Eye Surgery and a Full Weekend

Hello family & friends! I hope this update finds everyone doing well. After Thursday's Volleyball banquet, we hit the bed early so we could get up early for our morning flight on Thursday. Kayne doesn't sleep great through the night so getting him up at 430am is not his favorite. We made it to a cool and rainy Cincinnati, just a little different from the 80 degree weather they had a few days before. Seriously, we headed straight to the hospital to get medicine for Kayne and then to the Cincinnati Eye Institute. Kayne had every right to dread the procedure. He had close to 15 small shots around the eye to numb it so it could be sewn. Since the eye will not close, it was decided to sew each side of the left eye, therefore it will be partially closed. He added a few more stitches than he thought Kayne needed as it is easier to open the stitches than to to add more. Kayne did great. As a parent you wish you could take on the painful stuff for your kids. He was ready to eat before the procedure, but afterwards he just wanted to lay down. This trip had a dual purpose as we were invited as guest to the DIPG Collaborative Conference in Cincinnati. Doctors and researchers from all over the country came together to discuss their research. A Cure Starts Now Foundation had their 10th annual Gala on Saturday night with Toby Mac as a special guest. There were sessions for us to attend on Friday and Saturday and we attended the Gala Saturday night. There is hope as we met a long term survivor of DIPG. Every tumor and patient is different, but this young ladies tumor hasn't grown any in almost 17 years. There are differences from her tumor and Kayne's and she is in a 1/2 percent group, but we could always be in that group so we continue to pray. Sunday was a busy day. We flew out of Cincinnati and arrived in Daytona Beach around 1130am. We attended Kayne's swim banquet at 1pm. Kayne gave a speech with the other seniors and he got emotional just like the others. After Daytona Beach Speed Swim banquet we headed to the Spruce Creek High School Finance Academy banquet for all the seniors. It was another great banquet and Kayne received his Finance Academy certificate along with the others. It was great to share the weekend with Kayne. Kirsten and I really enjoyed our time with Kayne. We got to see Keagan also on Saturday! He made it to the Gala on Saturday night. What's coming up? Well, Kayne has clinic on Wednesday. His joints have been hurting so he is getting a massage tomorrow and plans to swim afterwards. This weekend he plans to attend of few graduation parties with some of his classmates. We appreciate all the prayers and support. Cards for Kayne or donations to the Cannonballs For Kayne Foundation for medical expenses can be mailed to P.O. Box 1738 Ormond Beach, FL 32175 (All donations are tax deductible.) Love to you all- Curtis curtis.finley@gmail.com