My family returns from the hospital, 3 days after Benjamin is born.
This is me and my son on a Lazy Sunday afternoon.
Mother and child, when Benjamin is only a two days old.
You can see more photos on the photos page.
This month we took Benjamin to the zoo. It was his first visit, and his first time seeing so many different animals. He was very excided for days, naming off the different animals that he‘d seen. By the time this post is up, there should be pictures of his adventure posted as well.
This is the first summer he’s been able to fully enjoy, and at just under nineteen months of age, he’s a hand full. He’s become quite the expert furniture climber, and faller. He can traverse a room in five seconds or less, though still crawling. All in all, he’s developing into a rambunctious boy.
His therapists are scaling back his visits due to the tremendous advances he’s made in the past three months. Although he enjoys their company, I think he’ll soon forget that they ever came at all. His first months of life and cancer treatment are fast becoming faded memories. The nurses who see him now hardly recognize the baby who’s now becoming a little boy.
As he sleeps in the heat of the afternoon, I see not only reflections of his mother and I, but a whole person with ideas and ambitions and thoughts all his own. Benjamin is indeed himself, with a personality and wit distinctively singular in a universe of billions. I count it a blessing to be granted the gift of raising him, and being his father.
Coming up in August is his one year scan for Neuroblastoma. It’s hard to imagine that it’s been almost a year since his last Chemotherapy. We pray that this scan is like the previous, and will show no sign of cancer.
Last week was a milestone for Benjamin, his first hair cut. We decided to save a little money and do it ourselves, unfortunately, we aren’t as skilled as those who get paid. We finally clipped his hair very short. It brought back memories from last year, when Benjamin was still under treatment.
It was a reminder just how precious a gift our son is, and a reminder to be thankful to the one who gave us that gift. Benjamin is a testament to the power and grace of God, his life stands as testimony to his love and mercy. And we thank all of you for your part in this also. Thank you for the prayers, individual and in group, for God heard the call of his children and saved our son.
As of this date, Benjamin still has no signs of cancer. His next scan is in August, and we are as hopeful as we have ever been. He’s crawling around, trying to stand and even takes a few steps assisted. He is the joy of our lives and a dream come true for us. He has also taken to his toddler bed very nicely, but only at night. He still needs his “Daddy” for his afternoon nap, and I don’t mind at all.
Benjamin can say at least one hundred and fifty words at last count and is learning more all the time. He has a speech therapist who comes out now once a month, so he’s catching up nicely. I hope to have up some pictures soon so that you can all see how much he’s grown.
May the Lord bless you and your family, and bring you peace.
Benjamin continues to do great. He has had 2 more sets of scans and he is well. He is receiving ECI visits (physical therapy) and is doing things he’s never done before. He is starting to pull up and stand on his own. Benjamin can say approximately 40 words. He has a swing now in the backyard and anytime he wants to go swing he says “wee”. Once out there, he doesn’t want to come back inside. He had a great Easter. He ‘found’ a prize egg which was a giant stuffed bunny. We look forward to a great Spring and Summer full of fun! His next scans are scheduled for August.
Benjamin had his MIBG and Ultrasound and everything came up good. Apart from a scarred looking liver, nothing new has come up. He’s doing fine and will be involved in ECI therapy. This will help his physical and verbal development. Some of the things we are looking forward to in the up coming months are resuming his vaccinations and removing his port.
Continue to pray that Benjamin continues on the path to complete recovery, and pray for those parents and children who will be undergoing the life changing reality that is Neuroblastoma. Remember to visit the links on the left to donate to “Lunch for life” and “Carter Blood Center”.
May the Lord Bless you and your Family this year.
Benjamin is doing great. He had his first birthday and a fantastic Christmas! His favorite toy is a rocking horse, that he frequently falls to sleep on. He’s getting really big.
He saw the dentist for the first time and thought it was an okay experience. About a month ago he had a CT Scan completed. All went well, however the doctor is concerned about some spots on his liver, which may be scar tissue, but just to be safe he is going to have an MIBG Scan and Ultrasound completed later this week.
Please take a minute to look at his photo page, we have added some recent… um…. photos. Thank you for all your prayers and concerns. May the Lord continue to bless your life always.
Adios.
The Rosales family would like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a happy new year.
Benjamin's surgery to remove the adrenal gland was a success and he is currently feeling normal. The pathology of the tumor indicated that it was indeed still active. so we are very pleased with the decision to remove the adrenal gland. We now look forward to check ups and periodic scans to monitor him and one day in the future he will have the port removed.
Benjamin had a visitor from England to check on him after his surgery. Our family is very blessed to have friends around the world, praying for our son.
Benjamin will be dressed for his first Halloween party, I’ll post a picture soon.
For now though, we are very happy to celebrate his first birthday next month and the fact that he is currently cancer free! We appreciate the encouragement and prayers we have received from everyone. We will never be able to express our grattitude enough to God and all of you.
I never realized how used to going to the hospital I’d get, but it’s become part of our everyday lives. Yet I am glad to miss it, because Benjamin has been experiencing many new things now that he’s stronger, and healthier.
We took him to the museum for the first time and he was delighted to see all the wonderful paintings and sculptures. He’d turn his head as we passed the impressionistic work of the masters. I can’t tell you exactly what he was thinking but the paintings surely captured his imagination.
He saw his first pumpkin at his first pumpkin patch. He immediately gravitated to one just his size, then tried to eat it. This weekend, he’ll join his cousin and other children at a birthday party. Being isolated as he’s been, he’s going to love watching and being around other kids as they play.
These are the things that Amanda and I have been praying for, a normal life for Benjamin; full of rich experiences and memories to remember outside of a clinical setting. I offer my thanks to God for all of your prayers and support that has made this possible. My family draws our strength from all of you, our friends and family.
Next week it’s back to Cook’s Children’s to have the adrenalectomy, and a week long recovery. In the weeks to follow, we’ll find out of the tumor is in fact dead. Pray with us that our son has a full and speedy recovery and that he will be, and remain cancer free.
May the God of peace protect and keep you.
We met with a surgeon last Monday regarding the removal of the tumor. They are going to remove his left adrenal gland, which is where the tumor originated. The earliest date the surgeon could schedule the operation is October 16th. Benjamin should be in the hospital 3 to 4 days recovering from the surgery. The surgery itself will take about an hour and a half to perform. They will give him a numbing shot after they put him under anesthesia. This should keep him from feeling any pain for about 18 hours. By then, he should be able to take morphine for the pain. The surgeon said he will be perfectly fine with just one adrenal gland.
Please keep this date in your prayers. We would like a speedy recovery and no complications.
We met with the doctor last week and all Benjamin's scans look great! No cancer anywhere except the tumor itself. The tumor is now 2 centimeters by 1.5 centimeters. On Monday the 22nd, we meet with a surgeon to discuss the removal of the tumor. After it is removed, they will be able to tell if it?s dead or alive. We are real excited and thankful about this news!
We will only have to go to the clinic once a month now for check-ups and he will have to undergo scans once every 3 months for the next year, then they will space the scans out further. In about 6 months, he will be able to pick back up on his immunization shots.
Pray that the surgery goes well, and the doctors have no trouble.
Thank you for your prayers and praise God for all he has blessed us with.
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