommy & daddy until about 3 when they came to get him to prep for surgery.  They said the surgery could take up to 3 hours but if they could do it laparoscopically that could cut the time in half...I think about 4:15 the surgery board said he was in the operating room.  I believe there were 16 of us sitting in the 3rd floor waiting area when the nurse came out to tell us they were an hour in...thought they were going to be able to get it all laparoscopically and he was doing good!  Finally, about 6:30 they took Rick and Carrie back for a consultation with the surgeon...they came back out with some great news!!  They were able to get the whole tumor...they did have to take a few lemph nodes and his left adrenal gland...said he could possibly have to take some hormone replacements later in life but that's no big deal!!  The results from the tumor and the decision of chemo or not should be found out in about a week.  Rick kept asking if his neurological symptoms would go away and they kept telling him they didn't know...less than 3% of children that have neuroblastoma also have opsoclonus/myoclonus (which was the eye movement/muscle twitching/ataxia) at the same time...so his case was very rare - rare enough to be pulished?!  The door opened and the nurse said the grandparents could go back to see him...then the next group which had me 1st in line!!  He looked so precious sleeping on Carrie and you could tell Rick & Carrie were so relieved and so much more relaxed!

Carrie said last night was kind of rough - they finally gave him a little more pain medication and he slept good for a few hours...he woke up to Caca and Nana ready for some love!!  He was absolutely adorable - smiling so big and playing with his toys...he's such a strong little man and is totally showing that he is going to bounce back from this in no time!  So, I brought home all of the goodies everyone has been so wonderful to bring and unpacked everything for them in hopes they will come home to a clean house (thank you Aunt Kathy) with nothing to do but rest and take care of that sweet angel!!  Thank you all agian for all of your thoughts and prayers...the power of prayer is obviously a very amazing thing...

Caca!

Camden's Curve Ball...

I am updating today for my sister...Camden was admitted in to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital Saturday, February 20. Now I will take you back about 6 weeks...we started noticing Camden getting a bit clumsy, he was running into things and falling quite often...which was pretty out of the norm for him...we ended up in Vandy's ER and they did an MRI of his head which showed some fluid on his brain. 12 hours later they diagnosed him with Acute Cerebellar Ataxia, said it would go away on it's own in 1-8 weeks and he would be back to walking/running all over the place in no time. As the days/weeks went by Camden grew progressively worse, could not walk/crawl at all, was having a hard time focusing on things and then his eyes started jumping/twitching. Friday, Feb. 19 she took him to a neurologist at Vandy because things were obviously not going away on their own...he (bluntly) stated that he didn't believe this was Ataxia at all but rather neuroblastoma which is a malignant tumor...he said they'd do another MRI in 2-3 weeks!! So, completely distraught they left thinking that guy was rude and so wrong and planned to get another opinion...until Saturday, we all went to Olive Garden for lunch and Camden seemed to be pretty sick. It seemed he was having a hard time even sitting up without assistance, he was having trouble swallowing and if something would get down he would throw it back up. Rick, Carrie & Nana headed to Vandy to either be admitted or walked out by security...a mother knows when something is wrong with her child!! They admitted them and managed to do another MRI of his head and a spinal tap...during the spinal tap they were able to drain some fluid which relieved intracranial pressure that had built up. Monday they did a CT scan of Camden's neck, chest & abdomen and found the tumor in his adrenal/left kidney area which they feel 99% sure is neuroblastoma. The oncologist seemed very educated and positive...they said in more cases than not this is 100% curable, we met with the surgeons and they also seemed extremely educated on this type of tumor. Wednesday they did some more blood work, a urinalysis and a bone scan - Friday they will be doing a MIBG scan at 11 am and 90% sure he will go to surgery after that to remove as much of (PRAYING ALL) the tumor as possible. He has definitely been a trooper through this - at times not keeping any food down at all - yet still waking up with that gorgeous smile on his face. As you are reading this please add Camden, Carrie & Rick to your prayer lists...this journey is just beginning, they will need all of our continued support and prayers to help them stay strong & positive. I will continue to update her blog to keep you all informed...

Love,

Caca (Aunt Cassie!)

**Here are some pics I have gotten of Camden during his hospital stay...