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November 10, 2022 (2)

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Today, I dropped Marlon off at outdoor school and met up with a friend I have only seen a handful of times in the last 20+ years.  She was in the area for the passing of a family member. i then went for a walk with Mina.  I watched and she poised herself in hunting position and pounced.  I saw a squirrel run up a tiny little tree but also heard this pitiful whining.  At first, confused, I wondered if she had pounced on a nest in the ground.  But the dog ran to me, crying and whining, holding up her paw.  We were a ways from home and she hobbled carefully home after we sat for a while and she calmed down.  She will often run the perimeter of fields, running this way and that.  I saw her longing to run the field as we made our way back but she was uncomfortable and limping. A short while later, I went to pick up Marlon and watched in amazement as he hobbled to the car.  Yes, he had hurt his foot within an hour of the dog hurting herself.  Both boy and dog are limping.  Just as they were
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November 10, 2022

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We made it through the first while of being treatment free.  They did NOT call us to say they made a mistake and he did in fact have more treatment to complete as I had feared might happen. Twice, Marlon had a mysterious sickness each a week apart.  Very sick with him unable to keep anything down and then cramping in feet and hands.  I felt like it was a detox from all the chemo and drugs he had been on though the nurse said they had never heard of that kind of reaction before.  Then he managed to catch two colds.  Other than that he has been well, healthy, and enjoying his various activities and friends. Saturday, November 5th, Mojo passed over to run in the cat hills on the other side.  He was 16 and had been going downhill slowly but in the last week his decline sped up.  During the last month or more he did finally come to realize that the dog was a nice warm body to curl up against.  Mina never did feel comfortable with his change but they did get some time together.  The last wee
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September 20, 2022

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At the hospital today, the doctor gave us a big surprise. Marlon is done treatment!!!! We thought we had until December and arrived today for an LP but when the doctor looked at his chart, he was surprised to note treatment is done. No more chemo!! We both cried when we got the news, actually, I was crying and laughing.  Marlon's eyes welled up with tears as the shock of it crept in.  When he could speak, he said 'Finally!' While his everyday life has seemed almost normal with improved energy levels, the daily pills and monthly visits often left him feeling pretty bad. Apparently, his counts will still be checked monthly so he's not done with the hospital yet. Marlon was diagnosed with leukemia on August 31, 2020.  We were told treatment would be complete in December.  I have been counting down the months for the past couple.  Before today it was only four more hospital treatments with two Lumbar Punctures. Over the past while Marlon has been learning to trust in his bo
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July 7, 2022

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On May 23rd, the week before the chemo that weakened Marlon enough to put him in the hospital, the dog, the boy, and I drove to Montreal. (I am aware of the use of the word 'go' when writing. In German, the verb 'to go' means walking. You don't 'go' in a car.) Before we left, as I was packing up the car, I noticed a fair sized spider web between the driver's side view mirror and the car. I left it alone, figuring the wind would blow it off. It was so nice to see Linsy and Moira and spend time with them. I have missed having Linsy around. It was neat that, when we got there, Olivia, Jamey, and Roka, their dog, were there. They live 15 minutes away from us but were there visiting their son. Mina was definitely happy to see Roka (and all the others too).   Mina got used to walking on sidewalks and being in the city. Other people and dogs, not so much. Moira has given me a belt with a dog lead on it for hands-free walking. It worked but was even bett
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July 26, 2022

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Marlon has had four dental appointments. Two the first week, then the following week, we went and hung out at my niece's cottage for a few days. Nice to hang out with family, celebrate Aneesa's fifth birthday, and get away. At this point, Marlon said, 'This is the most fun I've had in forever' The week after, at Marlon's third appointment, the pain of working on a deep cavity was too much even with extra freezing. The dentist said the cavity was at the nerve and an extraction would be best. Either that or a root canal and there is crowding in his mouth. At that, Marlon was quite upset. Because there are so many factors at play, and still so much work to be done, the dentist recommends dental surgery at sick kids. Just as that was decided the power went out and after waiting a while, they put a temporary filling on the two teeth that had been drilled. So Marlon's fourth appointment included re-filling the tooth that was ok and pictures of s
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July 5, 2022

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Decision was made that Marlon was to go check blood counts on Monday.  We drove down to Hamilton together, quick finger poke, and then leave again.  A couple of times, we drove around the parking garage for almost a half-hour looking for a spot, but Monday was smooth.  Busy place. Blood counts are good so dental work begins.  Marlon's doctor was impressed with the dentist when she spoke with him last week.  In support, I sit next to him in the dentist's room and hope my own anxiety, discomfort, and fear don't affect him. Halfway through the drilling of four teeth which was quite intense, they took a little break to check in with Marlon and see if he was up to continue.  He agreed to do more but said he was most concerned about the tastes of the filling material.  With the pain and discomfort of the first part, one would think that would be the least of his worries but he is very sensitive to taste and flavour.  As it turned out he didn't gag or react too strongly so I g
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June 28, 2022

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Back at hospital for monthly injected chemo including LP.  After having been on half doses at home, his blood counts are good.  Amazing really, they haven't been this good in who knows how long.  Unfortunately, it won't last as they will up his doses at home. Marlon desperately needs dental work done.  It is quite sad to see that every tooth needs some work done and some cavities are big and deep.  But it is hard to do the work while undergoing chemo.  After yesterday's dentist appointment we have renewed the discussion to see if it is possible to do the work now or if we have to wait until the new year when he is hopefully finished with treatment.  Poor guy, he has been having a rough go of it. On the upside, last week he went on a Toronto day trip with friends.  At first, he wasn't sure about participating as he didn't think he could keep up.  Once he decided to give it a try, he was able to and enjoyed his day.  He was tired and a little sore after all the walkin
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June 15, 2022

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Happy to say Marlon is much better.  Tuesday again, and we were back at the hospital to get his blood counts checked and all is well. Before his last LP (lumbar puncture) in April, Marlon was dreading it, and also curious.  After the previous LP, when he reacted so poorly, he was scared to have another but curious to have a coke, a drink he hadn't had before.  Apparently, the caffeine in the pop can help with the headache and it did.  We were both relieved that he was ok after the treatment.  He still felt his back and head but not the screaming kind of pain from before.  Next LP is June 28th and we are prepared with a different kind of caffeinated pop in the hopes it will work again.  While he has chemo hospital visits every month on top of the chemo pills he takes at home, we are grateful that the LP procedures are down to every three months. The biggest issue of late is Charley horses.  Monday night he was up every two hours crying with the pain of his cramping legs.  We had him
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June 6, 2022

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Yesterday, Marlon had a transfusion as his hemoglobin was low.  As far as the pain and rash go, the doctor thought it may be an autoimmune response.  Some big name but basically the blood vessels get inflamed.  Sounds about right.  Now except for a couple of small bruises and slight redness his legs are better. He has been getting headaches but it is likely just a reaction to everything he has been through the past couple of days. And we went home today.  Yay!  His neutrophils are quite low as are his platelets but those are expected. Getting checked into emergency early Saturday morning was a slow process.  Very slow.  There were about 6 people in the small check-in office, staring at the computer screen, making occasional moves, pointing at the screen, shrugging, and looking confused.  I believe we were one of the first patents to be checked-in under the new computer system that has been two years in the making.  Since then, there have been several confused faces and a great deal of
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