Happy Memorial Day to all of our American friends! Here in France, we celebrated the holiday on Saturday when we attended a beautiful service at the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial. The Lafayette Escadrille was part of the French Air Force during World War I, comprised mostly of American volunteer fighter pilots. The Memorial just outside of Paris honors these pilots and serves as the final resting place for those who died in combat.
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| The Lafayette Escadrille Memorial in France |
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| "Fly Boys" |
Last week, Ryan felt great! It was the fourth week of his fourth chemotherapy cycle, which serves as a bit of a “rest” period. By Friday, he was well enough to accompany me on a Fat Tire Bike Tour through the Gardens of Versailles (!!) where we pedaled many miles and ate a picnic lunch during a glorious sunshiny afternoon. If you’ve visited Paris, you know glorious sunshiny days are a gift, so we felt quite lucky. It was an amazing adventure!
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| Ryan at Versailles, and yes, that's a baguette - So French! |
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| Fat Tire Bike Tour Versailles |
Today, Ryan started his fifth cycle of chemo. This includes 3 days of IV drips this week, and 1 day next week, as well as 15 days of steroids. On the last day of this cycle, he will graduate 8th grade! And then… just one more cycle to go!
Thank you for keeping Ryan in your thoughts and prayers during this time, which is starting to feel quite tedious and frustrating. He maintains a positive attitude, helped by the company of his good friends here in Paris and by the cards and notes sent from home. We are fortunate to have so many people pulling for Ryan and helping us in kind and caring ways every day!
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| The Eiffel - because it makes us smile :) |
In the mean time, we ask that you pray for all children who are fighting cancer, with a special shout-out to those facing Hodgkins. Like many diseases, Hodgkins can be tricky to diagnose, but it’s very treatable and very curable… We are looking forward to the day when Ryan can say he destroyed cancer, and we pray the same for all the awesome kids we’ve met along the way!
*** From Healthline.com ***
What Is Hodgkin’s Disease?
Hodgkin’s disease (HD) is a type of lymphoma, which is a blood cancer that starts in the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system helps the immune system get rid of waste and fight infections. HD is also called Hodgkin disease, Hodgkin lymphoma, and Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
HD originates in white blood cells that help protect you from germs and infections. These white blood cells are called lymphocytes. In people with HD, these cells grow abnormally and spread beyond the lymphatic system. As the disease progresses, it makes it more difficult for your body to fight infections.
HD can be either classic Hodgkin’s disease or nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin’s disease (NLPHD). The type of HD is based on the types of cells involved in your condition and their behavior.
The main cause of HD isn’t known. The disease has been linked to cell mutations, or changes, as well as to the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which causes mononucleosis. HD can occur at any age, but it most commonly affects people between ages 15 and 40 and people over age 55.
What Are the Symptoms of Hodgkin’s Disease?
The most common symptom of HD is swelling of the lymph nodes, which causes a lump to form under the skin. This lump usually isn’t painful. It may form in one or more of the following areas:
Other symptoms of HD include:
Call your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms. They can be signs of other conditions, and it’s important to get an accurate diagnosis.
http://www.healthline.com/health/hodgkins-lymphoma#Overview1
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