Mason's Celebration Party

Hello everyone! I wanted to get these pictures on here of Mason's celebration party that we had on September 27th at our cabin. It was a great surprise for him and we all had a great time. He was first surprised by a limo ride that came to pick him and Kale up at our house and continued to drive around and pick up some of his close friends. The limo drove him and his friends out to our cabin to be further surprised by a big party waiting for him where he was surrounded by family and friends. There was a big tent set up on the grass, a petting zoo, a D.J. bus with Karaokee, and a huge firework show. Thank you to all who helped with the set up and decorating, the organizing, the wonderful food and drinks, the awesome gifts and all the clean up! We would also like to thank our family and friends for making the event so memorable by being out there, it was so nice to see so many people who have supported us through this time! THANK YOU!!!

Mason is doing wonderful. He started his first full week of school last Monday and is so thrilled to be back. He really missed his friends and the routine of it all. We have no trouble getting him up in the morning which I was quite concerned would be a hard adjustment for him. You don't realize how much routine and "the norm" is missed until it is taken away from you! He is just so happy and loving life right now. He dressed up as the "Grim Reaper" for Halloween! The scarier, the better for him! He loved seeing his family and being able to go around with his friends. Life is staring to feel a little normal again. Mason is having his Done Chemo party that the Allan Blair clinic hosts for the kids when they are done their treatments on the afternoon of Friday the 7th. I believe that there is cake and pictures with the doctors and nurses. We still have medical appointments, and are actually off to Edmonton on the 9th for a follow up with his surgeons. Hopefully we will get the o.k. for Mason to start physio on his arm and leg which we are hoping will help to straighten his arm a bit more and regain some muscle. He still has his port-a-cath in his chest so we need to get it flushed once a month with heporin and saline to make sure it doesn't plug up. It will sure be nice when that can be taken out! They like to leave them in for around 6 months after treatments stop.

Mason was granted a wish from the Childrens Wish Foundation. He chose to go to Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas to swim with the Dolphins! It looks like we leave on December 26th! He is so excited!! We all are!!! He loves to swim and loves sea creatures, so this is really a dream come true. Many times he has told us that he wants to be a marine biologist when he grows up, which is so suited to him.

We continue to live day to day, and know that it is still going to take time to heal for all of us, but are so happy to be where we are right now and can actually begin to look ahead and see the sunshine on this road. We are so grateful and every night when we are tucking our boys in we say the same prayer of thanks all together as a family. Some nights it really hits me, seeing them both laying there safe and so peaceful, realizing that we are not going to be waking up in the hospital, seperated from one another. It really is a gift and I will continue to be thankful for it for the rest of my days!!

I will continue to post every so often on this blog so please continue to check back. I will get some more pictures up soon, definetely after his wish trip!

We love you all and thank you again for all your support and prayers.

MASON'S LAST CHEMO!!!

Hi everybody, it's Jade, Mason's mom. I asked my cousin Amanda the other day if it would be o.k. if I finished the last entries on the blog. Thank you Amanda for all the time and effort you put into keeping people as informed as you could, we truly appreciate it.
Mason has had a very busy summer with a couple set backs which has pushed his chemo into September, but am thrilled to inform you that we are officially at the hospital for his very last treatment!!! We are having trouble believing that it's actually here. He was so excited last night when we got here that he didn't fall asleep until 1am!! He will be walking out the front doors of this place on Friday afternoon, and what a celebration it will be ( a very emotional one!)
Since May, Mason has stayed strong but had an infection take place in his left wrist at the site of the surgery. It was hard to manage while on chemo, having no defences. We ended up having to go back to Edmonton a couple times, once for another surgery to clean the site out and stitch it up stronger. He has been on antibiotics ever since June and because of that contracted C-diff, a bacteria in the bowel that can be quite contagious for others but he was a silent carrier which made it not so bad on him, just meant different antibiotics and alot of yogurt. A couple of the chemo drugs were harder for him to get out of his body come July and August, which lead to lower blood counts, bad mouth sores, and high fevers which in turn delayed chemo as well. They say that can happen the more chemo you have, but his last two have been fantastic.
He had some exciting times in the summer as well. He got invited by the Chris Knox Foundation to have lunch with Wes Cates of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and attend the game sitting in Wes's seats that he so generously gave to Mason. It was a fantastic day! Mason and Kale also got invited to attend a press conference at the Legislative Building with Wes Cates, other roughriders and the Premier. They even got to go with the Premier to his office and then to top it all off they played some touch football out on the grass with them afterwards and am proud to say that both Mason and Kale scored a touchdown!! I will try later on to figure out how to attatch some photos on here so you can all see.
Mason celebrated his "8th" birthday on Sunday. We were hoping he'd be all done by then but we made the most of the day and the weather was sure beautiful.
In honour of his birthday, and in celebration of his "Victory" we are hosting a surprise party for him at our family cabin on the 27th of this month. We would like to extend that anyone who would like to is more than welcome to come out and celebrate with Mason, he has had such an amazing amount of support and prayer, and it would be nice to share this with all of you!
The party will begin at 6:30pm with Mason arriving by 7:00pm. Our cabin is located at Parkview(the road between Buffalo View and the Provincial Park, first left after the little white church) and we are the very last cabin on the main road in the south/east corner (the only cabin with a tipee in it's back yard!). We will have balloons up marking the way, and should anyone get lost you can phone the cabin at 692-5813. All we ask is that you byob, a lawnchair and some warm clothes!
I will put a final post up after his party, until then thank you all for your continued support and prayer for our son. We are truly blessed!!

