Nolan's page
Donation protected
I am creating this page to share information and updates on Nolan's condition as well, as give those who wish a place to donate funds to help us care for Nolan the best way we can.
Last Thursday Oct 3, 2014 Nolan went swimming with Dad, and his big brother Mason, when Dad noticed a funny lump while changing into thier swimsuits. Since he wasn't in any obvious discomfort, we decided to wait until morning ande decide what to do.
In the morning of Friday Oct 4th, I took the day off work to take him to the Dr. to get it checked out.
Our local Dr. was closed and the Fort Saskatchewan walk in clinic sent us to ER. Fort ER sent us to the Stollery after an Xray to find a large mass in his left side. The mass was showing up as solid on the xray, and they decided t send us to the Stollery Children's hospital emergency dept. When we got there all the radiologists had left for the day so we waited in a room in emerg, with Dad and Mason, until the wee hours of the morning. Nolan and I slept in the ER until we got a room in Pediatric Oncology at around 3am.
Saturday Oct 5th we got the Ultra Sound done, which was tough as they could't find his left kidney, after a few tries we found it but were unable to differentiate between the kidney and the mass.
(To give you an idea of this mass' size; it was the size of a grapefruit. Which in Nolan's little belly, translated to pushing up his left ribcage, down to his left hip bone, and over to his belly button. I hadn't noticed it when showering with him the night before we found it, nor when I dressed him Thursday morning).
Our hope after the Ultra Sound was a likely diagnosis of a Wilm's tumor, which would be very treatable, and has great recovery rates.
Soon after the Ultra Sound, a CT scan for a closer look.
In the evening on Saturday we got a diagnosis from the Pediatric Oncologist, who confirmed it was a Wilm's tumor. She stated that success rate for this type of cancer was 97-98% curable, and he could be completely cancer free within a year. Although this is the worst news a parent could hear "your child has cancer" we were very positive and happy that this diagnosis could not have come out much better.
Later that evening when finally getting some food, we got a call from the Pediatric Surgeon, and ran up to meet with him. Dr. Lees was AMAZING. HE showed us the CT scan at the nurses unit and put our minds at ease that it would be easily removed. They intended to save the kindey, but may not be able to. Surgery would be booked in the afternoon on the following day.
Early Sunday morning, October 5th, we were woken up to a call in to pre-op. (Yay! the earlier the better!) I was able to meet with all the nurses who would be assisting, discuss with the surgeon again, who was all too happy to answer my questions. We met the anesthesioligist who explained what the plan was for pain, and what to expect for tubes ad IV's when he came out. Luckily also they were able to use this surgery to put in a permanent IV port under ths skin for future blood tests and eventually Chemotherapy. Nolan and I had a little chat about his "uckies" in his tummy and that he was going to have the Dr. remove it. We felt it, said a prayer, and went in.
I was able to gown up and head into the O.R., holding and kissing my baby as they put him under. My happy smiling face was all he saw as he dosed off.
The surgeon had taken my number and told me to expect a 3 hr surgery with approx 1-2 hour prep and recovery room time. When he called my cell, it was 2hrs and 45 minutes later. Soon after, the surgeon saw Curt while also grabbing lunch in the cafeteria. He came over and told Curt how well everyting had gone and how he couldn't have been happier with the outcome. He did end up taking the kidney, another blessing that we have two of those. :)
Nolan came out of recovery through a barrage of more than 15 people smiling and waving as he came back to his room. The nurses remarked to him; "Noaln, look at all the poeple who love you that are waiting for you, what a lucky boy you are!"
Today is Monday October 6th and as I sit by my child who is oozing love for those all around, and as sweet and strong as ever, I realize that this short trip has been so very quick so far, but I am overwhelmed by graitude once more. For God answering our prayers, and sending his angels to protect our baby boy, as well as all our friends and family to rally around our family and our child. Some are helping to send meals to me, some have provided care to help with Mason, neighbours who help feed Yoshi, others sent a toothbrush, and many many more to reach out with loving messages and words of love and encouragement.
Curt and I have sympatheic employers so far, but the reality of the life that Nolan and I left waiting is beginning to catch up. Logisitics of costs are becoming real. (parking costs, gas, food, etc) We are unsure as of yet what income replacement we may have especially since I will be beside my baby through every minute of this journey, means we become a one income family.
I have created this page more so as a blog to keep everyone in the loop, as I am simply unable to call everyone everytime something changes. This also provides a place for those of you to share comments.
For those of you asking what you can do, (many of you out of province)
Here is what you can do:
-Be there if you can to help us get through this,
-pray for all of us,
-donate to the Stollery Children's hospital as they saved our Nolan, and continue to provide unparalleled care for he and I.
-Lastly; if you so choose, you can donate here to help with our costs. (Any leftover funds will be added to an RESP for our sweet Nolan).
Thank you for all your loving words and prayers, don't stop them!! Please also feel free to call us, this is just a helpful way to share what's going on.
