Sunday, May 13, 2018
Tuesday, May 8, 2018
There is a Boy I Know
There is a boy I know who LOVES his procedure days. Loves them, I tell you. Loves them so much he has been counting down to the one he had this morning.
Actively marking off days on his calendar.
He says he likes his procedure days because:
1. he gets to sleep more (sedation)
2. he doesn't know why he likes them
3. he gets Chick fil-A afterward
4. he likes the people there
Okay. So, he likes his procedure days. Mama still doesn't.
Driving to...
Post check-in... (Frozen)
Post access... pre-procedure...
Post-procedure...
Just a reminder about what procedure day means.
NO food/ drink 8 hrs prior (1am).
Port access - needle in his chest.
Lab draw - 3 vials of blood.
Sedation - versed, ketamine.
Lumbar puncture - needle in his spine to inject methotrexate into his cerebral spinal fluid.
Infusion of vincristine (chemo).
Sedations wears off, he can sit up, drink, snack.
Once he can walk he gets discharged and we head to Chick fil-A.
Monday, April 9, 2018
Infusion Day
Friends, Team Dempsey needs your prayers- starting now. Tomorrow holds yet another infusion of chemotherapy. He has 16 more of these.
Thankfully, I was wrong recently... he has his procedure day NEXT MONTH- May 2018.
2018:
Thankfully, I was wrong recently... he has his procedure day NEXT MONTH- May 2018.
2018:
- April - Infusion
- May - Lumbar Puncture with injected chemo into his spinal fluid
- June - Infusion
- July - Infusion
- Aug - Lumbar Puncture with injected chemo into his spinal fluid
- Sept - Infusion
- Oct - Infusion
- Nov - Lumbar Puncture with injected chemo into his spinal fluid
- Dec - Infusion
2019:
- Jan - Infusion
- Feb - Lumbar Puncture with injected chemo into his spinal fluid
- Mar - Infusion
- April - Infusion
- May - Lumbar Puncture with injected chemo into his spinal fluid
- June - Infusion
- July - Infusion
- August - END OF TREATMENT ON THE 5TH!!!!!
This means he should not receive any infused chemo this month and will take his last pill on this day, a Monday.
Tuesday, April 3, 2018
Two Years and Counting DOWN
Today marks the two year anniversary of the day our lives were turned upside down.
It's been two years since I spent the day with Dempsey trying to figure out why his ear wasn't healing and why his lips were losing their color. It's been two years since Jake and Dempsey drove off in an ambulance bound for CHOC. It's been two years since my PTSD was reactivated. It's been two years since cancer entered our world in a deeply personal way.
It's been two years we've seen miracles happen on the daily. It's been two years of learning how to live out Proverbs 3: 5-6. It's been two years since we started planting gospel seeds at and around CHOC. It's been two years of watching the Body of Christ step up to carry us through in ways we would never have expected. It's been two years of experiencing what it means to pray without ceasing (1 Thess 5:16-18). It's been two years of showing the staff at CHOC what a partnership of western medicine and holistic health practices can produce. It's been two years of sharing the success of Dempsey's journey with everyone who will listen. It's been two years of watching my son THRIVE and be #CANCERKIDFAMOUS!!
As we hit the TWO YEAR mark, we want to share with you the newest way to fund Dempsey's treatment/ protocol costs. Please allow me to introduce you to #CANCERKIDFAMOUS gear!! Here are a few options:
Aren't these incredible? The best part... you can choose the ribbon color that speaks to you. The items have a swatch of ribbon color options on their pages. Ex: orange is for leukemia, black if for melanoma, yellow is for Ewings sarcoma (and others).
I know, you're dying to know where you can grab these goodies. You can order them from my friends at
It's been two years since I spent the day with Dempsey trying to figure out why his ear wasn't healing and why his lips were losing their color. It's been two years since Jake and Dempsey drove off in an ambulance bound for CHOC. It's been two years since my PTSD was reactivated. It's been two years since cancer entered our world in a deeply personal way.
