Brian Robert & LCH: Lost Some Teeth

Friday, June 29, 2012

Lost Some Teeth

Monday June 25 Brian lost his first tooth, naturally. He has had eight teeth surgically removed (all four of his one year old molars in Dec. 2009 and all four of his two year old molars in Dec 2010). This was his first tooth to wiggle out. We had a friend come over to watch the kids so I could run some errands. She came since Brian was neutropenic and we didn't want to take him out to Publix, etc.. She and I were talking, and Brian walked up holding his hand out and said, "it just came out..."

I was floored. I didn't know what he was talking about until I saw the teeny tiny tooth. Since he grinds his teeth his little chompers are super small. Anyway, our older two children have lost multiple teeth and it has always involved some tears or fearful "NO! Don't try to wiggle it!" comments. Brian didn't even let on that his tooth was barely hanging in there. When it came out he was super excited about the idea of the tooth fairy giving him some money.

Here is the brave boy on Monday after his first tooth came out.

Just a couple days later on Thursday Mr. Brian came to me and said he was trying to pull his tooth out because it hurt. He had toilet paper and was really trying to yank it out. I asked him if he wanted me to try and pull it out. He said yes. I pulled it out and he had no reaction. No cries, no hesitation, no drama...this boy has been through so much he is quite a tough cookie.

Here is the grinning boy on Thursday evening with two missing bottom teeth.

1 comment:

nancygrayce said...: Bless his sweet heart! Look at that smile! He probably thought that was nothing with all he's been through!; July 2, 2012 at 10:22 AM

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Brian, BB or "B-ber"

Brian is our seven year old boy. He is the third of four children, all born in just four years. Sept 2009 Brian was diagnosed with Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis. He spent seven months on Chemo and steriods. In April 2010 we had his port removed and celebrated "no more chemo!". His treatment from May forward was oral medicine on the weekends and scans/bloodwork every three months. Brian's firt set of scans/follow up with the oncologist in July were wonderful. We didn't quite make it to his second set of scans three months later in October. In late July/ early August we started noticing suspicious bumps on his scalp and a rash on his private area. On Sept 15, 2010 we took Brian to his oncologist. That appointment revealed the possibilty of more chemo. September 21 we had a biopsy that two days later revealed that Brian's LCH was back. We immediately had surgery to implant a port and in Oct 2010 started a second journey through chemotherapy and steroids for our little Brian. In March 2011 Brian's chemo drugs were changed around as his new protocal was not working. Brian was still presenting symptoms. We went back to the original combination of drugs but this time instead of being on them six months the plan was for twelve months. Brian completed his second round of chemo March 8, 2012. Even though Brian was completing treatment, we started noticing symptoms of Diabetes Insipidus in March 2012. He was diagnosed with D.I. March 22, 2012. His new diagnosis was considered a relapse for his LCH. Brian's third round (or fourth protocol depending on how you look at it) of chemo and a totally different protocol began April 2012. He had chemo five days in a row followed by a three week break for 12 months. He completed that protocol the first week of April 2013. In July of 2013 Brian had his port removed and we were over the moon excited about NO MORE CHEMO. In October of 2013 Brian had a recurrence of symptoms. He took six months of oral chemo. In April of 2014 he had another MRI. It was decided that Brian could stop treatment. By August-September 2014 he started showing symptoms again. October 2014 we are back in Houston to see what the next step will be for treatment of Brian's LCH.