Tuesday August 30th 2011

I made it safe and sound to Montreal. The plane wasn`t as scarey as I thought but I guess mommy didn`t do so well. She spent the plane ride crying because she didn`t want me to be left alone. I did ok though I just entertained the flight team with my smiles and giggles. Mom says I`m going to be speaking french before english because all the nurses talk to me in french. Mommy and daddy have no idea what anyone is saying to them and its only been day one, they are frustrated already. We have so many rules in this place, even more then the IWK. Poor mom and dad they can`t even stay together. They have to take turns spending the night with me and I`m not making things very easy on them either. I don`t want my milk and I`m cranky all the time. The doctors say its just because I`m at the point where I just really need the transplant soon or I`ll have to go back living off of tubes. I certainly don`t want that so I hope the ball gets rolling soon.

Monday August 29th 2011

To mommy and daddy,

I know you have a lot on your plate right now with me being so sick but I promise it will get better soon. It's ok to be scared because I'm a little scared too. Some day we can look back on this journey and you can tell me stories about how strong I was. Mom, just lean on dad when you are stressed and know that I've been through so much already and did just fine. Dad, if you feel sad it's ok to ask mommy for a little help. Remember to be there for each other no matter where this adventure takes us. Hopefully we'll be home before Christmas so you can buy me lots of presents :)

Love you forever and always,

Brayden xoxoxo

Friday August 26th 2011

So I guess we are getting a hurricane here on the east coast so the life flight team had to cancel my flight for Monday. I'm now leaving for Montreal first thing Tuesday morning. I have to fly on a plane all by myself. Well not completely by myself but without mommy and daddy. They have to travel on a regular plane because there is too many restrictions on my special plane. But don't worry mom and dad I'll be ok, remember I'm a pretty brave little boy. Mom and dad went out tonight to a wedding and I hope they had fun. No need to worry about me, because the nurses took very good care of me for the night. I got to spend some quality time with my nan and nanny anyway. Mommy got special permission for them to come watch me for a few hours each. I had fun but I did miss you mom and dad.

Thursday August 25th 2011

Today we got a very special phone call from some very special people. Uncle Vincent and Aunt Rhonda called mommy and told her and daddy to go on skype to test it out. They said they had a late aniversary gift for mommy and daddy. It turns out my cousin Gabby is a bone marrow match for me. Mommy and daddy were so excited to hear the good news and Gabby was there on the computer too. She can't wait to be able to hold me and I can't wait to play with her. I think once I get a little bit bigger we can get into lots of trouble together. Aunt Rhonda and Uncle Vinnie always said that Gabby was just like my mommy so now it must be true. The doctors said she is such a close match that we could be twins. She is a 9/10 for all the tissues. Mommy, daddy and I are so so so happy because this just means I am that much closer to being a healthy baby boy. I know it will seem a little scarey Gabby, going to the hospital and to be put to sleep but it's really not too bad. I get tests done all the time and if we are like twins then I know you will be tough just like me. I love you Gabby xo.

Wednesday August 24th 2011

Today was a pretty usual day of me being forced to drink yucky milk. I hope they get it figured out soon because this is gross. Mommy and daddy had a meeting today with a cancer doctor. He treats lots and lots of little girls and boys that have to have bone marrow transplants. They are not the same as me though because all of thier blood is sick and only my lymphocytes are sick inside me. We all have to get bone marrow transplants but I don't need as much chemo or get radiation like most of my friends at the IWK. Someday soon I will get to visit all my friends because they have never seen me. Mom says lots of the kids and thier families ask about me everyday. I have lots of people hoping, thinking, and praying for me. I hope everyone prays for all my friends too. We all need the positive vibes our way.   

Tuesday August 23rd 2011

Happy Aniversary Nan and Papa! Guess what? I have a gift for you. I'm going to Montreal Monday :) I know you're going to miss me but you can come visit me after a few months. Today my day started off with the good news then lots and lots of pokes from nuclear people. They pushed this stuff into my arm and came back two different times to take red stuff so they could test my kidneys. I had a really exhausting day. Daddy went to work to take care of some business and I got to see him in his uniform for the first time. Some day I'll get to see daddy at work. Maybe I'll get to go on a big ship just like him. Mommy had a few meetings today to make some more important lists. Mommy and daddy have lots of stuff to get done before we leave. Only 5 days left. 

Monday August 22nd 2011

Mommy and daddy had a big meeting today with my whole team of doctors, social workers, nutritionists, nurses, child life specialists, physiotherapists and the list goes on. I am a very popular guy you know. They said we have to start getting lists together to prepare for our big trip. They said I have to get a bunch of tests done before I go. I'm not looking forward to any of that of course. The dietition decided to change my formula from the really strong stuff to a little less calories. She also took all the salt out of my milk boooo I liked it the way it was and now I will show them because I'm not drinking it. Ewwww!!! I want my old milk back. They said I poop too much when I drink such strong formula and it makes my bum red and sore. I think I'll take the sore bum as long as I get my milk back. They gave mommy this weird sticky stuff to put on my bum with powder too. I guess it's ok. Alteast it coats my bum.

