Updates on Aiden
Sunday, August 7th, 2009
Hey Aiden's Angels,
Aiden is doing well. He finished cycle 14 with less side effects than the cycle before. His liver functions went up at first but then came down to enable him to get the whole cycle. Getting chemo at home is great and allows Aiden to have some fun. We went awat last week to a beach house on LBI. The kids had a ball and it was a much needed family fun trip with our dear friends: The Buonocores, The Neuschelers, and The Jackowskis! We start cycle 15 on Monday.
You have all proven yourselves to be great prayers. We would like to ask you all to pray for The Hance family of Floral Park who lost their 3 girls in a car accident last week. They prayed and cooked for us and we are praying for them.
We have one more request. Please check out Aiden's fundraising page. Our dear friend Patti Fecci is running in the NYC Marathon in Aiden's honor. We are trying to raise money for children's cancer research. All of the money goes to Memorial Sloan Kettering and will help Aiden's Doctors find a cure for Rhabdomayosarcoma and the other horrific childhood cancers.
Thanks Angels!
xoxo, Lisa&Mike
Wednesday, August 12th, 2009
Happy summer everyone,
We hope everyone is enjoying the rest of the summer, we certainly are. Aiden was supposed to start cycle 15 last Monday, but his neutrophil count (infection fighters) were too low so he got an extra week off. He started cycle 15 this past Monday. Things are going well so far, no side effects yet. Aiden and Jake also started "sunrise" day camp this week. It's a camp for kids with cancer and their siblings. They are really having the best time! After this cycle, there are three more left and then 12 rounds of radiation. We figure with delays we'll hopefully be done by Thanksgiving.
Don't forget to check out the link for Patti Fecci and the NYC Marathon.
Thanks for keeping us in your prayers!!
Love,
Lisa & Mike
Friday, August 21st, 2009
Howdy y'all!
I'm running out of greetings. Aiden just finished cycle 15!! Hooray!! He feels good and his liver while not great, is holding on. We are going on a trip to the Atlantis next week. Aiden chose it to celebrate being in remission. He is totally psyched!! When we get back,cycle 16 awaits as does the 5th grade!! Oddly, Aiden is looking forward to both just in different ways.
Thanks for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers.
Love,
Lisa & Mike
Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009
Hey everyone,
Hope everyone got off to a good start at school. Jake and Devin did, Aiden did too after a late start. His counts dropped out of nowhere so he missed the first 4 days of school. Cycle 16 was completed however and now we're waiting to start cycle 17.....the second to last one. Aiden had scans last week ALL CLEAR!!!! Thank God!!! Ok so now his counts are low so cycle 17 is on hold. His liver functions have also risen, but seem to be on their way back down. Time will tell as to when we continue and as such finish. We're hoping to be done around Thanksgiving. Keep praying for our hero, he's getting tired of all this and needs some strength from time to time.
Thanks for sticking with us...we know it's been a long haul.
Lisa & Mike
Saturday, October 3rd, 2009
Hi Aiden's Angels,
We've had a busy first few weeks of school, with all of the normal back to school events........We couldn't be more pleased. Aiden is planning on auditioning for the school play, Suessical ;he is going to play the stock market game as part of the gifted program in school: he is enjoying playing with his friends; having religous instruction, and even doing homework and taking tests for school. All of this everyday normal stuff is so great, I almost forget that we also have to finish this treatment. Aiden's counts have been too low to continue treatment on schedule, so he has benn given a long break. (His counts are good enough to fight infection and be in school though)
Even more happy news...Aiden has been granted a wish from th amazing make a wish organization. We will be traveling to Hawaii for a week!! Aiden wanted to see a volcano, visit fish in a mini sub, and learn to surf!! I'm not sure just yet if he'll get to do all of those things, but we will be there to celebrate Aiden's 10th Birthday!!!!!! You cannot imagine how much we are looking forward to that day, a day we weren't sure we'd get to!!!! Last year he celebrated in the hospital and this year, Hawaii. Amazing! When we get back, unfortunately, treatment will resume. Luckily only 2 more cycles, 10 days each.
Thank you for praying for our hero!
Much love to you all,
The Binkleys
Friday, October 23rd, 2009
Aloha!