A long overdue update - Sorry!

My apologies for the lengthy delay in getting the blog updated. Jade and I have been having some difficulty connecting, and I wanted to be sure that the information I share is accurate – I’m going to do better!

It has been a busy month for Mason – lots of travel and lots of hospital visits. Mason had to make a late night visit to the ER in early May due to a high temperature. He was finally admitted after a long three and a half hour wait in the ER in the middle of the night. Jade’s dad drove Jade and Mason up to Edmonton last Tuesday for Mason’s follow up visit with the surgeon. The news was all good – the surgery sites look good and the doctors were pleased with how well everything is healing. Tests on the tumor tissue show that the chemo has been more than 95% effective, which is very promising. Mason was happy to have the pins taken out of his wrist and his cast removed, although he didn’t much enjoy the process of having the pins removed. He is now wearing a splint instead of a cast. He has good movement in his fingers and thumb, but limited movement in his wrist right now. He will have to start doing rotation exercises to increase the movement as he goes along.

Immediately following with appointment with the surgeons, Jade and Mason hopped a plane back to Regina and went straight to the hospital there for more chemo. He was released on Sunday, but had to be back on Wednesday again. After the current treatment, there is only one more and then they get a nice three week break again. In amongst all of these hospital visits, Mason’s platelet count dropped quite low and he ended up having a transfusion of platelets (which Jade says looked like a big bag of fat). That has helped to pump Mason up a bit.

The Clewis’s are eagerly counting down to the last chemo treatment and have been crossing each one off the list. There are nine chemo treatments left and it is anticipated that Mason’s last treatment will begin on August 20. He has another follow-up visit with the surgeons on June 11 in Edmonton. The good news is that the end of all this is in sight for Mason – and he’s kicking the cancer’s butt!

Back to Regina...

Mason was released from the Stollery late last week and got to enjoy a few nights at home in his own bed before returning to Regina for more chemo. I hear he is doing remarkably well, but was not pleased about going back to the hospital so soon after her got to come home. Unfortunately, they have to be in isolation in Regina because they have so recently been admitted at another hospital. I guess they want to contain any germs he may have picked up at the other hospital. Luckily for Mason, he has access to a Nintendo Wii, and has been keeping himself occupied with that. It looks like Mason has 16 or 17 weeks of chemo to go (from start to finish, not individual weeks), so he should be all done by the end of August. Just in time for a BIG birthday party for Mason’s 8th birthday!

Safe and Sound

Today is a much better day than yesterday for Mason and family. He has been eating, drinking and even enjoying a bit of TV.

The surgery wasn't complete until around 9:00 last night. Jade and Justin were sure happy to see Mason open his eyes. When he got back to his room and could barely talk yet, he asked if they could go down to the toy room and play air hockey. When told that he couldn't go just then, he said, "my bed's on wheels - just push me down there." What a boy!

The surgery appears to have been successful, although Mason can't move his left thumb just yet. They have been able to manage his pain relatively well up until this point. Some of the pain meds, however, have been making his skin itch.

