Little Dragon

May qua, Me van vo duoc blog nay. Thoi gian di nhanh qua con trai, moi day ma con xa me da gan 5 nam roi. CHop mat ma ngo nhu hom qua. Me nho con that nhieu. Neu con khong xa me co the cuoc song me da khac di nhieu dung khong con?

Time has gone so fast. I miss Christopher lot. Now Bridget keeps me busy, everything she does which reminds me about Christopher at this age. Sometime, I feel it is unfair to Bridget to live under Christopher's wings, but she will understand.
I will need to be back later.

Time goes by, our pain seems to be settled down. I even couldn't get back to this website for almost a year. Now I try, and the pain still sharp in my heart. I cried nights and days, missing my little beautifull boy is the most terrilbe thing I have been through. I know, nobody can understand and feel what I have been through. Many people keep on telling me what to do and how to feel, I think it is weird for them to tell me how to feel. But I appreciate their kindness. They just don't know what to do in our case.
I really miss my baby boy. I hope he forgives me any times I was mean to him for my tired, frustrated or any things else. I loves him with all my heart, remember every words he said, every moment with him, every kisses he gave me, every every thing.
I hope his soul will rest peacefully.

One night, I cryied and wondered if Christopher had good time with us, if he understood my love for him. That night, I saw him in my dream, bright and happy, he hold my face and said very clearly: Mommy, I love you! It really eased my pain but I know that wound will be in my heart forever.
Christopher became Little Angel on December 19, 2007 at 4.45 am.

By Pat Sherman
TODAY'S LOCAL NEWS
May 26, 2007
Escondido band teacher David Gibney thumbed through the black binder in his hands as if considering music for his students' next concert.

However, the pages, full of barely pronounceable words, would help him and his wife, Quynh, make a more crucial decision: how best to proceed with their 2-year-old son's chemotherapy.
In January, Christopher Gibney was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rapidly spreading cancer of the sympathetic nervous system.

About 600 cases are diagnosed each year in the United States, primarily in children. The cancer can cause tumors in the abdomen, neck, chest, spinal cord or other areas.

Christopher's tumors originated in his spinal cord. The largest was discovered on the right side of his skull, below the skin.

Sitting on his bed at Kaiser Foundation Hospital in San Diego's Allied Gardens neighborhood, Christopher's brown eyes focused intently on an educational program on his father's laptop.

Gibney stood by a mattress on the floor, where he has slept many nights for the last four months. He displayed an assortment of cards, some made by his students.

Neuroblastoma information
www.cncf-child
cancer.org

How to help

People interested in making a donation to the Gibney family should contact Suzi Camp at (760) 432-2400, ext. 163, or Julia Dodson at Reidy Creek Elementary School, (760) 739-5800.

Gibney teaches about 500 students at Farr, Felicita, Miller, Pioneer, Reidy Creek and Rose elementary schools.

Band volunteer Kathy Shell, the grandmother of Reidy Creek clarinetist Arianna Shell, sent a card wishing the Gibneys well. Two students at Pioneer Elementary School expressed words of compassion on a handmade paper heart.

On April 27, Felicita Elementary School had a carnival that raised $3,000 to help with the Gibney family's medical expenses. At Reidy Creek, parents, teachers and students raised $1,700 for the family, $200 coming from an in-class coin drive.

“One of our students, fifth-grader Abigail Bozzay, chose to donate her personal savings of $100,” said Julia Dodson, Reidy Creek office manager. “Her generosity is one example of the kindness displayed regularly throughout the Reidy Creek community.”

Employees at the Escondido Union School District office also are taking up a collection.

When Gibney thinks about the outpouring, he said, it restores his faith in human nature.

“It's been astonishing,” said Gibney, 52. “I think that we've experienced the true character of humankind, and that is the primary healing force, not just for our son, but for everyone.”

Gibney said he also believes in the power of prayer and positive thought.

“I try to make sure that people are aware of Christopher's name and his image and the specifics of what we're really wanting to come across that week,” Gibney said. “I think if people really visualize a reduction of the tumor or a clearing of the bone marrow, that is a very empowering prayer. I believe that mind and spirit have a strong impact in complementing the medical treatment.”

Though Gibney's insurance through the school district has covered the bulk of their medical expenses, he and his wife must cover co-payments and the cost of traveling from their home in San Clemente.

Born in Vietnam, Quynh moved from Saigon to the United States in 2004. She had just obtained her driver's license and started her first job in the United States, as an assistant with an automobile insurance company, when Christopher was diagnosed and she had to quit her job.

“She had just gained a certain amount of autonomy,” her husband said. “It was a real loss for her.”

Quynh said the support she and her husband have received helped her adjust.

“It's just a really big help,” she said. “We feel really grateful.”

Christopher has undergone five three-week chemotherapy cycles and is scheduled for his sixth.

A CT scan on May 1 showed that after four cycles of chemotherapy, tumors in Christopher's head had subsided, his father said.

“His bone marrow test is negative for neuroblastoma, which means that there were no detectable signs in there,” Gibney said.

Still, Christopher will travel to the City of Hope cancer treatment facility in Duarte to have stem cells extracted from his blood, from which bone marrow can be harvested. The family and their doctors can later weigh the risks of Christopher undergoing a bone marrow transplant.

At each stage of the treatment, the Gibneys must consider risks, such as the use of a drug called cisplatin. Though highly effective in the treatment of neuroblastoma, it has left Christopher with a 25 percent hearing loss in his left ear.

“Studies indicate that as many as one in three infants are born with neuroblastoma cells in their body, but normally the immune system will defeat it,” Gibney said. “I'd like to raise awareness of it.”

When Henry Leso, principal at Felicita Elementary School, was informed of Christopher's condition, he wanted to help.

“I met with my staff and told them of the situation and I said it would be wonderful to do something to help Dave as a fundraiser,” Leso said. “He's put such hard work into the band program for our children. Our kids are just doing wonderful. I wanted to support him like he supports our children.”


Pat Sherman: (760) 752-6774; pat.sherman@tlnews.net