Sunday August 21st, 2011

HAPPY ANIVERSARY MOMMY AND DADDY!!! I have a present for you but it's going to be about 6 months late. I'll give you a hint...someone will be able to leave the hospital :) I'm getting more and more excited with every week that passes. It's getting closer and closer to the big day. I hope my mommy and daddy have a great date night. Love you mom and dad. xo

Friday August 19th 2011

So I'm a growing boy. I can't fit into most of my 0-3 month pj's so I've upgaded to 3-6 months. Mommy loves my chubby legs and arms, she is always squeezing them. I also now wear size 1 diapers fianlly. Yeee Haaaa!!! Daddy is going out for the night so I get another night hanging out with my mommy. She plays with me for hours with all my toys. Sometimes she forces me to lay on my belly and do exercises. Ughhhh she pushes and pushes me to do my very very best trying to hold my head up. Sometimes I wish she would just leave me alone but she says I'll be just like all the other babies my age if I keep up the good work. Mommy gets to have a break tomorrow night and I get to spend some man time with dad playing video games. Well dad plays and I just watch. He says I'll be playing with him and his buddies in no time but mommy said no way to that. She says I should be out rolling in the mud and playing with frogs and bugs. I can't wait to do both.

Wednesday August 18th, 2010

Yay daddy came back today he is feeling much better but he has to wear a mask for a few days just incase.

Wednesday August 17th, 2011

Daddy had to leave me and mommy today. He said he had a scratchy throat. That means me and mommy will be hanging out for the next day or so. The nurses were very busy today with other sick little boys and girls so they didn't get to give mommy a break. Mommy definitely needed a break after being in the room with me for 24 hours straight. Some day I'll be able to leave this room and that way my mom and dad will be able to see all thier friends. Its so close I can taste it.

Tuesday, August 16 2011

Well, well, well...not a very good morning for me. I got a lot of red stuff taken from me and it took four different people to find it. Those ladies who wear the white coats are awful poking me and making me cry. Today I did ok with the tight band on my arm but it was the poke that hurt me a lot this time. I cried for about 10 minutes even after it was all done. Mommy picked me up and snuggled me the whole time, that was the only good thing about it. I love snuggles with mom because I fit perfectly in her arms. I love you mommy xo.

Saturday, August 13th 2011

Mommy and daddy promised me a party when I got to 10lbs. Well today is the day, I am 10lbs .3oz. No party is even happening, they didn't even buy me a cake. So much for having a good time. All I got was an excited mommy and daddy jumping up and down and smiling. I guess it will have to do for now but I better get a party when I get out of this place or atleast when I'm 100%. Only a few weeks left now until we head out of Halifax to Montreal. I am getting excited and nervous all at the same time.

Friday, August 12 2011

Today mommy and daddy finally got some good news. We are going to Montreal the first week in September for my bone marrow transplant. The doctors tell mommy that daddy is a good match and possibly another match could be in the works. One of my cousins could be even better but even with daddy's bone marrow I have an 85% chance for a cure. The doctors told mom and dad that it will be a long process with many ups and downs but they are confident the end result will be good and I will finally be a healthy boy. They keep telling me I'm a speacial boy. I don't know how being poked and picked at all the time makes me special but I know I get to fly on a private plane thats being used just for me. I'm just like a superstar. I'm so excited to play with all my cousins when all this sickness is over.

Wednesday, August 10th 2011

Well, mommy has been busy wishing, praying, hoping and dreamimg for a miracle. Everyday she wakes up thinking today will be the day the doctor will give us some good news. She tells me we aren't that lucky and of course no miracle has happened yet. Mommy is waiting patiently to hear from the doctor about a bone marrow match. Two of my cousins have been tested and I'm feeling pretty positive about the results. Fingers crossed everyone. I am feeling pretty good though. I finally have no tubes at all except for an IV of antibodies I have to get every 2 weeks. I haven't been poked with the big needle in a while either because my lymphocyte count is too high. The higher it goes the more chemo I'm going to have to get and I don't want that at all because it will make me sick. Mommy says I am the talk of the hospital and everyone everywhere is talking about me. Sometimes she tells me stories about hearing people in the hallways talking about me and they have never even met me, mommy or daddy. Mommy said she always knew I'd be a popular guy. I'm growing so big now I'm almost 10lbs. Mommy and daddy are going to celebrate when I hit the 10lb mark. Too bad I won't get to have a party but mom said on my first birthday I'm going to have the biggest and best party Cape Breton has ever seen. I've been working so hard with my physiotherapy that I can sit up in my bumbo chair with no help at all. I'm trying my best to lift my head when I'm on my belly but I'm not quite there yet. I had some visitors on the weekend. I got to see my cousins...they were making faces at me through the window. They are so silly. I didn't even know what they were at first because I'm not used to seeing people without masks on. Mommy says they all love me so much. I just can't wait to get lots of hugs and kisses from them.