Jade tells me that the team at Stollery has been sensational, with the exception of one exceptionally nasty nurse. They have been very pleased with the efforts of the surgeons, anestheseologist, plastic surgeons and other staff. Thank goodness for people like them who make little boys like Mason well again.

Mason will likely remain at Stollery for about a week, and then will be driving back home with Jade. The doctors just want to make sure that everything is going as planned in terms of blood flow to the surgery sites. Mason will need to go back to Edmonton for some follow up in a couple of weeks, but for now the family is looking forward to some much needed time at home.

Good job, Mason! We knew you'd be a star!

Surgery Update 2

The reconstruction was completed at 5:15 tonight, and everything is still going smoothly. Dr. McIvor talked with Jade and Justin and told them that the plastic surgeons still needed another four hours, so now Mason won't be out of surgery until after 9:00. Needless to say, the waiting is getting increasingly difficult, and Jade and Justin are just wanting to see Mason. It has been a tough day, but the good news is that everything seems to be going as planned.

If there is more news tonight, I will post again.

Surgery Update

Mason fell asleep about 12:10 this afternoon with his Mom at his side in the operating room. There was no news until around 2:30 when Jade received a call Dr. McIvor to say that the tumour has been removed! The reconstructive portion of the surgery is taking place right now, but there haven't been any further updates from the doctors yet. So far it appears as though everything is going according to plan, and the surgery is halfway over.

I will update as I know more...

Surgery Today

It’s a big day for Mason today. He will be taken down to the OR at about 11:30 to prepare for the surgery, which is scheduled to begin at noon. Everyone is feeling pretty anxious about the events of the day. Jade tells me that Mason is doing pretty well, although he was beginning to feel a bit nervous last night.

Jade, Justin, Kale, Greg & Jordan will be at the hospital during the surgery, waiting to hear how things are going. It’s good that there will be a support group in place, as today is likely to seem pretty long for the family.

May our thoughts and prayers for Mason and his family today lift them up and give them strength. God bless Mason!

Update from Edmonton

Good news for Mason!! The results of Mason's MRI show that the tumour has shrunk a whole bunch since the first MRI, which means that the chemo is working!!

The Clewis's travelled to Calgary at the end of March to catch the Flames/Oilers game on the 29th. The boys really enjoyed the game, although they were disappointed with the loss. Mason had to be in Edmonton for his MRI on April 1, which went pretty well. Jade tells me Mason isn't even phased by IVs anymore, so the whole MRI thing was a cinch for him. The family then had to wait until this past Saturday (April 5) to get the results of the MRI, which seemed a long wait for them. Mason and his parents met with Dr.Paul, who will be one of the surgeons performing the surgery, on Saturday. They received good news about the results of Mason's chemo, and now know exactly what to expect from the surgery. Dr. Paul is the tumour specialist and has performed the surgery before, and is very confident about it.

They are being admitted to the Stollery Children's Hospital (http://www.stollerykids.com/home.html) on Wednesday, and will meet with the surgical team again then. Mason's surgery is now scheduled for around noon on Thursday, April 10. The Operating Room has been booked for six hours. The first 3.5 hours Dr. McIvor and Dr. Paul will do their part removing the tumour, some bones and placing the plate. The remaining time will be for two plastic surgeons to finish up. It seems like results have been slow in coming, but this is all very positive news for Mason. It looks like all of his hard work fighting the cancer is paying off!

We are hoping to put some updates on the blog the day of the surgery, but I certainly don't want to pressure Jade to be on the phone - she'll have other things on her mind I'm sure. That day, I will be posting information as I hear it, so that everyone will be able to keep up with how Mason is doing.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Clewis family this week as Mason undergoes his surgery. Hugs & Kisses to Mason!!

Phase One is Complete!!!

Well, I am happy to report that Mason is finished this first round of chemo treatments - way to go, Mason!! Mason did very well his last two treatments. He wasn't too sick and got lots of sleep, as the drugs made him sleepy. He even had a good appetite and was able to play hockedy with a friend he has made in the hospital. The drugs have been making him a bit irritable too, but it usually passes quickly (and who can blame him?).

For now, Mason and Kale are looking forward to Easter and are excited about their upcoming trip to see the Calgary Flames play on March 29. Mason's MRI has been scheduled for April 1 in Edmonton, with his surgery to follow on April 7. In between, Jade and Mason will be staying with Justin's Aunt Bev, Uncle Rick and cousin Darren in Calgary. Justin and Kale are going to head home for the week of school before returning to Edmonton for the surgery on the 7th. We will make sure we set up some sort of system so that we can get regular updates on teh blog during surgery to let everyone know how Mason is making out. He has been such a trooper up until now - we know he'll do just fine.

