We are still in the hospital but today has been a MUCH better day than yesterday.
Yesterday was torture for everyone. Aidan had his Hickman removed, he had a spinal and they placed an iv in his arm. It upset him, he asked the nurses if they could wait a day. Of course they could not. Then he said, can we just take a break? So sad. 😦
Today he is much better, his fever is gone and the antibiotics are working great! We are hoping to go home on Wednesday.
Aidan & New Brother Amry
Not only is Aidan feeling better, we cannot believe the outpouring of support we are receiving from people, especially Regretsy and its followers. They have helped take some of the burden off. Thank you so much everyone!
xoxo
Aidan 
Ooooh! I am sad about the setback but soooo happy to hear he is doing better! And also grateful to all of the Regretsians who are so supportive!!!
What a terrible day. Aidan was like a human pin cushion! Thank goodness today is better.
That’s wonderful news that you’ll be going home soon. He’ll feel so much better in his own bed.
I’ll keep saying prayers for all of you. Take care!
Hoping Aidan is able to go home as soon as possible! I absolutely know how it feels. My now happy and healthy 8 year old daughter is a leukemia survivor. She too was diagnosed at age 5, and also had an infected Hickman right after getting it put in. I highly suggest the port which gave us no trouble at all for 2 + years she had chemotherapy. Aidan seems like a smart kid. I’m in love with his personality and love of monsters!
Here are some resources that were invaluable to me in the horrific beginning:
The book Childhood Leukemia by Nancy Keene
Free books from the Candlelighters Association — http://http://www.candlelighters.org/Information/Resources/Books/tabid/287/Default.aspx
Scott Hamilton supported site all about chemo that explains types of chemo and side effects of different chemos in easy-to-understand language (not specific to childhood cancer, but still good) –
http://www.chemocare.com/
http://www.curesearch.org
For those with kids with A.L.L. (which my daughter had: acute lymphoblastic leukemia), who want a pretty comprehensive explanation of most of the prognostic variables, etc., the National Cancer Insititute’s information is pretty good:
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/childALL/healthprofessional
A German website keeps the US’s NCI information up to date on their website, and all on one page (which makes it much easier to do a search for a word to find a topic, etc.) and it is located here:
http://www.meb.uni-bonn.de/cancer.gov/CDR0000062923.html#REF_46
ACOR (Association of Cancer Online Resources) (www.acor.org) has a list serve called “ALL-KIDS” that has been an incredible resource. Go to mailing lists, pediatric cancers, and there’s a list of mailing lists you can sign up for.
I frequent The Leukemia & Lymphoma message board, under My Child Has Cancer:
http://community.lls.org/community/bloodcancer/mychildhascancer?view=discussions&start=0
Chemo Angels. http://www.chemoangels.net
They send mail and small gifts every week to your child during treatment. There is no requirement on your part other than a monthly email to verfiy your angels are active.
From Livestrong, the ebook “Learning and Living with Cancer: Advocating for Your Child’s educational needs” — http://http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/attachments/National/br_1139926622.pdf
Please have a look at the below link — I think you’ll soon be getting an outpour of support!
Godspeed.
http://www.reddit.com/r/reddit.com/comments/dth0t/5_year_old_boy_in_the_us_selling_drawings_on_etsy/
Tell the little guy to stay strong!
Hello Aidan and family,
I just wanted to let you know that your store was linked from reddit as you can see in my website link and many of us are placing orders. On behalf of the community we hope Aidan feels better and we would love to see some more drawings to choose from when he has time.
Cheers
So sorry to hear about Aidan’s diagnosis. When my son was diagnosed in 2007, I was desperate to hear stories of survival. So I am here to tell you that, though it is a long hard road, there is an end in sight, and it is beautiful. He finished treatment this April, and is thriving (read: eating me out of house & home!)
The post above contains some great resources, I especially second the LLS discussion boards, they have been a sanity-saver for me many times over!
Aidan sounds like a remarkable young man, and I wish your family all the best. Give ’em hell, Aidan!
Hi Aidan and Family!
Prepare for the Reddit lovin’! http://www.reddit.com/r/reddit.com/comments/dth0t/5_year_old_boy_in_the_us_selling_drawings_on_etsy/
All the best, from friends all over the world.
Just also wanted to let you know that someone on Reddit posted it and they are buying the pictures up too
http://www.reddit.com/r/reddit.com/comments/dth0t/5_year_old_boy_in_the_us_selling_drawings_on_etsy/
Get better soon, it hits home to lot of families unfortunately.
I wish this young man well and great hopes for the future!
I have two boys myself, I honestly can’t imagine the pain and strength you are struggling with at this moment. I am going to formulate a few ideas and pass along your links to help if I can.
Love and light to you and your family!! ❤ You have some adorable boys 🙂
So good to see that little face smiling! Glad he’s feeling better!
Hi there, just wanted to let you know an internet community of people heard about your little one on a site called Reddit, if you’re not familiar with it. The link to the posting about Aiden is here:
http://www.reddit.com/r/reddit.com/comments/dth0t/5_year_old_boy_in_the_us_selling_drawings_on_etsy/
Everyone is thinking positive thoughts for you guys and tons of people are super excited to get their scary drawings in the mail. Good luck and keep us posted with his progress – tell Aiden to stay tough, and that his drawings are super cool! 🙂
I hope Aidan is happy to go home! I just tried to buy one of his Clown prints for my cousin as a birthday present and his Etsy store is SOLD OUT!!!! YAY For Aidan!!!! (boo hoo for me!) I hope this news brightens his day. That’s an impressive feat. Congratulations and keep your chin up kiddo 🙂
I’m one of the thousands of Regretsy readers who are learning about Aid for Aidan, and his story reminds me so much of my grade school friend named Chris who had leukaemia around Aidan’s age. He didn’t have any crazy clown masks, but I do remember asking whether the hospital scared him. Classic child answer: “No. They radiate me. Like Spiderman.” I was so jealous. These days, he’s living in Italy, and I’m jealous all over again.
