Acceptance speech. :)

Even though I'm not an avid attendant to public religious activities, I am a true believer of higher beings, the divine.  Everything happens for a reason.  We might be too trivial to be able to understand the reason at the time of the incidence, and we might not even be able to comprehend within this lifetime, but there must be a reason.  If it's planned that I, together with my family, should experience something challenging and emotionally involving as this, I accept it.  I do not accept it as if I accept a challenge and ready to fight.  I accept it as if this experience will offer me an opportunity to live my life differently as I originally thought it would be.  I will embrace this opportunity and live my life positively, as I have always done before.

I'm so fortunate to have so many caring friends.  I read each and every emails, messages to my iPhone through different channels,  and comments left here.  Reading your kind and encouraging words is when I cannot control my tears.  I will not be able to spend as much time with you-my friends- in the near future.  Please keep us in mind and your encouraging words are always appreciated!

The operation last evening went smoothly.  Lucas went to OR 4:55. Bone marrow procedure and lumber puncture (spinal tap) done by Hematologist is finished around 5:30.  Installation of portacath done by general surgeon is finished around 6:50.  We were allowed to see Lucas in recovery room around 7:15.  Lucas's eye lids and skins around his eyes were a little bruised from the fact his platelets were low and he was blindfolded during the surgery.   The anesthesia did give Lucas side effects manifested as throwing up 5 times.  As he hadn't had food or water intake since Thursday dinner, he was throwing up stomach acid and that made him uncomfortable and fussy.  We didn't get back to our room until after 9pm.  Finally he settled down and went to sleep shortly after 10pm.

We had a very good night of sleep last night.   The nurse allowed me to sleep with Lucas in his bed as Lucas really wants me to.  Lucas is on IV for basic nutrition.  He hasn't complained about thirst or hunger.  I do worry that he will have poor appetite for a while and cooking for him will need patience and creativity.  Any advice or suggestion on that subject is highly appreciated!

Today the attending doctor will meet with both my husband and I to discuss the details of this type of leukemia Lucas has and the treatment plan for the first six month or so.  The spinal fluid result will be out by the the time we talk to her. Fingers crossed.  The treatment plan will be enhanced after the gene mapping results come back in 1 week.  The total treatment is at least 3.25 years (Lucas being a boy needs one extra year than girls to decrease cancer relapse in the productive organs).  The doctor joked that they would always be in our life from now on since Lucas would need annual check-up from Hematology and Oncology all his life.  Right.  Even after Lucas is considered "cured" from leukemia, he would live with a higher possibility to develop cancer (in many cases, hard to treat kinds) throughout his life.  It might be mind-boggling for most parents.  My super cute and 100% perfect Lucas is having an extraordinary life ahead of him.  I appreciate the opportunity to be his mother, to be able to see some extraordinary sceneries along the way.

preB ALL high risk

Initial lab work is in.  It's preB ALL from the bone marrow draw.   Since his initial WBC is 95,000, it's considered high risk and the drugs used tend to be a little more agressive.  But at least it's not AML or some other harder to treat ALL cases.

Lucas is in operation room now

He is expect to stay there for 2-3 hours. 3 procedures will be done (bone marrow draw and biopsy at hip bone, spinal fluid draw at lower back, and port installation. We are in the waiting room. After each procedure, the doctor will come to update us.

The test result for bone marrow will be out later today or early tomorrow.  From that we will know what kind of Leukemia it is and the risk category. Spinal fluid result will be out at latest Monday, that will tell us if the cancer cell is found in spinal fluid. First batch of chemo medicine is put into spinal fluid during this surgery regardless of the findings.

I really really really hope there will be good news that I can share with you tomorrow morning. The surgery goes as it's supposed to go.  And no cancer cells in spinal fluid. Please pray and bless! Thank you!

