Healing Hunter Fundraiser

Lots of love and support was present at Hunter's first fundraiser. Hosted at Kado – where the food was simply delicious. The entire experience was truly exceptional. I was never a fan of sake, but I sipped a little of almost every kind they had us taste and I was definitely amazed at how delicious and refreshing they were.





Cool cat Ira and the fabulous Wendy Parker smiling in the background. Wendy organized this event and we are sooooo incredibly grateful and appreciate all that she did and can’t thank her enough. It was a great night.

Ira, "I just wanted to say that on behalf of Sophaleena and myself that we found it a privilege to be with you two on this night. The courage and dignity in which both of you have held yourselves during such a trying time is so admirable, and operates on a level that we have never seen. We lend our support, love, and good energy. So, stay strong and keep up the positive vibrations. We will see this through!!!"




Lenore with Actress and Cover Model, Molly Culver, and Bob and Gail of BobGail Special Events.



Bob again with the legendary rock star Paul Stanley of Kiss. By the way for those that don’t know, Paul is an extremely talented painter as well. His work is very cool.



Lenore and Zen with Paul Stanley and his Wife Erin. Paul and Erin are the proud parents of a studly little boy as well. We did a photo shoot of them recently and he was quite the ham!

"You are all in our thoughts and prayers. We can't wait to see Hunter smile!" Erin & Paul



The very accomplished Jennifer Gendron, (Co-Owner of Touch Massage Boutique in Beverly Hills) with Megan Driscoll, who can chef her butt off. Her food is amazing.






Spencer Robinson, Paramount man, John Oropallo, mac daddy producer, and Cher Ferreyra, an extremely talented actress whose credits go way beyond and was recently featured on Veronica Mars.

Cher, "I just wanted to say that you guys are amazing. You both have inspired me on so many levels through-out the years, and it never ends. Thank You for existing".



Molly and her stunt man husband Clay Cullen. One of Zen's newest dirt bike riding partners. He's had a smile on his face ever since he got back from his last dirt bike ride. FINALLY, someone else who can keep up with him!!!

"Hunter is a strong soul and we are pulling for him every day!! Go Hunter GO!!!". xo Molly & Clay







Zen and I enjoying our first night out together. Thank goodness for Grandma and Grandpa being in town. Only lasted about 3 hours, before we went back to the hospital to hang out and snuggle up with our little man for the night. He cuddles like a champ.

Short Lived Bliss

Yesterday morning, Hunter woke up in pain again. The blood transfusion from the night before must have worn off. His pain seemed to be all over but most acute in his right arm. He almost refused to lift his arm off of his body. Suddenly he is a lefty.

Lenore also seems to think his neck appears stiff. The doctors agreed and decided to do a preliminary CAT scan of his brain, sinuses, neck and upper arm. They are most concerned that the Leukemia has spread to his spinal fluid and brain.

The scan came back and showed a smallish bleed in his brain. It doesn't appear to be too serious - no tissue damage to anything critical but they gave him more platelets to make sure he doesn't bleed anymore. The scan also showed a possible abnormality in his neck. Asymmetry to to be exact. This is concerning because the Leukemia cells could be grouping together almost like a tumor and causing his neck to become messed up (at least as I currently understand the data). I'll speak to the cancer doctor (oncologist) this morning and he should provide a more detailed explanation.

Anyway, we are headed to the MRI room and full anesthesia for Hunter. That always makes me nervous. I'm also going to request a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) to make double damn sure that he doesn't have Leukemia in his spinal cord and brain. I doubt I'll find any resistance to that idea.

One step forward - two steps sideways...

A few moments in the Hospital

Good News - Finally!

Hunter has been fever free for 3 days and nights! Whoo-hoo! What a relief.

Although fever free, yesterday morning he was so low energy and seemingly in so much pain that he didn't want to be touched. He would scream when we changed his diaper. He spent most of the morning refusing food. It was totally depressing and I watched Lenore crying over her baby in desperation as Hunter moaned. It was another low point for sure.

The doctors and nurses started discussing the possibility of giving Hunter a narcotic for the pain. I was resistant to that idea but I was also tired of seeing Hunter miserable. I didn't know what to do.