It's been two years we've seen miracles happen on the daily. It's been two years of learning how to live out Proverbs 3: 5-6. It's been two years since we started planting gospel seeds at and around CHOC. It's been two years of watching the Body of Christ step up to carry us through in ways we would never have expected. It's been two years of experiencing what it means to pray without ceasing (1 Thess 5:16-18). It's been two years of showing the staff at CHOC what a partnership of western medicine and holistic health practices can produce. It's been two years of sharing the success of Dempsey's journey with everyone who will listen. It's been two years of watching my son THRIVE and be #CANCERKIDFAMOUS!!
As we hit the TWO YEAR mark, we want to share with you the newest way to fund Dempsey's treatment/ protocol costs. Please allow me to introduce you to #CANCERKIDFAMOUS gear!! Here are a few options:
Aren't these incredible? The best part... you can choose the ribbon color that speaks to you. The items have a swatch of ribbon color options on their pages. Ex: orange is for leukemia, black if for melanoma, yellow is for Ewings sarcoma (and others).
I know, you're dying to know where you can grab these goodies. You can order them from my friends at
There are over a dozen items to choose from and they vary from youth to adults sizes. There are even some #TEAMDEMPSEYKENAGY options for those who want your Team Dempsey 2.0 shirt. *wink*
Who wouldn't love to see you with one or more of these pieces showing your love and support for their journey? How many of you have a journey of your own to showcase? Lets share our stories and the power of Christ in them with these gorgeous pieces of gear AND help us pay for Dempsey's treatment/ protocol. Help us keep the miracle going!!
More pics of Dempsey, our living, breathing miracle.
Silly boy.
Mommy-son snuggles.
So dapper. He loves his fancy duds.
Such an artist.
Helping with food bank at Grace EV Free (church).
Bouncing with brother.
Handling his nightly pill(s) like a BOSS.
Knott's Berry Farm fun.
Burger Day at the Habit.
Look at those guns!
He brought Mommy flowers from outside.
More art. Star Wars... of course.
A photo from the 2018 NEGU Gala at the Disneyland Hotel.
Chick fil-A lunch at a park with Saoirse (under the bench).
Headed to Easter at Grace EV Free.
The following are from an incredible VIP Tour of Disneyland we were blessed with.
He got to be a Jedi!
Tuesday, March 6, 2018
Some Fun Stuff from the Mouth of Dempsey... and Pics
This afternoon, Dempsey and Sawyer went to Farmer Boys with Granny and Granddad. After some amazing discussion yesterday, Dempsey decided he would NOT eat Farmer Boys food (he didn't want to "lose his strength"- as he flexed his guns) and would instead eat "home food" (food from home) at Farmer Boys while the others ate their FB lunch.
So, the trip to FB led to Dempsey eating a PB&J, cheese crackers, and strawberries. But he didn't eat those items. Nope. He ate (aka imagined) them to be other foods. Ex: PB&J = burger; cheese crackers = french fries; strawberries = ketchup.
His mind is always spinning with such creativity. I often wonder what excess is splattered against his brain walls and the creativity whirls around in there like the drum of a washer.
_____________________________________
At the dinner table, amid conversation, Dempsey says... "I'm 2 couch cushions tall."
For reference, he means he is two couch cushions from Granny and Granddad's house tall. LOL
_____________________________________
A few days ago, Jake asked Dempsey to put his shoes on. Dempsey's retort was, "On one condition... why do I have to put shoes on?"
_____________________________________
He really does keep us on our toes. The way he's picking up American idioms is quite surprising and fun because we never know when they will pop out.
So, the trip to FB led to Dempsey eating a PB&J, cheese crackers, and strawberries. But he didn't eat those items. Nope. He ate (aka imagined) them to be other foods. Ex: PB&J = burger; cheese crackers = french fries; strawberries = ketchup.
His mind is always spinning with such creativity. I often wonder what excess is splattered against his brain walls and the creativity whirls around in there like the drum of a washer.