Mason is also looking forward to enjoying birthdays with his Dad and brother at the end of the month. Happy birthday to Justin on March 23rd and Kale on March 26th. We hope you Clewis's are able to spend some family time for Easter and birthdays this month. We're thinking of you every day!

Only two treatments left

Mason returned to the hospital in Regina on March 5 to resume treatments, his second last before surgery. First he and his parents had a meeting with the paedeactric oncologist, Dr. Haq to discuss how treatment is progressing and what will happen next. Jade & Justin also received a call from Dr. McIvor, the surgeon in Edmonton who will be performing Mason's surgery. The surgery will likely be sometime in the last week of March, but that has not been confirmed yet. I haven't been able to hook up with Jade by phone in the last couple of days, but will keep trying so that I can post a more detailed update on how Mason's chemo is going this round.

The population of bald people in Moose Jaw is ever-growing. On February 14, Clewis family friend Troy Rusu shaved his head to raise money for Mason. For a picture of the shaving, click here: http://www.prairiesouth.ca/johnchisholm/content/view/24/

During the last couple of weeks at home, Mason got to see several of his hockey buddies shave their heads to raise money for him too. 21 Moose Jaw Minor Hockey players from various teams and age groups shaved their heads to raise money for Mason and show their support for their friend. First up was big brother Kale, who was featured in the Times Herald going bald with help from Mason. Here is a link to the story: http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:t1W4rVPGovUJ:www.mjtimes.sk.ca/index.cfm+mason+clewis&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4&gl=ca

Global Television also aired a story about Hockey Hair for cancer. Here are some photos from the big event:

Mason shaving Kale's head

Mason's buddies facing the clippers

Mason with all his hockey friends at the Hockey Hair for Cancer Event

Mason with his autographed Dion Phaneuf jersey

Thank you to all of you who organized the Hockey Hair for Cancer event - your support is appreciated so much.

I will post again once I get an update from Jade on how Mason is doing.

Family Time

There has not been much to post lately, as Mason is at home enjoying some time away from the hospital. He is not scheduled to go back for more treatment until March 5, so this is a nice break for everyone. There are only two treatments remaining before Mason's surgery in April in Edmonton.

The steak nights both went off without a hitch and were a great success. Thanks again to everyone who came out to support Mason - I know the Clewis family is extremely grateful. A special thank you to Alysha Brentnell and Mandy Rusu for organizing everything - you did a fantastic job!

If anything noteworthy comes up prior to Mason's return to the hospital on March 5, I will post again and let everyone know. Otherwise, I will leave the Clewis's to some much needed family time.

So Far So Good

Jade and Mason headed back to Regina on Wednesday. They were originally scheduled to be at the hospital early in the morning, but due to poor weather and road conditions, they decided to wait for Justin to take them after school. The medicine that Mason is receiving now is administered over a two day period. Apparently it hasn't been too bad this time, with Mason suffering only a little bit of nausea, which was easily treated with some Gravol. So far so good...

This chemo is the same as the very first dose. It will cause Mason to be neutropenic, which means that his white blood cell count will drop substantially following treatment. Therefore, Jade and Justin will need to resume giving Mason daily injections at a specified time. The good news is the big break from the hospital that they are in for. They are hoping to come home on Sunday or Monday.

The first steak night was held last night, with tons of family and friends coming out to show their support for the Clewis family. The first of the silent auctions was also held, which was a great success. We had four brave souls shave their heads to raise money. I believe there were pictures taken, so I'll try to get some to post. Thank you to all of our silent auction sponsors, volunteers, head shavers, and the management and staff at the Park Hotel. We are looking forward to doing it all again tonight.

Third Round Done

My apologies for the delay in this post. I've had two sick kids at home this week, and I just haven't made it to the computer.

Mason is already back at home after his most recent round of chemo, having been released from the hospital on Saturday night. I am happy to report that this round of chemo was much easier on Mason's system. They apparently tried something new with the anti-nausea drugs that worked well, so Mason wasn't so sick this time. (Much easier on his mom emotionally, too.) Jade and Mason are savouring a few days at home, although Jade tells me she will be spending a lot of her time on laundry and housework.

