News Report on tires

http://www.click2houston.com/news/Cancer-patient-s-tires-stolen-off-car/-/1735978/16147600/-/13yscql/-/index.html

Still NO response from Marriott.

We have three security guards

Friday, August 3, we walked out to our car to go to the hospital to do Dusty's daily radiation treatment.  I noticed my passenger glass window was shattered.  I stopped by the front office and told the manager what had happened.  He said, "When you return from radiation we will call the police and file a report."  We went on with our routine.  When we got back the hotel manager called the police and they came out to file a report.  The police said it is a common thing in Houston and sadly the only time they meet nice people is in cases like this.  Lovely town.  While probing me I told the police officer our story and why we are here in Houston.  He felt bad that we were having to deal with this on top of fearing for our future.  He said he would do drive-bys at night and keep an eye on things.  Just then, the hotel manager said (in a "holy" proud tone), "We have three security guards!"  Oh, WOW!  Three security guards, well, they must be employees of the year!  I said, "Yeah, I've seen two of them sleeping on their golf carts, twice!"  He looked surprised and said he would take care of that and that it is noted.  Well, that's just great!  Glad I could secret shop your security guards.  I called around to see if any of the traveling glass repair companies were available.  No one could fit us in so Saturday, Ashley took us to get my window repaired ($208).  I'm so thankful for Ashley, don't know what I would do without her here!

Monday, August 6, Dusty has his last chemotherapy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Yes, please take a moment to celebrate!

Monday night I had a hard time going to sleep.  Reynolds, my first born, my pride and joy, started kindergarten on Tuesday morning.  I was going through many emotions about missing this huge event in his life.  I didn't get much sleep.  I woke up early so that I could talk to Reynolds before he went to school.  He was so excited. His enthusiasm brightened my mood.  Not long after we hung up the hotel phone rang.  It was the front desk telling me that the manager was outside my door and wanted to talk to me.  I thought it was about my window.  I got up and went out there.  As we started walking towards my car he said, "We had another break-in."  I turned the corner expecting to see my window broken when...... BAM, I saw it, my car was sitting on blocks.  They stole my wheels and tires.  I lost it.  I couldn't believe it.  I screamed, "ARE YOU SERIOUS?"  I said, "Where was the security?  What were they doing?  Sleeping again?"  He told me that he took their golf carts away since I told him that they were sleeping on their golf carts.  Oh good, take a lazy person's transportation away and expect them to WALK around a hotel!  I couldn't take it.  I had to go get Dusty because I was ready to collapse.  I opened the hotel door and said, "Dusty, my car is sitting on blocks." He quickly came down.  After a few choice words with the manager we had to go inside and get ready to go to radiation.  Before going our separate ways the manager said he would call his insurance company and that they have special cases for things like this.  So, in my mind they were going to make it right.  Ashley came and got us and took us to radiation.  She got to meet some of my "waiting room buddies" and we shared our car story with them.  I called the hotel twice during the day and never got an answer from the manager.  At 6:00 pm I went up to the front lobby and spoke with the him.  He gave me the insurance company's phone number and our claim number.  He then told me that is it between us and the insurance company and the hotel and insurance is not responsible for theft or damage to cars.  This didn't sit well with me, especially since we are spending almost $6,500 at this hotel.

MORE TO COME ON THIS STORY.......  I'M PLAYING PHONE TAG WITH THE INSURANCE AGENT FOR MARRIOTT.  I DIDN'T GET ANYWHERE WITH THEIR CORPORATE OFFICE.

My boys! My boys!

One of the hardest parts of cancer is trying to figure out how to deal with it.  Everyday is different.  Some days Dusty feels great; he gets out and goes places, goes to the pool and gym, plays golf etc.  Then, other days he can't get out of bed, throws up bile and blood, and screams in pain.  You never know what to expect.  Dusty did so great while our kids were here.

It was Friday, July 27, I didn't sleep a wink the night before.  It was like we were expecting our third child.  We were overwhelmed with joy and excitement.  We went to radiation and then headed to the airport.  We arrived an hour early (maybe that will magically make the plane arrive early), parked, and went into the baggage claim area.  We were so giddy, pacing back and forth, and checking the arrival screen every four minutes.  Finally, Delta flight from Atlanta was arriving.  Tears started filling our eyes.  We ran to the bottom of the escalator waiting for them to come down.  Oh the anticipation is killing me!!  Then, I see my boys.  Oh, my boys, my boys!  I could barely wait for them to get off the escalator and our of the way of others.  Reynolds and Harland ran to us.  I grabbed Reynolds and could barely pick him up.  He has gotten so big.  Such a tall and handsome little man!  Dusty had Harland in his arms.  Harland quickly started calling for me.  We switched kids.  Harland held me so tight.  I could feel how much he missed me in his little grasp.  He wouldn't let go of my arm and that was fine with me.  We were all in tears.  Mom was crying watching her family unite again.  It will always be a special moment in my heart.  