Please know that despite all the weird balaclavas and loin cloths, there really is a community out here that has learned about your son, and cares about his well-being. Goodness knows we wouldn’t be buying over-priced handmade ski masks if there wasn’t a reason 🙂
—Meghan
Hello Aidan, I spotted your story on twitter and think your drawings are wonderful.
I work for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research, a charity in Britain – I’m sending some very special hellos across the Atlantic Ocean to you
Hoping with all my heart that your treatment goes really well
Cheerio
Serena 🙂
Hi– I came across this story from a link from a social networking site. This kind of story breaks my heart— I don’t have children of my own but can imagine the feeling of going through this.
Actually I am a programmer for a company that maintains a website for a non-profit organization that is about pediatric cancer— St. Baldrick’s ( http://www.stbaldricks.org ) . Have you heard of it? I’ve read many of the stories parents tell on the site— I just saw this story and thought you might want to know of the organization.
I know from working with individuals that run it that they care very deeply about the cause. There are many parents on the website who are going through the same experiences you are:
http://www.stbaldricks.org/kids
I was hoping maybe you could gain some strength from knowing others going through it also.
Anyway I wish you and your kid the absolute best of luck and I hope and pray the best happens for you all.
Greetings from Ohio!
I just wanted to say what an inspiration this little guy is. I wish you all the best in this journey, and wish I could do more to help. Get them monsters back up so I can! 🙂
One love.
Sending thoughts and prayers to the little dude.
Hope to read the update where he kicks lukemias butt.
Be strong Aidan!
My son is also named Aidan. He is 6, and he loves to draw monsters and scary stuff.
I told him about this Aidan, and he wants very badly to draw him a monster to make him feel better. I told him he could. I figured I could scan it and send it via email, or post a link. So he is on a mission to draw some monsters for Aidan as soon as he is finished his dinner.
I just wanted you to know, that there is another monster- loving Aidan out there who is very touched by your Aidan’s story and is thinking of him.
Thats great we all can’t wait to see them !
❤
Hi, Aidan!
I am a grandma to a special little boy whose name is Aidan, too! He’s a baby, just like your new brother. He even sort of looks like you!
I ordered a t-shirt for him from Regretsy’s Zazzle store. It has one of your monster drawings on it. I hope it inspires him to be as cool as you are.
Hang tough and keep on kicking butt, Aidan!
Hello Aiden,
I wanted to first tell you that what you are doing at such a young age and circumstance is amazing. I saw a link to your blog on Twitter and was curious to see it. Now I want to buy a t shirt for my two little boys with your monsters. My boys love them! Where can I buy it? Sending you positive energy. May God bless you on you journey and life.
Hello Cecilia, This is Aidans Aunt. The family has had a hard time replying to everyone since they have been so overwhelmed. You can buy a tshirt here: http://www.zazzle.com/Regretsy. A website Regretsy has been so kind to have a few of his pictures put on Tshirts and other items. 🙂 As far as our Etsy I had to shut it down for awhile. I am inundated with orders (and have a new baby of my own) and I am not sure when it will be up and running again. Thank you so much for your well wishes.
❤
Aunt Mandi
Hi Aidan,
I just wanted to take a minute to say hi and let you know how impressed I am with your artwork. (I actually work with your dad) Like you, I also had ALL, although I was an adult when I got it. I have been what I consider “cured” since 1997 and I am sure that you will do just as well as I have. I’m sure it may seem hard at times, but you seem to be a tough kid and I’m confident you will get through it all. Hang tough!
Kelly
Dear Reed Family:
Aidan’s art is fantastic. What a great little boy! I am so sorry to hear of his suffering.
More than you know….I was diagnosed 3 years ago with a 9mm tumor that gave me five years to live. As I had lost 3 family members and my best friend to cancer, I avoided what they did, and went for a renowned herbalist’s plan of herbs/diet that eliminated the tumor. On my x-rays, it was simply black space where the grey blob had been. My blood test came back normal. The doctor was mad. So was the clinic. Why? I would be guessing if I told you. I still have health issues from 50+ years of not eating right, and getting a bunch of mercury fillings…so I have a ways to go, but I’m so happy and at a good weight, now! I wrote my story on my amateur site, http://healingplan.yolasite.com.
It’s my prayer and hope that Aidan’s art will fund his true healing, without the suffering. There is more info on my site, and more sites to look up. Please, I beg you for his sake, go there and read others’ testimonies. Cancer is a big money-maker for the doctors/hospitals. True healing, thru herbs/diet, is not. They are trained to market their products, and to disdain others, even if the others work. They make approximately 1.3 million off every cancer patient. And 98% of those die.
Please give your son life, and hope…it’s there for him, if you’ll only give it to him.
God bless you and Father in Heaven, bless them with this truth, and give them the joy of finding it out, and help them, support them in implementing life and hope and healing for their precious little one. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
If you’d like to talk to a caring naturopath, who doesn’t charge high prices, but would talk to you about how to heal cancer, write me, and I will give you her number, ok?
Email: abbashealing@yahoo.com
Love you guys!