_____________________________________
At the dinner table, amid conversation, Dempsey says... "I'm 2 couch cushions tall."
For reference, he means he is two couch cushions from Granny and Granddad's house tall. LOL
_____________________________________
A few days ago, Jake asked Dempsey to put his shoes on. Dempsey's retort was, "On one condition... why do I have to put shoes on?"
_____________________________________
He really does keep us on our toes. The way he's picking up American idioms is quite surprising and fun because we never know when they will pop out.
☀☀☀☀☀☀☀☀☀☀☀☀☀
Trampoline fun!
Best. Investment. Ever.
Talias. Always Talias.
That hair!
Dempsey-doo all snuggled up with one of the most awesomest blankets we were blessed with by Mommy's friend Raichel at Fur Accents. Go, check them out!
Dempsey helped make Strawberry Shortcake.
The boys had an incredible opportunity with our homeschool co-op to release doves.
Dempsey's ready to head to CHOC for his procedure day.
This kid LOVES his procedure days. I wish I did.
One of our favorite Child Life peeps- Ashley. This lovely lady is brewing TWINS!
Send some prayers and love her way, will ya.
Dr. Cherrin! Our favorite anesthesiologist.
We are STILL at it. Supplementing this kid like you would not believe- morning and night.
Holistic care (at-home protocols) costs us at least $1,000 per month!!
We still need your help.
Monday, March 5, 2018
Relentless.
Wave after wave... they keep coming. Relentless. An almost daily reminder that we cannot afford this journey on our own. We depend on the Body. We depend on God's economy to see us through.
If you have been a part of this journey in a financial way, I pray the Lord blesses you tenfold.
It often feels like I am the woman who is asked for her lasts... the very thing that will leave her with nothing. But she gives in faith. So, in faith we pour out the monies that God has provided and our bills are met. Our needs are met.
It is a tightrope walk- the managing of Dempsey's funds while working to take care of all of us in a self-care manner. We need the fun stuff too, otherwise this journey grows dim. The emotions of this journey are as varied as the humans that have joined us on it.
If you have been a part of this journey in a financial way, I pray the Lord blesses you tenfold.
It often feels like I am the woman who is asked for her lasts... the very thing that will leave her with nothing. But she gives in faith. So, in faith we pour out the monies that God has provided and our bills are met. Our needs are met.
It is a tightrope walk- the managing of Dempsey's funds while working to take care of all of us in a self-care manner. We need the fun stuff too, otherwise this journey grows dim. The emotions of this journey are as varied as the humans that have joined us on it.
Sunday, March 4, 2018
January's Beads of Courage
Dempsey's January set from Beads of Courage at CHOC.
This is one way we can find beauty amidst an ugly journey. Each bead tells a story.
Black beads symbolize pokes (needle through skin for any reason).
Blue symbolizes a clinic visit.
White symbolizes chemo.
There are 31 white beads. Why? Because he gets chemo EVERY DAY.
Dempsey doesn't care about the beads. "I" care about the beads! This journey is about each one of us, not just the patient. Each one of us- father,mother, brother- have given something, have had something robbed from us, and have also been blessed beyond measure.
God is so kind. He allows pain, suffering, trials and always offers fresh dew to our parched souls through words of encouragement... stitches across our broken hearts with each financial gift we receive... nourishment to our weary bodies in the form of time with good, intentional friends... hope through His Word.
I challenge you to find the beauty amidst your yuck today.
Dempsey doesn't care about the beads. "I" care about the beads! This journey is about each one of us, not just the patient. Each one of us- father,mother, brother- have given something, have had something robbed from us, and have also been blessed beyond measure.
God is so kind. He allows pain, suffering, trials and always offers fresh dew to our parched souls through words of encouragement... stitches across our broken hearts with each financial gift we receive... nourishment to our weary bodies in the form of time with good, intentional friends... hope through His Word.
I challenge you to find the beauty amidst your yuck today.
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