Much love, Curt, Miranda, Layne, Mason and Nolan Solomon <3
Last Thursday Oct 3, 2014 Nolan went swimming with Dad, and his big brother Mason, when Dad noticed a funny lump while changing into thier swimsuits. Since he wasn't in any obvious discomfort, we decided to wait until morning ande decide what to do.
In the morning of Friday Oct 4th, I took the day off work to take him to the Dr. to get it checked out.
Our local Dr. was closed and the Fort Saskatchewan walk in clinic sent us to ER. Fort ER sent us to the Stollery after an Xray to find a large mass in his left side. The mass was showing up as solid on the xray, and they decided t send us to the Stollery Children's hospital emergency dept. When we got there all the radiologists had left for the day so we waited in a room in emerg, with Dad and Mason, until the wee hours of the morning. Nolan and I slept in the ER until we got a room in Pediatric Oncology at around 3am.
Saturday Oct 5th we got the Ultra Sound done, which was tough as they could't find his left kidney, after a few tries we found it but were unable to differentiate between the kidney and the mass.
(To give you an idea of this mass' size; it was the size of a grapefruit. Which in Nolan's little belly, translated to pushing up his left ribcage, down to his left hip bone, and over to his belly button. I hadn't noticed it when showering with him the night before we found it, nor when I dressed him Thursday morning).
Our hope after the Ultra Sound was a likely diagnosis of a Wilm's tumor, which would be very treatable, and has great recovery rates.
Soon after the Ultra Sound, a CT scan for a closer look.
In the evening on Saturday we got a diagnosis from the Pediatric Oncologist, who confirmed it was a Wilm's tumor. She stated that success rate for this type of cancer was 97-98% curable, and he could be completely cancer free within a year. Although this is the worst news a parent could hear "your child has cancer" we were very positive and happy that this diagnosis could not have come out much better.
Later that evening when finally getting some food, we got a call from the Pediatric Surgeon, and ran up to meet with him. Dr. Lees was AMAZING. HE showed us the CT scan at the nurses unit and put our minds at ease that it would be easily removed. They intended to save the kindey, but may not be able to. Surgery would be booked in the afternoon on the following day.
Early Sunday morning, October 5th, we were woken up to a call in to pre-op. (Yay! the earlier the better!) I was able to meet with all the nurses who would be assisting, discuss with the surgeon again, who was all too happy to answer my questions. We met the anesthesioligist who explained what the plan was for pain, and what to expect for tubes ad IV's when he came out. Luckily also they were able to use this surgery to put in a permanent IV port under ths skin for future blood tests and eventually Chemotherapy. Nolan and I had a little chat about his "uckies" in his tummy and that he was going to have the Dr. remove it. We felt it, said a prayer, and went in.
I was able to gown up and head into the O.R., holding and kissing my baby as they put him under. My happy smiling face was all he saw as he dosed off.
The surgeon had taken my number and told me to expect a 3 hr surgery with approx 1-2 hour prep and recovery room time. When he called my cell, it was 2hrs and 45 minutes later. Soon after, the surgeon saw Curt while also grabbing lunch in the cafeteria. He came over and told Curt how well everyting had gone and how he couldn't have been happier with the outcome. He did end up taking the kidney, another blessing that we have two of those. :)
Nolan came out of recovery through a barrage of more than 15 people smiling and waving as he came back to his room. The nurses remarked to him; "Noaln, look at all the poeple who love you that are waiting for you, what a lucky boy you are!"
Today is Monday October 6th and as I sit by my child who is oozing love for those all around, and as sweet and strong as ever, I realize that this short trip has been so very quick so far, but I am overwhelmed by graitude once more. For God answering our prayers, and sending his angels to protect our baby boy, as well as all our friends and family to rally around our family and our child. Some are helping to send meals to me, some have provided care to help with Mason, neighbours who help feed Yoshi, others sent a toothbrush, and many many more to reach out with loving messages and words of love and encouragement.
Curt and I have sympatheic employers so far, but the reality of the life that Nolan and I left waiting is beginning to catch up. Logisitics of costs are becoming real. (parking costs, gas, food, etc) We are unsure as of yet what income replacement we may have especially since I will be beside my baby through every minute of this journey, means we become a one income family.
I have created this page more so as a blog to keep everyone in the loop, as I am simply unable to call everyone everytime something changes. This also provides a place for those of you to share comments.
For those of you asking what you can do, (many of you out of province)
Here is what you can do:
-Be there if you can to help us get through this,
-pray for all of us,
-donate to the Stollery Children's hospital as they saved our Nolan, and continue to provide unparalleled care for he and I.
-Lastly; if you so choose, you can donate here to help with our costs. (Any leftover funds will be added to an RESP for our sweet Nolan).
Thank you for all your loving words and prayers, don't stop them!! Please also feel free to call us, this is just a helpful way to share what's going on.
Much love, Curt, Miranda, Layne, Mason and Nolan Solomon <3
Organizer
Miranda Marie Solomon
Organizer
Sturgeon County, AB