Then we saw a little blood coming from his nose. Not usually a good thing but what it did was start the doctors down the right road. They immediately ordered red blood and platelets.

I had a plan to go for a quick dirt bike ride in the afternoon to get a little exercise and to free my mind. I was reluctant to leave Hunter feeling so poor but I felt assured the doctors had things in control and that over-all, Hunter was stable. So I went anyway. It was honestly the first time in more than a month that I was able to stop thinking about Hunter's situation. I was starting to feel mentally and physically pent up and aggressive. Two hours of intense off-road riding with stunt man Clay Cullen and his stunt buddy Casey alleviated all of that frustration. I felt like a new man. Thanks fellas!

When I returned to our hospital home I saw a different baby. He smiled as I walked in the room. He was eating. Lenore took a break and went to the grove to do a little Christmas shopping. I spent three or four hours alone with my boy - just playing and hanging out together. His lips were red again. His behavior was that of the old Hunter - happy and content! Although he still wasn't moving much on his own I could pick him up and he barley let out a protest. Truly, a relief. It feels so good to see our son again.

Thank goodness for life blood. Thank goodness for modern science. We are so fortunate to be dealing with this disease at this time in the modern World. For that we are eternally thankful!

What is AML Leukemia ?

Leukemia is a blood disease.

Essentially, Leukemia is an uncontrolled growth of a malignant blood cell that originates in your bone marrow, almost always a type of white blood cell. Leukemia's direct translation is "White Blood".

Instead of forming into a mass like many malignant tumors, Leukemia spreads through your bone marrow and quickly pushes out the good blood cells - it's almost like an all-over blood tumor. As Leukemia spreads throughout the body it can eventually manifest in a particular area causing severe pressure and pain. The liver, spleen, lymph nodes, central nervous system, kidneys and gonads are all subject to the spread of Leukemic blood cells.

Although Leukemia affects people of all ages and far more adults than children - it is the most prolific children's cancer - accounting for about 35% of all pediatric cancer.

Children's Leukemia usually manifests as one of two different types - ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) and AML (Acute Myeloid Leukemia).

ALL affects about 3000 children in the US per year. In 1962 the five year survival rate was about 4%. Currently ALL Leukemia is touted as one of the most survivable children's cancers with a 95-98% initial remission rate and an 80% five year survival rate.

AML is known as the "bad" Leukemia. It affects about 500 children per year in the US. Currently, the initial remission rate is high at about 80%, but unlike ALL, AML Leukemia has a history of coming back. With an aggressive chemotherapy regimen and possible (highly toxic) bone marrow transplant, AML has a stingy 40-50% long term survival rate.

Our situation is simple. We must provide every opportunity possible for Hunter to become one of the positive AML statistics!

We have a new mission in life.

Chemo Day 9

Day 8 was uneventful yet still hot. He had a 102 fever at around 8pm. However, it broke quickly and it only happened twice instead of three times. And for the first time in weeks he didn't get hot during the night.

Today on day 9 he had a light fever of 102 early in the morning and it broke quickly. He didn't suffer again with a fever all day until about 8 pm when he became hot to the touch. This time he registered a blistering 104. Again, our son is a hot tamale.

The good news is that even during his 104 fever his mood was upbeat. He smiled regularly and I think I even heard him laugh a little. Maybe it was a laugh - maybe not - but at least he's not moaning. Thank goodness.

Chemo Day 7

Hunters fevers dropped to around 102-103 degrees. He didn't have a fever all night until 8 am - so that is definitely an improvement.

Just to be safe the docs started an anti fungal. It usually takes 2-3 days of anti-fungal treatment to see a difference. A CAT scan was done and thankfully no fungus was found.

My thoughts are that he doesn't have an infection and it's just the Leukemia that is causing the fevers, but then again I'm a photographer not a doctor. The doctors do seem to think we should have seen more reduction in the fevers so they are still a little nervous. They mentioned that the main reason for fatality during AML chemo is infection and not the chemo.

He is officially neutropenic - meaning he has almost zero white blood cells and is completely vulnerable to any infection. We need to be very careful not to bring anything back. I've never washed my hands so much. Lenore and I entered this process as well adjusted individuals and we will leave - obsessive compulsive germaphobes!