What life has prepared for me

Lucas is admitted to Children's for Leukemia.  Yes, I know it's hard to believe, but unfortunately it's true.  He had no alarming sign other than paleness and fatigue ever since the cold he got during Thanksgiving.  Dad thought I was a little over the board when I told him that I'm going to take him to the doctor.  I thought I was having him tested for anemia because of recent poor diet or a case of mono.  Had the doctor appointment at 4:45 and went to have blood drawn after dinner.  8:15 or so I got the dreadful call.  I had to let the Dad to hear from doctor himself as I know it's very hard for him to believe.  I didn't experience any denial or anger.  I do feel sad and I know I will feel sadder with all the ordeals Lucas is going to go through to get better.  His initial WBC is over 90,000 which put him into the high risk case.  We are yet to find out what kind of Leukemia it is.  We will find out more by Monday, if not earlier.  Friday he will be put under general anesthia to have three things done: bone marrow bioposy at the hip, lumbar something also know as spinal tap to draw spinal fluid, and a port put into his major blood vessel near the chest.

I know you still can't believe it.  Sorry I won't be able to talk to you.  Please leave comments here or send me emails.  We are standing tall.  I feel relatively calm and still smiling and joking as I always do.  There will be favors that I would need from you and I will ask when it's time.

Thanks for reading and please pray for us that Lucas will have a smooth treatment and fully recover.

I would entertain discussions and worries about how Kelly and I could both have kid with Leukemia, but this is not top priotity for me now.  Now I know I have a Leukemia kid and I need to be the strong loving mom and supporting wife.

I will try to get some sleep before the big day coming up for me.

幸福婚姻法则(ZZ)

温格·朱利是美国的一位婚姻问题专家，他写了一本书，叫《幸福婚姻法则》。为了提高该书的发行量，他决定聘请一位代表性人物，作为该书的代言人。



2006年情人节，有一对夫妇被美国有线电视网(CNN)隆重推出，他们是102岁的丈夫兰迪斯和101岁的妻子格温。这一天，他们之所以成了美国的新闻人物，是因为在离婚率不断攀升的美国，他们俩创造了一项纪录，婚姻维持了78年。



朱利想，《幸福婚姻法则》一书的代言人，非他们莫属了。于是，通过新闻部门与他们取得联系，很快得到答复。说，可以！不过，他们得把书稿先看一下，以免一些冒牌的婚姻专家打着他们的旗号，推销自己的理论。他们并嘱咐作者最好能把书浓缩一下，因为都已是老眼昏花的人了，没有精力通读书稿。根据吩咐，朱利对《幸福婚姻法则》删繁就简，概括出“一大原则”、“三大定律”、“五大共识”。



一、好人原则

找一个好人，自己做一个好人。谁能做到这一条，婚姻想不幸福都难。



二、三大定律

1、太太定律

第一条：太太永远是对的；

第二条：如果太太错了，请参照第一条执行。



2、孩子定律

第一条：孩子永远是孩子，丈夫也是孩子；

第二条：当丈夫引起你的不满时，请读三遍第一条。



3、家产定律

第一条：除了一张双人床外，其他一切东西都可有可无；

第二条：当日子过得愈来愈烦琐，请共同高声朗读第一条。

夫妻双方若能遵守这三大定律，世界上所有的婚姻问题专家，都将另谋出路。



三、五大共识——夫妻双方要有这样的共识：

1、爱情是把两个人拴在一起，婚姻是把一群人拴在一起。

2、结婚意味着杀富济贫，在金钱的支配上不能搞平均主义，更不能斤斤计较。

3、夫妻之间一旦发生矛盾，出面劝说的人越多，矛盾越是不容易解决，必须学会自我

消化。

4、婚姻是一部机器，故障在所难免，离不开日常的调适和维护。

5、家庭既然是难言之隐的避难所，婚姻就应该具有藏污纳垢的能力。



朱利把提纲寄出之后，很快就收到了兰迪斯先生的回信。信是这么写的：朱利先生，您所提供的幸福婚姻法则，我读给太太听了，她差一点笑死过去。她说你的法则要是提前两天收到就好了，这样昨天与我的一场争吵就可以避免了。不过，她还是让我在这儿表示对您的感激。她说，她以后会比照着去做的。当然，是否能行得通，她心中没底。在这儿，我想私下里告诉你一句话，它是我太太曾经给我说过的：“在这个世界上，即使是最幸福的婚姻，一生中也会有两百次离婚的念头和五十次掐死对方的想法。”



不久，温格·朱利的《幸福婚姻法则》出版了，兰迪斯太太的那句话被印在封面上。