It sounds like Mason will be able to keep up with his school work too, with the help of his teacher's daughter, Whitney, who will be tutoring him. This is a big bonus for Mason, as he will be able to fit right back in with his class when he is able to return to school. He's also had friends over to help him catch up during his time at home, which has been appreciated.

There was a Valentine's tea held at the Bentley in Moose Jaw this past Sunday, where three of Mason's great-grandparents, Elmer & Betty Lien and Horace Cox, live. Proceeds from the Valentine's tea are being donated to Mason's trust fund. Thank you to the management, staff and residents at the Bentley for supporting Mason!

On Thursday of last week, two of Mason's good friends, Kael and Ethan Brentnell, had their heads shaved at a school assembly to raise money for Mason. A story about the boys' head shaving was run in the Times Herald on Saturday. If you'd like to read the story, please visit http://www.mjtimes.sk.ca/index.cfm?sid=107077&sc=15. Way to go, Kael & Ethan!!

A big thank you also to everyone who has so generously made donations to the silent auction, and also to all who have offered to volunteer their time to work the steak night. It has been wonderful to see so many people wanting to be involved and help out. Thank you!

Next on Mason's treatment schedule is blood tests at Moose Jaw Union Hospital on Tuesday. If the results come back as anticipated, he will likely be returning to Regina for more chemo on Wednesday. This round will be the same mixture as the first round, which means that once Mason is released he should be able to stay at home for 2-3 weeks - a much needed break! Keep it up, Mason - you're doing great!!

Home Sweet Home

Mason and Jade arrived home last night for a couple of days. They are both relieved to be home and enjoying the sense of normalcy that it has brought. This last round of chemo was pretty tough on Mason, and he is still feeling pretty tired. He has also had a fairly persistent stomach ache that has been a bit bothersome. On the whole though, he is just happy to be home. Mason and Jade were glad that they were able to attend Kale's basketball game today after school. (Congratulations on your basket, Kale!) Mason was able to catch up with some friends and they had fun playing in the hall while the game was on - that's so nice to hear!

Justin will be taking Jade and Mason back to the hospital on Wednesday morning, so he'll be able to help them move all their luggage in and get settled. Mason will be receiving the same chemo again this time that he got this last round. They had to try some different combinations of anti-nauseant medications to help Mason last time, but they eventually found something that worked a bit better than the others. Let's hope that they can give it to him right off the bat this time, so that he doesn't have to suffer so badly with nausea. Of course, they are not looking forward to leaving home and going back to the hospital again, but they are trying to make the most of the time they have at home.

Our thoughts and prayers will certainly be with the Clewis family on Wednesday, as always, when they head back to Regina. Here's hoping that this round is a bit easier. God bless Mason!

Silent Auction - Donations Needed

Jade told me last night that Mason is starting to feel better now after his latest round of chemo. Apparently he really suffered with nausea this time, but the nurses were able to help him a little bit with extra Gravol. He has been able to eat small amounts too and has developed a real craving for subs, so that's mostly what he's been eating. They are hopeful that he will get to come home on Sunday or Monday for a couple of days.

As you may already know, there will be a silent auction held at each of the steak nights. We are currently asking for donations of items that we can auction off. We have a few good donations already - everyone has been so generous. However, we still need more. If you or anyone you know would be willing to make a donation to the auction, please have them contact Amanda at 692-3794. Thank you for your help!

Back to the Hospital - January 30, 2008

Mason and Jade went back to Regina today for Mason's second treatment. They didn't have a room for them at the Pasqua when they first arrived, so they had to spend some time at the Allan Blair Cancer Centre until a room was ready. There was a lot of time spent today trying to get Mason very hydrated before he started the medication. The medication he received today is different from the two he received last time. (The delay since the last treatment was to allow Mason's white blood cell count to replenish.) This new medication is called Methotrexate, and Mason is once again receiving a high dose. This drug can be very dehydrating and tough on the liver and kidneys. It is therefore very important that they keep giving Mason lots of fluids. The Methotrexate was delivered intravenously starting at 6:00 tonight, and by 9:45 Mason was beginning to feel nauseated a bit. They are anticipating that Mason will be in the hospital for five days, then home for two, then back to the hospital again.

