Page 39 - The Exceptional Harley Fetterman

THE EXCEPTIONAL HARLEY FETTERMAN

Harley's eyesight, his parents didn't want to take the chance that there
might be further damage. Harley's sight had been declining the last
few weeks. Earlier scans were compared, and it was determined that
Harley would need additional chemotherapy. His doctors started
discussing preferential drug treatments. Harley's extended family
gathered together for the holidays to support Harley, Beth, and Kevin
th
before treatments resumed on January 6 , 2005. Harley was just 7½
years old.
This particular chemotherapy treatment involved taking two
different oral chemo medications over a three week cycle backed up
by chemo injections given week two and week four. One problem
with these drugs is that they caused bone marrow suppression which
meant Harley would most likely require blood transfusions. One of
the medications created a critical situation regarding his diet. He had
to follow a strict menu plan that forbid many of Harley's comfort
foods. He couldn't have bananas, avocados, raisins, over-ripe oranges,
canned soups, hot dogs, sausage, pepperoni, any left-overs, any aged
or overly ripe foods like cheese, chocolate, MSG, caffeine—only
fresh meats, fruits, and vegetables. Ingesting the forbidden foods
would cause dangerously high blood pressure. During the oral chemo
therapy weeks, Harley suffered troublesome stomach pain and loss of
any appetite. He mostly survived on his standby preference of peanut
butter and jelly sandwiches.
Upon being told about additional chemotherapy treatments,
Harley's attitude was instantly defined by just one desire. He was
willing to endure more treatments if it would insure his one hope that
he not totally lose all his sight. He felt he could be comfortable with
his life if he could see just a little. His parents silently worried
incessantly about the very real possibility that these drugs would harm
him if he accidentally ate the wrong food (or heaven forbid, the very
remote possibility of getting leukemia in the future). Harley's parents
were determined to find medical treatments for stopping the growth of
his tumor to save his sight. But the dreaded realities and possibilities
surrounding chemotherapy scared them to their cores.
Harley had hoped that he wouldn't need any blood transfusions as
th
had been explained by his doctors, but on May 20 , 2005, his blood
work indicated that his red blood count was extremely low. He
23