We spent the weekend in San Antonio and got to spend time with some of my cousins and their children, and aunts and uncles.  It was a nice weekend and Dusty's energy and health was strong.

Monday is our busy day so we just hung around the hospital and hotel pool.  Our doctors, nurses, and "waiting room friends" all enjoyed meeting our kids.  It was nice for Reynolds to see "normal" people with cancer.

Tuesday we went to the Houston's Children's Museum, voted the best Children's museum in the United States.  It was so much fun.  We really had a good time building things, doing experiments, and playing with the boys.  Tuesday afternoon we went back to the hotel and went to the pool with the boys.  Reynolds got to talking to a young man, who was playing basketball.  He has cancer too.  They started playing basketball (the courts are next to the pool) and I joined in.  We decided to play PIG.  He kept missing and saying that he was just a P, but I rolled with it.  I knew I was winning!  :)  But, after a while of me realizing this is never going to end I had to call it quits and pull the dinner time card.  When we were walking back to our room, I told Dusty about him cheating.  Dusty had been talking to his mom while the kids and me were playing with him.  She told him that he has an inoperable tumor in his brain and that he can't produce new memories.  So, he couldn't remember that we were playing PIG and couldn't remember what letters he had.  I felt so bad.  The mother told Dusty that he is her second son with cancer.  Ugh, my heart aches for her.  He is only 28 and can't remember anything since December 2011.  He has no short term memory.  So sad.  We meet people daily with amazing survival stories.  This place is magical.

Wednesday we took the kids to the Houston Aquarium.  It was fun but doesn't have anything on the Atlanta Aquarium.  It wasn't a full day event so we decided to take the kids to Bass ProShop so they could see more fish and animals.  The ProShop is in an outlet mall so we got to participate in some of Reynolds' back to school shopping.  We are going to miss open house and his first two weeks of kindergarten.  It breaks my heart to miss this major milestone in Reynolds' life but we are doing what we have to do so that Dusty will be there for Reynolds' college graduation.  Wednesday evening we swam for a little while and then settled in to watch the Olympics.  

Thursday arrived, the dreaded departure date.  But, it came at a good time because Dusty's health started taking a turn for the worse.  I think he overdid it while the kids were here but it was very important to Dusty that Reynolds see him strong and not sick.  Reynolds has been very worried and has made comments about his daddy dieing of cancer, so Dusty was not going to be down while they were here.  Dusty got sick that morning but Reynolds was pretty shielded from it.  We went to radiation then off to the airport.  We didn't plan on it being gone long so Dusty didn't bring his pain medicine.  As we pulled into the airport my dad called and their flight had been delayed three hours.  We were too far from our hotel to return so we went to McDonalds to let the kids play and try to wear them out before the flight.  Dusty started feeling leg pains about an hour into it.  Pain in his bones and in his muscles.  Dusty hung in there for another hour but then it got to a breaking point.  We had to take the kids and mom on to the airport and get him back to our room.  We made our goodbye short and sweet.  I didn't want to drag it out and upset them more.   While pulling out of the airport Dusty and I both lost it.  We cried harder in this moment than when he was diagnosed with cancer.  Saying goodbye to your children is the hardest thing to do.  It rips your heart out.  

It was a much needed trip.  We cuddled with our babies and enjoyed every second of it.  While in San Antonio, we had a king bed so all four Haydens snuggled in.  We spent the first hour of each night just giggling and playing in the bed.  Then, in Houston Dusty and I took turns with the kids.  I've never been one to let the kids sleep with us but I think my rules have changed.  I never want to let them go now!

Since they left, Dusty has had ups and downs.  Thursday and Friday were horrible days, Saturday (we spent the day with Ashley Bridges) and Sunday (he played golf) were good days.  Then today, Monday, another bad day.  But, today we celebrate:  TODAY WAS HIS LAST CHEMO TREATMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  He still has to take the chemo pills in the morning and night until Friday but he does not have to do inter venous chemo anymore.  8 more radiations.  Aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!  I'm so excited to see the end.