Vinca

These are photos of our son (aka Heartbreaker...if you have read any past posts regarding our son, you will know that it was our older daughter that gave him this name for her blog. He says he is not the "heartbreaker" but rather the heart-breakee...he tends to give his whole heart to those around him...just like his daddy :o)

...our 7 month old ukelele player and 17 years later....as a high school Senior in 2008.

Healthy, strong, a wonderful testimony to the Lord's promise of healing in His Word.

Linking up with

Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday meme of the letter "V" .

& Alicia's Friday Photo Flashback.

& this is a Vinca

These pretty little blooms were significant to us in 2005.

***Added edit on March 11th***

Izzy, Thank you for finding my post and for commenting and letting me know about your dear friend-Dr. Beer-instrumental in extracting the valuable chemicals used in cancer cures!

Please go to Izzy's post to see photos of Dr. Beer and learn more about this amazing gentleman.

Our son was diagnosed in 2005 with Burkitt's-like B-cell lymphoma...one of the fastest growing cancers.

The protocol usually used was for chemotherapy over a period of 2 years. With the type of cancer that was diagnosed, the physicians mentioned an alternative, trial protocol. It meant a shorter time frame, but a more intense dosage and several different types of chemotherapy drugs administered at a time.  One of these chemicals is called Vincristine.

How Vincristine Works: Cancerous tumors are characterized by cell division, which is no longer controlled as it is in normal tissue.   "Normal" cells stop dividing when they come into contact with like cells, a mechanism known as contact inhibition.  Cancerous cells lose this ability.  Cancer cells no longer have the normal checks and balances in place that control and limit cell division.  The process of cell division, whether normal or cancerous cells, is through the cell cycle.  The cell cycle goes from the resting phase, through active growing phases, and then to mitosis (division).

Chemotherapy is most effective at killing cells that are rapidly dividing.  Unfortunately, chemotherapy does not know the difference between the cancerous cells and the normal cells. The "normal" cells will grow back and be healthy but in the meantime, side effects occur.  The "normal" cells most commonly affected by chemotherapy are the blood cells, the cells in the mouth, stomach and bowel, and the hair follicles; resulting in low blood counts, mouth sores, nausea, diarrhea, and/or hair loss.  Different drugs may affect different parts of the body.

Vincristine belongs to a class of chemotherapy drugs called plant alkaloids. Plant alkaloids are made from plants.  The vinca alkaloids are made from the periwinkle plant (catharanthus rosea).  The plant alkaloids are cell-cycle specific.  This means they attack the cells during various phases of division.  

For more info, you can read more from where this info was taken, here.

Or 

How does this drug work?

Vincristine is a type of chemotherapy drug known as a vinca alkaloid. It is thought to work by interfering with cancer cell growth when they are dividing into 2 new cells. This eventually leads to cell death. Because cancer cells divide faster than normal cells, they are more likely than normal cells to be affected by this drug.

(This info from the American Cancer Society.)

These are some photos during 2005. I still intend to post in the future a little more about this time frame...as well as one of Heartbreaker's scholarship essays, where he writes about this challenging time.

2005-during one of his initial stays on the Pediatric floor, playing guitar for one of the Oncologists- Dr. G.  They all became a special part of our family. 

May 2005- on his birthday, Heartbreaker gave Dr. F a mason jar of his hair, complete with labels we made for the jar of hair.

Dr. F had kept asking him when would he lose his hair, cuz it took a while longer for him to start losing his hair than some others on chemo.

He had the birthday party that kept going and going all day! These are some of the nurses and child support team... We have more photos with the residents that came all together to sing to him...and his youth pastors...and his friends...

He had to stay flat, cuz with the chemo that was administered through the spine, he had headaches.

His two sisters were able to come down for Spring Break from college.

The hospital, allowed him to have family and friends to visit any time and even some to stay overnight.

He had to be in Pediatric ICU after a reaction to one of the series of chemo. 

Dr. G, Dr. F, and Dr. V ok'd him to travel to KY for his big sister's (aka theluckiestmrs.) undergrad graduation.  He was not able to sit throughout the ceremony and had to lay down in the First Aid room that was there....but we were all blessed to be together and he gave a big smile for this photo.

Father's day 2005

His high school was so supportive...here he is with his Algebra teacher, on her own time, going over some lessons.

July 2005...some of his Hawaii cousins visiting in Georgia before we all drive down to Disneyworld.

2006 his hair is growing back...filming for the local hospital and Children's Miracle Network.

Big sis and little brother :o)

Girly~Twirly, Heartbreaker, Girly~Whirly

2006 Children's Miracle Network local telethon with Dr. F

2007 Heartbreaker at Disney World for the National Children's Miracle Network telethon.

Heartbreaker was Georgia's CMN Ambassador.

In Washington D.C. for taping with Miss America.

In Disney World, ready to perform for a live audience of 2000 or more.

Photo taken at Disney World for the National CMN telethon.

Heartbreaker grew his hair til it was over 10 inches long to donate to Locks of Love.

The chemotherapy protocol was 5 months of intense medicine, hospital stays, ups and downs, challenges, etc....It took over a year after the last cycle of chemotherapy, before he got his full physical strength and stamina.  

Isaiah 53:5But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

But he started his 10th grade year on track with his peers, made the high school varsity soccer team, lacrosse, wrestling, graduated 14 out of 300 in high school, was very involved in school, church, community and cancer awareness events... I say all this to praise and honor the Lord Jesus for his hand upon our son.

We are so thankful and look forward to more amazing and awesome blessings.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

**********

Here is another recent order shipped out today. Thank you Erika and the other ladies of the First Army Division East Ladies for thinking of this for a farewell gift. & Thank you all for your support and your families' military service.

& I have posted these 3 before, but since I shared the photo of our son when he was 7 months, I  thought I would also post the drawing that I did from it and also the ones of our two girls when they were 7 months.

Girly~Twirly

Girly~Whirly

Heartbreaker

Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments. I will be sure to return your visit.

Pin It