Blog moving

Cooper's blog is moving to http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/coopervocelka

I think it will allow easier notification of updates, more pictures!, and maybe as a source of hope to others.

Please visit and be sure to check the box to be notified.

ron

Another milestone

This past Sunday, December 6, St. Nicholas Day, was one year since Cooper's first MRI showing the tumor and our intial trip to CMH.


The past two months since the last post have been really good. Cooper has been to Houston twice. Once with Dad and his friend Russ to the Johnny Romano Skate Jam for Texas Make A Wish, and then the family all went down to his Uncle Paul and Aunt Kathy's for Thanksgiving and family reunion. Also the weekend before thanksgiving he went with the St Mary's Youth group to KC for the National Catholic Youth Conference. He and all the SMY kids had a blast.

He has been doing great in school and still skateboarding as often as he can. Going to a dance this weekend and looking forward to a fantastic Christmas.

Thank you all for your continued prayers. Please say prayers for Easton, Liam, Bethany, Mary, Nick, Jessica, Karson, Jillian and all children fighting tumors and cancer.

Wishing you all a blessed Advent.
RSC

Awesomeness

Tuesday, 10/6, we were back at CMH for Cooper's 3 month MRI scan and oncology follow-up.
ALL CLEAR! No sign of any recurrence of the tumor! YEA!

He doesn't have to go back until January for next scan and follow-up with oncologist and neurosurgeon.

Sherry and I will celebrate our 16th wedding anniversary this Friday and could not have asked for a better gift!

Please say a prayer for a little girl named Michaela from our area who has luekemia and is now at CMH and will be there a while.

Love to all,
rsc

A Year Ago

A year ago this week on Labor Day is when Cooper's symptoms first started appearing. He spent the day vomiting and the evening in the ER. Little did we know 3 months later we would hear those words "there is something there" after an MRI and would be on our way to Children's Mercy in KC.

Thankfully, a year later, things are pretty much back to normal. The picture of Cooper & Sherry at the top is from vacation just a few weeks ago.

Cooper is a freshman at McAuley High School, skateboarding whenever he gets a chance, hanging out with friends and getting ready for his first homecoming dance this weekend.

A month from now we'll head back to KC for another MRI - and pray that all will be clear and things stay normal.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month. In the U.S., over 12,000 children under the age of 21 are diagnosed with cancer every year, approximately 3,000 of them will not survive the disease. A diagnosis can turn the lives of a family upside down - days suddenly filled with alternating moments of courage, frustration, boredom, anxiety and pain.

The objective of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is to put a spotlight on the types of cancer that largely affect children, survivorship issues, and - importantly - to help raise funds for research groups working towards cures. You can find out more about childhood cancers at http://www.curesearch.org/

Also the diagnosis of invasive brain and nervous system cancers accounts for 17 percent of all pediatric cancers, second only to acute lymphocytic leukemia. About half of the diagnosed cases of brain tumors are malignant. You can find out more about childhood braint tumors at http://www.pbtfus.org/

Please keep all the children fighting cancers in your prayers. Also if you would please say a prayer for my co-worker Mark who underwent surgery for a brain tumor -astrocytoma - this week.

And finally, again, THANK YOU to all who have been so loving, supportive and generous this past year. We could NOT have done this without you.

God Bless,

RSC

Great Day

Monday July 6 was exactly 7 months since Cooper's first MRI when we heard the words "there is something there." Thankfully also on Monday he went to a pool party with his friends.

Tuesday we went to KC and Cooper had his MRI scan. We then went to the HemOnc Clinic and saw the oncologists.

The radiologist had not sent the report on the MRI yet but the oncologists said they thought everything looked good and were well pleased with his progress. Also they took him off the Depakote - the anti-seizure medicine - which was the only med he was taking YEA! (Do say a prayer that he has no seizures). As per the protocol, they scheduled his next MRI for 3 months from now in October.

Wednesday we went to see the neurosurgeon. He said he had seen the MRI and all look good. He too was pleased with Cooper's progress and said he did not need to see Cooper for 6 months!

Of course words cannot express how grateful we are. Thankful that we have a fine facility with amazing doctors and nurses to have cared for Cooper and for the even more amazing friends and family who continue to provide love and support.

We ask that you continue to pray not only for Cooper but also for Jillian, Karson, Bethany, Liam, Jay, Trace, Jaxon, and all the childhood victims of cancer. And please say a special prayer for a young lady named Jessica who has been fighting a VERY tough battle.

with much love,
RSC

Updates

If you would like for me to send you an email whenever the blog is updated - send me an email at rjvocelka@yahoo.com and please put update cooper for the subject line.

pax,
ron

summertime

Sorry it has been sooooo long. Things are going very well. Cooper's May 6 appointment was good-doctor said he could pretty much do what ever he wants. July 7 we go back to KC for MRI and visit with Oncologist and Neurosurgeon. Pray that the scan comes back clear.


Cooper was able to attend the last few weeks of school and all the fun activities. Eighth grade got out a week early on May 15. May 19 was graduation night (picture at right) and on his birthday May 20 a group from his class went to Silver Dollar City and then stopped in Springfield on the way home for dinner at Hooters!


He has been going skateboarding as often as he can get to the ramp park and has returned to taking guitar lessons.


The first week of June, I was on furlough and we made a trip to Texas to see family and had lots of fun. Went out on Jay's boat on Lake Travis, rode Jay's horse Cowboy, hit 6th St in Austin, went to San Antonio and SeaWorld. Then went to Houston and went to Astros game with Paul and Kathy and a day trip to Galveston.

Cooper is now taking a summer school class to help him catch up on some of the Algebra he missed.

Craig is coming to visit the 27th-29th. And then we'll see what else we can do this summer. It is going by fast.

Love to all
ron