Mason has lost almost all of his hair now, but Justin let Mason shave his head too, so he's not alone. (I hear there are several others planning to join them, although Mason has now let his mom off the hook.) Justin and Kale were able to visit with Mason in Regina tonight after they finished work/school. Jade is thankful to be able to stay with Mason in his room, although her bed is a blue pad/mattress under the window, which is not particularly comfortable and has a bit of a draft. Jade says that Mason seems to be doing well and is putting up with all the tests and treatments like a champ. There are apparently lots of activities to keep Mason busy throughout the days in hospital - books, handheld games, puzzles, movies, colouring, etc., so he hasn't been feeling bored too much. Mason's doctor introduced them today to another family from a small town in Saskatchewan whose 15-year-old daughter is battling the same type of cancer as Mason. Jade said it was kind of nice to meet someone who is going through the same things as them, and to know that they are not alone in the fight.

Our little Mason is also becoming somewhat of a celebrity in the Friendly City, even being featured recently in the local paper. For any of you who do not receive the Moose Jaw Times Herald, click here to read the story that ran about Mason on January 17th: http://www.mjtimes.sk.ca/index.cfm?sid=99058&sc=15

There are limited tickets remaining for the steak nights at the Park Hotel on February 15 & 16. There were 600 tickets in total, and very few left. If you have not purchased your tickets yet, you may want to get them soon before they are gone. To everyone who has already purchased tickets - thank you for your support! When I spoke with Jade tonight, I asked if there were any messages she would like to pass along. She said she is struggling to find a way to express how grateful they are for all the support they have received - they are overwhelmed by the care and kindness they have received from everyone.

I would personally like to say a very big THANK YOU to Alysha Brentnell for keeping the blog updated while I have been away the past couple of weeks. Alysha, you have been such a great friend to Jade, and your generosity and support are appreciated.

I will be delivering a book full of email messages to Mason in the hospital sometime in the next week. The email address again is messages4mason@gmail.com. Please keep the messages coming - it's great for Mason and his family to hear how much everyone is thinking of them. Jade tells me that they have all been checking in on the blog, and Mason is enjoying reading all the comments that have been left here for him as well.

I will post another update once we hear how Mason is doing on the new medicine, hopefully in a couple of days.

Mason, we know you're being so brave. Keep it up - we're all rooting for you!!

Mason soon goes back to Regina

Hi everyone! Well, Jade and Justin just found out yesterday that Mason will return to Regina for treatment on Wed.Jan.30. He will start chemo again in the morning and have treatment for 4-5 days. His hearing test went well on Monday however his bloodcount was low, but it is back up now and he is doing really well. He is starting to lose his hair now but Mason being Mason has found the humour in his situation..................he started to lose chunks of his hair yesterday and surprise surprise he was chasing Jade around the house trying to freak her out with his hair in his hands..............what a boy.........so Mason though isn't it?!?!? It's absolutely amazing that he kept his sense of humour in this, what a fantastic job you've done Jade and Justin, its truly incredible..........laughter is such a huge part of healing. Mason has been getting caught up with his school work since he's had sometime at home, he spent the afternoon yesterday with a buddy doing some homework. All in all the Clewis family has been hangin' in there pretty good, they are still overwhelmed with the kindness that everyone still continues to show, thanks everyone it means so much to them.

finally a few days of rest

Well, the Clewis family has finally been able to have a few days of rest in the comfort of there own home. They've all been able to spend sometime together, and with friends and family. However, Jade and Justin are quickly learning to become nurses. Mason has daily GCSF injections, which they administer at home at the sametime, this injection stimulates the bone marrow to produce more white blood cells. Mason also has many other things he takes daily such as an antinausea med., magnesium, and on weekends he gets antibiotics to prevent pnemonia. He also takes a natural product called "GOJI" juice which helps build immunity which inturn builds more white blood cells. When they are home Mason has to go for regular bloodwork, he had it on Friday and everything looked good. They go tommorow to Regina for a hearing test because losing hearing is one of the side effects of the chemo so they need to do regular testing. Jade and Justin are absolutely overwhelmed and extremely greatful to have all the support. They cannot believe how wonderful everyone is being and so blessed to have such special people in their lives. Mason is loving the messages he is receiving and it sure lifts his spirits................thanks to all and they truly are blessed to have such amazing friends and family.

