Summer Sessions

August 18

Miles continues to amaze. His chemotherapy is double-edged: challenging, in that he is relegated to six-day stretches of IV meds and hydration; but bearable, because of the longish stretches in between treatments, and fewer side effects on the new regimen--mostly intermittent fatigue.  Miles has approached his new normal with grace and positive energy. He has enjoyed long summer days with friends and family: swimming, cheering on his friends at the baseball field, tackling his new role as football coach (many thanks to Coach Burd and the ORYA football family), catching some movies, and even finding some room for reading.  He is poised to start seventh grade in just a few weeks.

The stretch ahead: between now and school, he will accomplish much. 

This Wednesday: Miles is on-the-air! (see below).

This Thursday: he meets his prosthetist to be fitted for his first prosthetic leg. This is so exciting for us.  This is progress.  Since leg designs will have to accommodate Miles' plans for baseball, football, snowboarding, hockey, and yes, surfing, the prosthetist will have his work cut out for him, so to speak.  More on that later.

This Friday: Miles checks back into the surgical unit at Children's Hospital for the first of two open thoracotomies (lung surgeries) to address the suspected metastatic disease on his lungs.  Friday, Dr. Weldon addresses his right lung in a procedure expected to take four to six hours.  He'll explore every centimeter, excising any suspicious spots.  Miles will be in the hospital for the better part of next week.  We will be sure to update everyone on his progress.

Miles hopes to attend the first day of school with his classmates on September 2, before returning to Dana-Farber for chemotherapy the very next day.  We expect the second thoracotomy later this fall.

Miles recognizes this is a long process, but he has chosen patience and positivity as mantras, and his family and friends are following his lead.

Through this marathon, many people have asked if Miles plans to become a physician someday.  While he is seriously considering that career path, he is taking a page from mom’s professional playbook in the meantime, having a go at fundraising for Dana-Farber during this week's Jimmy Fund Telethon: 

Miles has agreed to share his story on WEEI's Dale & Holley program, this Wednesday, August 19, during the 2 o'clock hour.  Please tune in if you can.  You can catch the interview on 93.7 FM in the Boston area, or streaming live at www.weei.com

He'll be at Fenway Park all day Wednesday, starting with the interview, and sticking around for the Red Sox game that evening.

For more information on how the Jimmy Fund supports cancer patients and their families, please visit www.jimmyfund.org