Feb 8 2010

I know it has been a while but let me start by saying Logan is doing great. So here is what happened and where we are at. A week or so after the post that I made last Logan got an infection around the central line site in his chest. We took him in and had it looked at since there was only one more treatment with the advice of the doctors we decided to wait an extra week and then give the last treatment. So we enjoyed Christmas thanks to all of you. Special thanks to Charity Smith and all the ladies at Pacifica Properties for setting up a 12 days of Christmas gift. Both of the children enjoyed it tremendously. Thank you to Stacie Hubbard at Marshall Medical for helping with gift cards for Christmas dinner. The week after Christmas we had the last treatment at which time Logan lost all his eye lashes. Last go around that did not happen. Several days after the treatment stopped Logan would not lift his left arm over his head so we took him to the emergency room after calling our oncologist to make sure it was the right thing to do and that they would have a room ready for a cancer patient away from the others. They admitted him to the hospital after about 8 hours at the ER while they did tests on the infection site to make sure it was not something really bad. The cultures came back that it was just staff which every one has on there skin since his immune system was down so low he could not fight it off. The doctors gave some topical antibiotic and some IV as well then he needed several courses of platlets and red blood before they could remove the central line. We spent about three weeks total in the hospital. It has been about 3 weeks since that happened and again I apologize for not updating this sooner. We have had several tests run on Logan. We can not tell yet if there are any long term growth or development issues. One of the major side effects of the drugs he was given was hearing loss so we had him tested for that. There was a slight lose in the highest range but most people can not hear that high any way just children.

Thank you to every one for all there love and support I can not tell you enough how much of an impact it has made on our lives. Thank you to the Jaw Jackers and Rocky for spreading the word. Thank you to Friends and Family from the bay area. Thank you to Vacaville corvettes. Thank you to Terry for setting up this site and to Mark and Tom for giving me extra time with my family in our hours of need. There are several people that donated 500 to 1000 dollars special thanks to them for there amazing generosity. I have not forgotten (I don't think I ever will) My wife and I are working on some thank you cards with pictures for every one.


Logan's loving father John Common

December 1st

The response to this blog has been amazing to say the least. From the bottom of our hearts thank you to every one for their prayers, moral support, and donations.

Three weeks ago Logan had the surgery to have the area around the tumor removed. He is doing well and has almost fully recovered. The week before last was chemo week that went as well as can be expected. Last week Logan felt well enough by the end of the week to enjoy thanksgiving. We put up a Christmas tree and he is very excited about Santa.

I know a lot of people would like to meet Logan and see how he is doing. I thought it would be fun for him to come down to the shop this weekend while he feels well to see the cars. Several of the Jaw Jackers are meeting at MSI before going to the toy run at Mather. Thom and I will be holding down the fort this weekend so I will be unable to attend the toy run.


I can not say it enough, Thank You.

Our son Logan Common

This is the story of our son, Logan Common. If you would like to know how he is currently doing and not the full medical story just skip down to the second paragraph. Thank you for your concern. Positive hope and prayers on Logan's behalf are always welcome.

My son Logan Common is a wonderfully bright little boy. He was born on September 4Th 2006. My wife and I worried about the usual stuff. We worried a little about Sids and accidents that would cause harm to infants. Things started to happen when he was about nine months old. One day he became very ornery and then contracted a fever. We took him to the doctor and he was diagnosed with a UTI (Urinary tract infection) and we took care of it accordingly with medication. A couple of weeks later he came down with another UTI so we went back to the doctor. They did an ultrasound and found that he had kidney reflux. We did some research and talked to the doctor and found this was not uncommon in infants and that we should keep an eye on Logan to treat any UTIs if he got them. We also decided to do more ultra sounds through out the next couple of months to see if the reflux would subside with age. 6 months after finding the reflux we went to see a pediatric urology specialist. He informed us that the reflux had gotten better but not completely gone away so keep an eye out for any symptoms of UTIs and come back in another 3 months for a check up. During that time Logan did not have a single UTI. Upon that next visit the reflux was gone and we thought we were out of the woods.

When Logan was 18 months old one of his testicles began to swell. We went back to the urologist and he informed us this was most likely a hydro seal which are common in people whom have had chronic UTI's. Do to a difference in opinion with the urologist we decided to get a second opinion about the reflux from the only other pediatric urologist in California. We were informed it was a hydro seal and to keep an eye on it and not to worry. Hydro seals are common and will pass with time. The testicle continued to swell and during that time Logan got a really high fever. My wife decided to take him to the urgent care to see if it was another UTI. She spoke with the adult urologist that was on duty that day to ask about his testicle just to be on the safe side. The doctor examined Logan and informed us that in adults this was relatively common and that if you can shine a light through the testicle that it was not a tumor and not to worry.

We kept an eye on Logan and did some research online and found that hydoseals shrink and grow day by day like a hernia and should pass with time. After another three months we met with the original urologist and decided that draining the hydro seal was the correct course of action. The surgery was scheduled a week after Logans second birthday. We were not that concerned with the procedure because everything we read, and have had been told, it was pretty routine. 2 hrs in to the surgery the doctor came out to inform us that he had found a tumor and that the testical had to be removed. The tumor was biopsied and on September 18th and we found out that Logan had a germ cell tumor. Chemo therapy began the very next week. We signed up for a clinical trial that was to find out if 3 rounds of chemo therapy were just as effective as 4. Before we signed up we did some research and everything we read online and were given to us showed that this course had positive results. My wife was 30 weeks pregnant with our second child when chemo began. After treatment Logan had positive results and positive numbers. His alpha fetal protein level was back to normal. That is the marker that this particular form of cancer makes when the tumor is growing.

On August 18th of this year we went in for Logan's first three month check up. Previously they were every month. At this point we learned that Logan's AFP(alhafetoprotein) was 117 (5 is normal for children and 0 for adults). The doctor did a full examination and found two tumors in the area where the testicle had been. We had the operation to remove them and a central line placed for chemo. Logan developed a fever shortly after and we had the central line removed due to infection. We waited a week for the infection to clear then had another central line put in and began chemo. Logan has currently had three treatments that are 5 days long. He gets carboplatnim and iphosphomide. Most days he feels and acts like a normal child. He is very kind an caring to his sister. We love him very much.

I am a technician at Motor Sport Image & Performance. I have had to take time off without pay to take my son to various doctor's appointments and chemo therapy treatments.

We do have some medical coverage , but not all of the costs are not covered. We are asking for help in our situation. Donations would be greatly appreciated to help our family deal with Logan's situation and mounting medical bills.

We have set up a paypal account if you wish to help us. Any amount would be greatly appreciated. logancommon2006@gmail.com

Or you can drop by Motor Sport Image and make a donation in person to John.

Or is you wish to mail a check, please send the to:

John Common

7798 Sunrise Creek Circle

Citrus Heights, CA 95610

Our family gives a heartfelt thank you for those of you that have the ability and willingness to help us.

God Bless everyone.

You can contact me via email also:

fiskars27@gmail.com