fundraiser/trustfund

Hi everyone, just thought I'd let you know that there will be a Steaknight for the Clewis's on Feb.15 and 16 at the Park Hotel, there are 2 place sittings for both nights (5-7 and 7-9) if you are interested and would like tickets please contact Alysha@691-0794, Mandy@694-5696, Holly@694-6489, or Deb@692-3123 there will be an auction, great door prizes and be prepared to shave your head!! Also, the wonderful ladies that Jade works with at St. Michaels school have started a trustfund for Mason if you are interested in making a donation send it to:
St.Michaels School Developmental Center
Attn: Dawnette Brett (DC Director)
1111 Brown Str.
MJ, SK. S6H 4L2
or call 693-6363 to make arrangements
cheques are payable to the Clewis Family

thanks everyone for helping to make this all a success, the Clewis's are very lucky and grateful to have such special people rooting for them!

some sleep is in sight!

well, Mason got to go home last.......yeah!!!.......and the first request was "I want a steak!".....what a kid you are Mas!! They don't know how long they are able to stay at home but for now they are going to enjoy sleeping in their own beds and being in the comfort of familiarity! They have to go for regular bloodwork at the hospital in MJ and if bloodcount is low or if he has a fever they have to go back sooner than scheduled, so they do always have a bag packed and are ready to go........so lets keep our fingers crossed that they can spend some time at home together as a family.........we'll let you know when they are back in Regina.

the battle has begun - Jan.13 '07

The battle has begun for our little Mason. He started Chemo on Friday night at 7:00pm, he is receiving 2 kinds of medicine at this time. But in total will be getting 6 different medications. He then had it again Saturday night at the same time (it having to be 24 hours apart) It is not painful for him while its happening. He has a central line in his chest that will remain there for up to a year. It is under his skin and it gets plugged into the intervenus (which chemo is administered). This prevents him from being poked and prodded everytime he has chemo. He also gets other medications through this as well such as antinausea, nutrients, antibiotics, etc. Both Friday and Saturday night Mason really struggled with being severely naseated. This seemed to subside later on in the afternoon almost time for it to start again unfortunately. Of coarse its never possible to get any sleep in the hospital anyways, but hopefully there nights will get better because as we all know sleep is half the battle in healing. Mason may possibly be able to go home tomorrow or Tuesday but he has to be eating and drinking and of coarse its so hard when you feeling sick.......so lets keep our fingers crossed. They are trying a few different meds. to help with the nausea but haven't found the right one yet, hopefully soon. Mason still tries to be tough and is fighting this every step of the way, he's amazing. Jade is holding up well but very exhausted and would give anything to have some good nights. When they go back for there next round, I believe they will do the chemo in the am, which will eliminate being up all night! Justin and Kale were at a hockey tournament in Saskatoon, which was difficult for them to be away from Mason, especially it just starting but as they say " the show must go on". On a good note, Kale's team brought home the gold.......for Mason, congrats Kale. They are all amazingly strong and are very grateful to have all of your support...thanks everyone!

January 11, 2008 - Chemo Begins

I spoke with Jade late last night and it sounds as though Mason's surgery went well. He had been given morphine following the surgery and so remained a bit dopey for a while after. There was a big wait following the surgery before Jade and Justin could see Mason, and they eventually had to ask to have him brought to them. By the time I talked to Jade around 11:00pm, Mason was feeling a bit better and had been eating and drinking again. The surgery site where the Hickman was inserted was a bit sore if touched, but it sounded as though Mason wasn't suffering too much discomfort. Mason has been transferred from the General Hospital to the Pasqua where the Allan Blair Cancer Centre is.

Mason is now scheduled to begin his chemo treatments today, so I will touch base with Jade this evening to find out how he made out.

January 10, 2008 - Hickman Surgery

We will all be thinking of Mason and his family as he begins treatment today. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mason – he has been so brave.

Today Mason is scheduled for a hearing test at 10:30. Sometimes chemotherapy medicines can affect a child’s hearing. An audiogram or hearing test is carried out before and after a course of medicine. The hearing test is painless and doesn't take very long.

Mason’s surgery is scheduled for 2:00. Because blood tests are necessary during chemotherapy, a Hickman or Portacath line is needed. This small tube will be put into Mason’s chest so blood samples can be taken, and medicine and other fluids can be given easily. It can stay in place for a long period of time, and be removed once Mason’s treatment is complete.

