Off leash & Off treatment!

Last Sunday morning, we went on a hike with my TNT mentor (Sarah), her friends (Kieran and Jane), and 2 dogs (Timm and Granite) at Redwood Regional Park in Oakland. It was a nervous moment when we let Fred off-leash for the first time ever during the hike, but he did a GREAT job recalling and staying with the pack. Thanks, Timm and Granite!!! I don't think he would have done it without you two!

Here are some pictures...

On Sunday afternoon, I also went to an End-of-Treatment party for a patient who I took care of during my intern year of residency. Three years later and several inches taller, Cameron has now BEAT leukemia!!! Congratulations, Cameron!

Here's a picture of me, Cameron and Carla, the Child Life Specialist who also works at Kaiser. She's also training for the Avenue of the Giants half-marathon with Team in Training.


One of the most striking things on display at Cameron's party was his Beads of Courage necklace. During his 3 years of treatment, he got a different bead for each course of chemotherapy, bone marrow aspirate, lumbar puncture, surgery, hospital stay, etc. that he had braved. Would you believe that his necklace was over 10 feet long?!?!? It really put into perspective all that cancer patients have to endure during treatment...




Beads of Courage Color Guide
Beige - Bone marrow aspirate / biopsy
White - Course of chemotherapy
Orange - Central line/Port/PICC line insertion & removal
Blue - Clinic visit
Magenta - Emergency/Ambulance/Unusual occurrence
Brown - Hair loss/thinning
Lime - Isolation/Fever/Neutropenia
Tortoise - Lumbar puncture
Purple - Morphine/Dopamine/PCA infusions
Silver & Black - Pokes (IV starts, blood draws, IM injections, port access)
Glow in the Dark - Radiation treatments
Light green - Tests/scans (EEG, ECG, ECHO, MRI, CT, bone scan, gallium, etc.)
Red - Transfusions
Aqua - Tube insertions (catheter, chest, NG, Foley)
Yellow - Inpatient admission
Dark green - Stem cell harvest/Dialysis/TPN
Silver - Surgery and dressing changes
Square heart - Transfer to PICU
Special glass beads - Act of courage
Special selection - Special accomplishments and recognition
Glass selection - Bone marrow transplant
Purple heart - Completion of treatment

In other exciting news, our friends Heather and Gian just rescued a black cocker spaniel mix who they've named Nico. Pictures of him to come soon...