- April 6, 2005 - The Escape!
Amazin’ Hazen Escapes Hospital Confines - Houdini on Notice
DATELINE NEW YORK, APRIL 1, 2005 EARLY EDITION
(A pre-cautionary note to the reader: This is not an April Fools joke nor is it meant to shock, titillate, or incite. The management does not endorse, condone, nor abet what is about to be described. Do NOT try this at home.)
New York, NY- After six consecutive weeks* of being shut-in the edifice of 1275 York Avenue- floor 9, otherwise known as Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the Amazin’ Hazen has successfully escaped his confinement and the clutches of the whitecoats. Our hero, age 4 and a native of Hell’s Kitchen was reportedly seen leaving a shiny black car in that neighborhood over the weekend, though he was wearing a colorfully decorated mask over his nose and mouth. Sighting confirmations are continuing to come in. A source (unconfirmed) has informed us that Hazen has decided to take some time off the Hospital Endurance Stay Circuit (HESC) and stunt performing in order to work on a new project of interest called Slimecano, amass the entire Scooby Doo catalog and… spend more time with his family at home. As of press time, calls and inquires put into Amazin’ have not been returned.
*includes 3 weeks of solitary confinement-a newly added challenge to amazin' history and a new world record.
To: The Family of Supporters, Boosters, and Big Hearts of Amazin' Hazen Kennedy:
We are hoooooome! and doing outpatient every other day.
Factor of Three
Hazen was originally admitted to NY Presbyterian Hospital on Feb. 19 because of breathing problems. After five days on the ventilator he conquered that challenge and was able to breath well on his own. Next, came isolation from exposure to the Chicken Pox. 21 days later…No positive, nothing grown, nada, negatory. What continued to keep him in the hospital were three factors- Fevers, rapid breathing, and high blood pressure. With patience, will, efficacious drugs, and a proficient medical team, his fevers and breathing issues were eventually tamed- the hypertension was still an issue despite four different medications to alleviate it. The systolic/diastolic was going through the roof and we were scratching our heads.
Finally, with the help of Dr. Flombaum. a world-renown adult renal specialist who took an interest in solving the hypertension puzzle, we were able to take down this third barrier and Hazen seized the moment to make his opportune, if daring escape.
Three surgery dates have come and gone. These were not meant to be- we now know this in both our minds and hearts. He will win this race on his terms and no one else’s. Our job is to help him be in the best position to win and provide “en...ment”. Hazen strongly possess the “courage” and together we have encouragement. The skilled surgeon will know when the right time is for the successful resection of the tumor to take place.
For the next attempt, the Neuroblastoma team has reserved two different dates -both of which we asked them not to reveal to us. We are already prepared mentally and don’t need to know the date(s) until a few days before. This is the way it will work this time.
Home Heart Happy Hazen
Environment, setting, and context make an astronomical difference to Hazen and the other cancer kids. Of course, our stay in the cancer treatment center is vitally important, however, Mr. H is empowered at home- he wants to walk, eat, wrestle, socialize, and have at it with the world.
Walking-he still likes to be carried about half of the time but has a much stronger desire to walk at home. During our first night home, Amazin’ H. pulled another masterfully daring escape…this time at 3:00 AM he contorted his body to fit between the bed guard rail and the headboard (about 9”), grabbed his IV lines and his IV pole (about 20 lbs. on wheels), sauntered 20-feet from his bedroom to our front room towing tubes and the pole and stood in front of our deep-sleeping selves to say, “Mom…I thought you were going to sleep next to me?”
Eating- The brawny lad has actually gained a little weight even without eating thanks to his TPN (the IV nutrition he gets). Since being at home, Hazen has a desire to eat. Sometimes his tummy doesn’t accept what his brain and taste buds crave as he has vomited much of what he has taken down. This will diminish as his G.I system slowly gets used to food again. The good news is that Hazen has an intellectual desire to eat- a great accomplishment and more than half of the battle. He asks for corn soup, chocolate pudding, Scooby Doo squeeze yogurt, blueberry and pomegranate juices, and strawberry soy ice cream.
Wrestling- (more like karate). Hazen was introduced to a program called “Kids Kicking Cancer” at Memorial Sloan. Karate instructors come every week to work with the kids on empowering them to actively fight their cancer through breathing, visualization, kicking, and punching. Hazen has embraced this program (no surprise since he was destined to be a boxer/poet) and works out against his mom and dad’s backs and hands daily since being home. Hazen (yelling): “Hi…ya….Hi…ya…I’m practicing.” He also created his own stuffed animal at one of those “build-a-bear” type places. He chose a white cat (his #1 favorite creature), personally picked-out the clothes (a karate uniform), named the creature himself (Kicker the Cat) and personally chose by himself, which personality trait medallions to sew inside the cat’s tummy. The personality trait medallion choices were: Loyal, Friendly, Funny, Brave, Smart and Creative. Hazen chose 3 Brave medals and told the man to sew them inside the cat.
Spring Life
We are on our way! The healing, the miracle has begun. Next comes surgery; potentially some more chemo; MIBG radioactive isotope treatment, and antibody immunotherapy.
We hear the crack of the bat, feel the warm sun, watch the nourishing rain, and smell the fledgling cherry blossoms. Spring and its possibilities!
Lesson learned: we are on no time line. We look forward to each day and give thanks each night.
Thank you everyone for continuing to think of our son and us. We are all a family.
Continue to offer prayers, positive thoughts, good intentions, and visualizations of Hazen…as a shy kindergartner; a middle school boy in detention; an 11th grade soccer player, and a post-college backpacker in Europe.
We feel everything that you do. Stay with us on this course and keep cheering us on.
This is working and will continue to work thanks to all of us and God’s will. His healing WILL happen.
The Amazin’ Hazen continues to, well…Amaze!
We are the Kennedy Family,
Scott Suzan Hazen (attached picture enclosed)
~Bless Amina and love to her family~
