Thursday, May 31, 2012
Rick Hansen Relay the final event
May long Weekend-Osoyoos 2012
the weather wasn't the greatest but we still had fun. Diana and I took the boys to Haynes Point. Imagine in the back ground Van Halen singing JUMP
Rick Hansen Relay May 17 2012
Back in January 2012 Lisa Nucich, Aidan's grade 7 teacher along with Anna Maria Niccoli-Mullett the school principal and also Georgina Arntzen the other grade 7 teacher from Maquinna Elementary had nominated Aidan to take part in the Rick Hansen Relay. Aidan along with Anna Maria had written a letter explaining why he should be a medal bearer.
January 26, 2012
Re: 25th Anniversary Rick Hansen Relay – A Personal Story
My name is Aidan Chin. I am a Grade 7 student currently attending Chief Maquinna Elementary School in southeast Vancouver.
In Grade 6, I attended Franklin Elementary school in Vancouver for a special ‘IntensiveFrench Program’ being offered to students in Grade 6 across the Vancouver School
District. Half way through the school year, I was diagnosed with ‘Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)’. This meant I would have to have a treatment plan that involved my
having chemotherapy until 2014.
For approximately eight weeks from my initial diagnosis, I was in BC Children’s Hospital. I can remember the cards all over my wall from my classmates at Franklin
Elementary—I learned they were folding 1,000 origami cranes in my honour and for good luck. This made me feel good inside--even though I was a new student, the wholeclass was there to help me.
While in hospital, my Grade 6 teacher and students at Franklin began fundraising moneyto assist me and my family financially. Specifically, this would assist us with purchasing
medications. The event was called ‘Shavin’ for Aidan’ with thousands of dollars raised (I think it was $7000.00).
While in the hospital, I tend to ask a lot of questions. I know all the nurses’ and doctors’names, I talk to everyone I meet, and I am really outgoing when I am there. For example,
I know the type of chemotherapy I receive is a special one that is a trial. I am, so far,experiencing success and feel proud to be the first patient trying it.
Now, I attend school whenever I feel up to it (I’m back at Maquinna as I was attending this school since Kindergarten and wanted to be with my home group). I receive chemotherapy treatment every four weeks and I am taking chemotherapy at home in pillform everyday in between hospital visits. I would be honoured to participate in the upcoming Rick Hansen Relay. I know andappreciate how much people do for me and I would be extremely grateful for having anopportunity to give back. Over the last year and a half I have learned how important thetrue meaning of life is—for me it is about family, friends, and the future.
Thank you for considering my involvement.
Aidan Chin
by the end of the day we had already received a confirmation email for Aidan to take place in the relay. Aidan had chosen Lisa Nucich to run along side him during the run. It was very meaningful to have her run with him. She had asked Aidan to do a presentation for the Grade 7s about his leukemia and what he was going through. He had visual items as well as a short video and did a Q&A. It has made Aidan stronger and helped him be more comfortable with his classmates in letting them know what he is going through. It is nice to hear Aidan tell me how caring his classmates are of him.
We are ALL so proud of Aidan. Auntie Sue, Uncle Cheez, Auntie Dee, Brandan, Dad and Mom
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Filming for Miracle Weekend
The new buttons are ready to go, well actually I still have to put the backing on a bunch of them. I will make sure everyone on Team Aidan will get one in their race package.
Yesterday they started filming for the Miracle Weekend. Kitty from the Foundation went to the BCCH first to interview Dr. Lucy Turnham and Dr. David Dix, Aidan dropped by at 10:30 for a checkup. At 1:30 the crew went to Chief Maquinna Elementary to follow Aidan with some of his classmates and to also interview his teacher and the principal. Later the crew came to our place and did some more footage. I hope I sound okay, it was the real me no make up or anything. You know it is such a drag when you look back at things and you wish you could change them. Oh well its reality and it was me just being me. I was really happy that Paul was by my side. Aidan had some real grown up things to say. I will keep everyone posted to when the story will be on tv.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Balding for Dollars "shave for the brave"
The Main Balding for Dollars event"Shave for the Brave" happened last weekend. May 13th. Balding for Dollars also recognizes that not just the individual with cancer is immediately affected, but families and friends are impacted greatly as well. Funds raised go towards supporting the Oncology/Hematology/BMT program at BC Children’s Hospital. This aids programs for patient and family support, outreach programs, teen adventures, educational bursaries, wigs and research.
The weather was great and it was a very succesful event I helped out doing photography and Aidan volunteered at the Starlight Foundation booth. The top images are friends that I met during this whole process. It is Pat and his son Oscar. Terry David Mulligan came by and interviewed Pat, Alex and myself during the event. He made easy it being up on stage with all of these eyes on you.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Aquarium 2012
The Starlight Foundation along with BCCH, Sunnydale and some others were invited to the Aquarium on May 8th. Auntie Dee Dee joined in our evening of fun. The kids all got goodie bags at the end with Tshirts, pins, some gooey stuff, hockey pic, BC Lions pic and just a bunch of cool stuff.
Thanks Starlight we ALL had fun and it was also nice seeing other families and we even ran into Leanne, Craig and TJ who are friends from Osoyoos.
Lumbar puncture
May 8th Aidan had his routine every three month Lumbar puncture. This where Dr. Lucy administers metholtrexate in Aidan's spine. He is under a general anesthetic. We were happy because Paul came with us to the hospital. It worked out well because they were there until 3 and I had to take off and get Brandan from school. Paul said that he always gets a reality check when he comes, I told him that it has just become a part of every day life. It was especially nice when I go and get to see some of the other mom's that i have met before. Great news because Alma's son was getting his VAD out which means he is done and just has to come for his every 6 month visit from now on. FANTASTIC. I got to meet Andrea whose daughter just got diagnosed recently but got to partake in the jeans day fashion show on Globaltv for their intro to Jean's Day. Also saw Dan from Balding for dollars and he was telling me about a teen adventure group heading out to Tofino next week. The group is going to body surf but I think that will be too much for Aidan right now. But it does sound like a whole lot of fun. Maybe they should have something called Mom adventures!
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Buttons
Monday, May 7, 2012
LEGO-A-HOLICS
Opening weekend at Oakridge. It was a 5 hour wait when we got there so we bailed and just helped build part of R2D2. The boys got a certificate that said they helped. We did go back the next day and waited 2 hours to get in. For every 35$ minimum purchase you got the Lego people that are pretty cool because they say Vancouver on them.
this was the 5 hour wait day. Drag we should have woke up earlier they were giving away Lego stores on the saturday hence the mob of people.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
My wonderful husband got the button maker working and did some production work. My awesome friend Gavin from Cloudburst printed up all of the buttons for me today. Thanks Gavin! and of course Thank you Paul!
Just over a month till the BCCHF ChildRun so Aidan is going to be selling buttons at his school, the PAC has also offered him to sell them at the school BBQ on May 24th Chief Maquinna Annex.
Aidan is scheduled on May 8th for a Lumbar Puncture at the Hospital, it has been three months since the last one, he gets them every three months for his metholtrexate.
Aidan has been doing great! No issues of pain and he has gotten use to taking his chemo everynight and doing the septra on the weekend. He is scheduled for his first dentist appointment since being diagnosed with Leukemia. I was so happy to hear that our Dentist Dr. Do is familiar with kids with cancer.
Aidan's little brother Brandan has been going to BCCH Psychology dept for a sibling group. Week 3 is tomorrow and I think that it has been good, I am glad that they offer it. It is every thursday for 8 weeks.
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