Richard’s Team in Training

Late September of last year, in an attempt to control an ever worsening sinus problem which was already affecting his hearing, we had his Tonsils and Adenoids removed and a set of Ear Tubes put in. This procedure caused a rare problem known as Velo Pharyngeal Insufficiency (they took too much and now they will have to put it back). Richard was the hit of all parties as he could pass entire cupcakes & more through his nose. Richard never really recovered from that surgery. He didn’t resume P.E. or was not able to swim the entire distance in swim team. His Kindergarten teacher sent him home multiple times with leg pains and in December he had a round of flu. During this time we made multiple trips to doctors and hospitals in Mobile, Birmingham, and Pensacola. In early March a lucky break with the sinus pediatrician in Birmingham found a low count of red blood cells. That took us to a new Hematologist Oncologist Doctor with the Nemours clinic in Pensacola.

April 2007

(April 2, 2007) Richard had a bone marrow test that showed a 95% saturation of leukemia cells.
(April 3, 2007) They put a port in Richards chest and started multiple chemo’s.

Richard spent Easter in the Hospital. A nurse’s daughter arraigned an egg hunt at the hospital this is one of Richard Allyn’s best early memories. My sister, friends and husband pulled off the egg hunt I had planned at our house.

Richard was never able to resume school as his immune system was compromised and he had missed a serious number of days already. A dear friend, Mary Rush Schreiber offered to teach Richard at home and that has been going extremely well.

So many of you have been so kind to send cards, toys, food, prayers and good wishes. We are blessed to have so many thoughtful friends.

May 2007

Richard was in and out of the Hospital the entire month. The steroids have really kicked in and Richard’s appetite is amazing. His least favorite part of the hospital treatments is the not being able to eat before the procedure.

The youth of our church chose Richard as their mascot for the local Relay for Life cancer walk. Richard was in the Hospital during the walk.

The Gulf Coast Wings of Hope arraigned for us to get to ride on a large boat in the Gulf for several hours and after threw a party on the beach for many cancer kids and their families in our area.

Richard missed his piano recital but the teacher played his song for the children and still presented Richards awards.

The Academy the boys attend raised money for Alex’s Lemonade Stand a group raising money for childhood cancer. At the Pink Party (end of the year school event) they gave Randy a Lemon Tree to bring home to Richard and on it were a million paper lemons with good wishes from the Academy Families.

June 2007

The Balloon Festival was the highlight of the month. A good friend was told he could ride in a the Touchstone Balloon as he was a board member of the local power company. He in turn asked Richard if he would like to take his place. The answer was Yes.

Thanks to Tommy Rachel, Richard flew in 4 different Balloons. He saw lots of the county and was interviewed by Channel 3 News. Mom, Dad and Brother got to go up too! Richard helped to present the awards at the end of the festival.

July 2007