We just returned from Aiden's wish trip to Hawaii! The Make a Wish foundation really pulled out all the stops for us, it was an incredible adventure for ua all. The trip started with us being picked up by a limo. The boys were so excited! Our hotel was georgous, the hilton Waikoloa Village. We explored it on our first day. The boys checked out the water sports and sea turtles in the lagoon and then the water slides. The next day (Aiden's 10th Birthday) we explored some of the island. Amazing! Part of it looks like Mars- lava flows as far as the eye can see- then 10 minutes later your in the middle of a tropical rainforest looking at a black sand beach! We can't help but feel so blessed to be celebrating Aiden's birthday, here in paradise, when last years birthday was so horrific. We toured volcano national park the next day, we felt like we were on the moon, with craters as big as a town all around us. Saturday, Aiden, Jake and Mike took a surf lesson! The guys did great and loved every minute! The kids would've surfed everyday if they could have. Sunday we went on a submarine! We saw the coral reef and two shipwrecks. So many beautiful fish (Jake was in his glory) Our last big adventure was a helicopter tour of the island. I was white knuckled the whole time but it was worth it. We saw so many incredible things and Aiden said it was the most amazing thing he'd ever done in his whole life!! Aiden feels great since he's had such a long "vacation" from chemo. It was the first time in a long time that he was truly normal- I loved watching him do everything!!! (and eat like there was no tomorrow!!) All good things must come to an end and now we're home, and chemo starts again Monday(sigh) Only two more rounds to go though, please keep praying for Aiden. Pray that he has few side effects so he can continue to go to school and live a somewhat normal life. Oh, I will end this on a very happy note : Aiden was cast as The Cat in The Hat in his schools production of Suessical the Musical...I'm not too proud!!!! ;)
Mahalo( thank you) Lisa & Mike
Saturday, November 7th, 2009
Happy belated Halloween!
I hope everyone had a great time, we sure did. Last year Aiden was in-patient and the most depressed he's ever been through this whole ordeal. To say I was praying he'd feel good would be an understatement. Aiden was in the middle of cycle 17 of chemo and feeling rotten the day before, but on Halloween he rallied! Dressed as the Joker, he was a man on a mission- to have as much fun as humanly possible, and he did. Jake was Robin and Devin was Batman, I wore some cat ears to pass as catwoman (lol) We had a blast with great friends and family!!
This week was the final week of the cycle!!! ONLY ONE MORE TO GO!!!!!! He's had a rough week, not really feeling good, but he gets a break now. He should be off for 5 days, but it all depends on his counts next week. After cycle 18, he's done with the chemo!!!!! Next will be radiation for his lungs (around 2 weeks) Then he's done!!! Talk about THANKFUL!!!! We received a phone call from the surgeon at Sloan, Aiden is scheduled for February 10th to have his port removed!!!! My head is spinning!!
I wanted to send a shout out to Patti Fecci and all of you who supported her in her fundraising efforts and the NYC marathon! She rocked!! We love you Patti!!!!!!
Please continue to pray for Aiden and all of the warriors we've met along the way. These kids are the personification of courage!!!
XOXO, The Binkley's
Sunday, November 22nd, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving!!
We have so much to be thankful for this year! Aiden will start his last cycle of chemotherapy on Monday!!!! He has been through so much and is still the happy, loving boy he has always been! This last cycle was so hard on him and yet he is so excited to get started on this LAST cycle!! He is truly my hero. We are so thankful to all of you who read this and continue to pray for us, a year and 4 months so far, we know it has been long. We can't thank you enough for your constant support! We're thankful for Chris who posts these updates week after week and month after month!! This year we will hold everyone we love especially close, thankful for the privilege of having them to love.
With love and gratitude,
The Binkley Family
Saturday, December 5th, 2009
Hey all!
Well here's the big whoo hoo we've all been waiting for.........Aiden finished chemo tonight!!!!!!!! He is so happy as are we. I just need to tell you all that this disease is more horrific than your wildest dreams and Aiden was so strong. I'm amazed at how he would be so sick and just be like "bring it on" when there was more to come. But now he's done with the really bad stuff. He has 10 days of radiation for his lungs to do, and hopefully there will be few side effects. He should be all done by Christmas!
Aiden wants you all to know how much he (and we all) appreciate the support you've all given him. Soon we will be able to say....It's over!!!!
Please continue to pray for us and all the cancer warriors.
Our hearts are full as we say....Thank You!!!!!
XOXO,
Lisa & Mike
Wednesday, December 16th, 2009
Hey Santa's elves,
Just wanted to let you all know that Aiden's latest scans were again ALL CLEAR!!!! We're radiating every morning at Sloan before school, 5 down 5 to go!!! 5 days and we're done with this mess!!!!!!!!!! HALLALULLAH!!!!
Crazy Love to you ALL!
Lisa & Mike
Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009
Let's hear it for Aiden!!!! He is ALL DONE WITH TREATMENT!!!!!!!!!! He had his last radiation today, just in time for Christmas. I don't think we've ever been so happy. Now he will get his blood counts checked every month and have scans every 3 months.
Thank you all for hanging in there with us for the past 17 months!! Your support has been invaluable!!
I will send a new update in a few weeks. I'm sure the whole world will hear us as we exhale..........
Have the greatest Christmas ever, I know we are!!
Love,
The Binkley Family