The commencement of Mason’s chemo treatments will depend largely on how well he is doing following his surgery today. I will post again once I am able to talk to Jade and find out how things went today.

January 8, 2008 - Meeting with Dr. Saczik

Jade and Justin met with the surgeon, Dr. Saczik, today. He will be performing the surgery to insert a central line in Mason’s chest for delivery of the chemotherapy. The procedure will be done on an outpatient basis at the Regina General Hospital on January 10. He will later be transferred to Allan Blair where he will begin chemo either late Thursday or early Friday.

December 31, 2007 - Meeting with Dr. Haq

Today, Jade, Justin and the boys met with the paediatric oncologist, Dr. Haq, in Regina. They reviewed the oncologist’s plan for treatment, so they now have a better idea what to expect in the coming months. Mason will be receiving treatment intravenously, which means that the doctor wants to put in a central line to avoid Mason having to be poked repeatedly. In order to put in a central line, Mason will have to be put under general anaesthetic. There will be a bit of a wait now while the doctor lines up an operating room for the procedure.

There was good news at the meeting too. It had been mentioned previously that the chemo would take about 12 weeks. The understanding was that Mason (and Jade) would have to be at the hospital in Regina for the entire 12 week stretch. They found out today though that Mason will be able to go home for short periods of time between treatments. This is obviously a huge relief to everyone.

Mason is receiving his treatment at the Allan Blair Cancer Centre in Regina. For more information about the facility, please visit: http://www.saskcancer.ca/Default.aspx?DN=a9576f90-46da-410d-9772-8899b89f9ca7

Please note that the Allan Blair Cancer Centre has a strict policy regarding visitors. They ask that a patient have no more than two visitors at a time. As well, anyone that is feeling even slightly ill with a cold, flu or any other type of illness should not visit the facility for the protection of all patients receiving treatment. Patients undergoing chemotherapy can be extremely susceptible to germs and viruses, so your cooperation in this regard is greatly appreciated.

A big thank you to Chris and Alysha Brentnell for hosting a New Year’s party at their house tonight for Jade, Justin, Kale and Mason to catch up with family and friends before starting Mason’s treatment.

Mason's Story

Mason heading to ER for biopsy!

For those of you who may not know Mason’s story to date, I will fill you in. Near the end of November Mason began to notice some discomfort in his left forearm. He couldn’t think of anything he had done to injure it, so his parents began keeping an eye on it to see if it would bruise. Instead, it swelled. Mason saw the paediatrician in Moose Jaw, Dr. De Leon, who sent him for an x-ray, thinking he may have broken a small bone and not been aware. Jade soon received a phone call from Dr. De Leon stating that the x-ray had been “inconclusive” and that he wanted Mason to have an MRI. He didn’t want to say what it might be, but eventually said the unthinkable - that there was some concern about a tumour. Mason immediately saw a paediatrician, Dr. Talukdar, in Regina, who scheduled him for an MRI. Mason was admitted to the Regina General Hospital for a bone scan on his arm and a CAT scan, followed by a full body bone scan. Thankfully, these tests indicated that there is no presence of cancer cells anywhere else in Mason’s body – the cancer has not metastasized. From there, Mason was sent to Edmonton for a biopsy of the growth on his arm. He had the biopsy on December 20, then there was more waiting. They had to wait 7-10 days to see what would grow. This test would definitively determine if Mason had cancer, and if so, what kind. During this time, the family was able to return to Moose Jaw and spend Christmas at home. Jade and Justin received the news shortly after Christmas that Mason had been diagnosed with Osteosarcoma.

Osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone cancer. It usually develops from osteoblasts (the cells that make growing bone), and so it is common for it to appear during periods of rapid bone growth. The good news is that with the proper diagnosis and treatment, most kids with osteosarcoma make a full recovery.

If you would like to learn more about Osteosarcoma, please visit the following link: www.kidshealth.org/parent/medical/cancer/cancer_osteosarcoma.html

Welcome to Mason's Blog

As a means to keeping friends and family informed as to Mason’s progress, I will be working with Jade and Justin to keep this blog updated regularly with news on Mason’s treatment. Please check back as often as you would like for updates.

If you would like to send a message to Mason or anyone in the Clewis family, you can email messages4mason@gmail.com. These messages will be a nice reminder for Mason when the going gets tough that we are all cheering him on.