A Special Thank You

A special thank you to all our family and friends who helped fund our trip to Florida. It was a special moment in their lives and we could not have done it without your help. The boys had an amazing time and they really deserved something like that after all they have been through these past months. Your generosity and support means so much to us.

Also thank you to the US Soccer Association and the players for being so awesome and playing with the boys. You made some little boys very happy and they now love soccer even more than before-if that was even possible!

Danielle and Kirk

Playing soccer with Landon Donovan and Kasey Keller

Here is the link. There's only a couple minutes, because we had to take the video with the digital camera (Dad forgot the mini-dvds for the camcorder - doh!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0F5W44Y-R4

Some photos from their big day

With Landon Donovan

With Kasey Keller We'll post the video as well. We can send you the full Snapfish link with all their photos. Just send us an e-mail or comment.

A Great Day

today we went and saw the US soccer team practice. It is a beautiful day in Tampa and very sunny. We were able to watch the team play for about a half and hour, then the team came and greeted the fans who had been allowed in to watch. There was a team of wheelchair soccer players and us. Then Amy from USSoccer arranged for Landon Donovan to play on the field with the boys. They had a wonderful time shooting goals and talking with him. He was such a nice guys to play with them for about 10 minutes after a long practice. Then Amy went and got Kasey Keller to play with them. As you know Mason is a BIG Kasey Keller fan and was so happy. We'll post the photos and video tomm when we return home to NY. We go to the game tomm at 12 and then home.

Mateo and Danielle fight for cancer funding

On Thursday, Danielle and Mateo went to Capitol Hill to lobby for more childhood cancer funding. Check out the photos here:

http://www.curesearch.org/news_and_media/news_article.aspx?id=4612

Once on the site, you have to click where it says: View more photos from the Re-introduction of the Conquer Childhood Cancer Act.

Kirk took Mason to radiation this morning. This was his second treatment - his first without anesthesia. It was important because it would determine if he would have to get anesthesia every time for the rest of the 28 treatments. Kirk explained to him that if he stayed still he would not have to have any more anesthesia, which would involve having a dedicated line in his arm. He stoically jumped up onto the bed, got his head bolted into his mask, and went ahead with the treatment perfectly. Once again the hospital staff was amazed by this brave little boy's ability to do this.

Radiation process begins

We went on Monday to his appointment at NIH. NIH does all of Children's radiation. He had to have his mask made to keep his head still during treatment and some scans to merge with the MRI. Amazingly, Mason did not have to be sedated. The mask process was a little freaky for us to watch. It is warm plastic webbing that has holes to breathe through and it dries on your face while it makes the mold. He tolerated it and stayed still when they did the body positioning cast as well. He was the first four year old ever to do that for them and he was very proud of himself. We are hoping he will not have to be sedated for most of his treatments so he not have to get a line put in his arm for six weeks. I think he can do it- he hates being sedated. He was funny about the marks they made with a paint pen on his belly. He wanted to make sure Francisca wouldn't wash them off.

Today they do the first treatment. Everyone think cancer stomping thoughts!

A temporary knockdown, but ready for the next round

We had our meeting with the oncologist today and basically we will have to do the radiation, six weeks cranio-spinal. Danielle checked with two docs in NY to concur and we did our homework before we met with Dr. Rood. We are still a bit shellshocked as he has been doing so well, running around, full of energy etc etc. But that is how he was before he was diagnosed in the first place.

We have talked with the boys and explained that the cancer came back but we have treatments Mason can do to fight this and the doctors and mommy and daddy are working really hard to get rid of this stuff as best we can.

Our quest to delay radiation as long as possible is over and now we will do whatever it takes to keep this spirited ,wonderful, active. little boy alive and as whole as possible. So we prepare for the next battle and we are determined to win this one, despite the odds not being in our favor!

Prayers, positive thoughts, and miracles are certainly welcome. Keep him in your mind's eye as you pray and send positive thoughts. We know he and our family are very loved and supported and that has certainly helped us through weeks like these.

MRI Results

The MRI results were not good. The preliminary reading by the radiologist show that a few cancer "lesions" have returned to Mason's spine and cerebellum. Althought they can only be seen microscopically, they are there which means the cancer is back. We have an appt. at noon tomorrow to discuss next steps, which will almost certainly be six weeks of cranio-spinal radiation at NIH in Bethesda.

The next MRI is Wed.

Send all your positive energy and prayers our way on Wednesday. Mason's regularly scheduled MRI is Wednesday of the brain and spine to check to see if we are still in the clear. Mom and Dad are a bit stressed but keeping it together,

The boys had a great weekend and Mason scored his first goal at soccer on Sat. He was so happy! He did a cartwheel when he scored. Mateo played three times on Saturday and scored over 15 goals.