One of the many things that life with Max has taught me, is that life is just one big coincidence after another. That and Max can make friends with anyone, anywhere. Especially at a baseball game! At this year's last home series for the D-Backs Max spent most of the game turned around in order to entertain the spectators behind us. (Much to Michele's chagrin because he was convinced that Max was bothering more innocent victims.) In yet another one of Max's many coincidences it turned out that the two couples sitting behind us have "ties" to Max's life , one couple, who are huge baseball enthusiasts (how could Max NOT have loved them?), live right behind the fields where Max plays football in Glendale. The other couple actually know Max's football coach. Small world! Once again Max and his incredible zeal and desire to entertain lead us to meet more wonderful people.Ron and Kim have been fabulous in coming out to see Max play. Kim is a wonderful photographer who took these pictures at Friday night's game, what a great job! Thanks Kim!
Because in this house we live by the adage of “never a dull moment” our weekend kicked-off with a bang! After returning from Max’s first flag football game of the season (or at least his shortened season), we found Ellie at home obviously not feeling well. As the evening progressed, because an emergency just isn’t an emergency if it doesn’t happen after midnight on a weekend, Michele felt we needed to take her to the ER. By “we” I mean “me”, evidently as far as my husband is concerned I am the queen of the ER and the bypassing of all lines and wait times, after nine years with Max I must confess he’s right.
And thus began our “ER Drill” I quickly washed my face, brushed my teeth and put on my “ER sweats” (yes, I really do have clothes set aside for ER runs, those places are cold and germy and I’m not looking to win any beauty contests when I get there). I admit once we got there I may just have broken my own best time, we arrived at the ER around 1 am and Ellie was home and tucked into her own bed by 3, sleeping peacefully after a shot or two of morphine (who wouldn’t be?). Now I admit Ellie and her stomach virus are much easier to manage medically than Max would be with any of his myriad of ailments so I might not truly have any bragging rights on my personal best time on this one but a girl’s got to take whatever accolades she can get! I’m happy to report that Ellie is back to her old self: computer in one hand, phone in the other as she plans her Fall Break activities with friends. Love those Friday night fire-drills!
On the Max front, our plans for Hopkins continue to unfold. It has, unfortunately, been decided that Max will have to have surgery to biopsy his liver. We had been hoping and praying that his most recent labs which indicated an improvement in his elevate liver enzymes would put this procedure off but the GI doc feels they have been elevated for too long so we need a better idea of why. The worst part of the whole thing is that he honestly told us the results may simply come back as “unspecified changes” (in Max’s liver tissue), which is what most of Max’s test results indicate. We have come to accept Max’s “unspecified changes” but it just makes it so hard to put him through invasive testing to be told that there are abnormalities which cannot be treated because there is nothing specific to treat. The surgery will also extend our stay in Baltimore to be sure that Max has plenty of re-coup time before flying home.
Max knows we are staying longer than usual and even has an inkling as to why but he’s putting a positive spin on it all by assuming a longer stay means more DC cupcakes (one of his favorite TLC food shows) as provided by another of his adoring fans, my college roommate. Karen, I suggest you come through with his stash because everyone’s life will be miserable if there are no treats for Max!
Before closing I wanted to thank everyone who has helped us with this trip: the prayers and well-wishes are needed and much appreciated. We could not walk this journey with Max if it wasn’t for everyone who has stood beside us the whole way. Some we know and who have become family and those we don’t but we feel your love for Max all the same. Thank you.
We just found out our dates for Hopkins yesterday. Max's appointments will all be the week of 11/8, somethings are already scheduled, others are waiting on test results to decide what needs to be done. Either way the fun can officially begin: travel needs to be coordinated, lodging needs to be found, and the most fun of all.... authorizations for medical services need to be obtained (x 2 for both of Max's insurances)!As much as we look forward to seeing these doctors and discussing how Max is doing, we just really hate this schlep across the country! More news to follow....Note to Ann: If you ever ended up finding the Xanax you REALLY need to share!
I want to know what kind of "mother" (using the term very loosely) does this? It goes beyond scamming strangers but to make your child think he is critically ill? Most parents of children with serious, chronic medical issues struggle everyday to make their kids feel "normal". Why would someone want to make their child suffer like this? And all for $7,000.....Michigan mom accused of shaving son's head, eyebrows to fake cancer arraigned on charges
10-01-2010 08:55 AM MST By COREY WILLIAMS, Associated Press Writer
ROSEVILLE, Mich. (Associated Press) --
A Detroit-area woman who authorities say told her 12-year-old son he had leukemia, shaved his head and eyebrows, and held a church fundraiser that pulled in more than $7,000 has made a brief court appearance.
Forty-seven year-old Carol Lynn Schnuphase (SCHNOO'-fays) of Warren was arraigned Friday in Roseville, Mich. Schnuphase faces two counts of false pretenses over $1,000 and one count of second-degree child abuse.
She was held on $100,000 bond and a preliminary hearing was set for Oct. 13.
Defense lawyer Dominic Greco says bond was set too high. He says Schnuphase has no money.
Authorities say the boy didn't have leukemia, and that Schnuphase drugged the boy's applesauce with opiates to make him appear lethargic.
The child is in foster care.
