2019 Story Update.... So on the positive side of things, Peter’s original cancer has not returned. However, unfortunately he has been diagnosed with a new type of cancer,let me backup to the beginning of this new chapter in Peter’s story. On Sunday May 26, Memorial weekend, Peter was outside playing with his cousin Bryce, they took a break and came into the house to get a drink, at which time I took ahold of Peter’s arm to make sure he didn’t need more sunscreen. When I felt a bump on his left arm, I figured they had been acting up and he had hurt himself. Oddly, he had no redness, no bruising, no itching or irritation and full movement of his hand without pain or problems, this was baffling. I asked Dan to take him over to Christa’s since she is a nurse to get her opinion on it, she was also baffled,she recommended maybe some Tylenol for swelling and to keep an eye on it. We thought maybe a bad sprain or spider bite, but since there was no marks or discoloration or pain, we weren’t sure. On Tuesday, when it still had not gotten better we called the pediatrician and made an appointment to get it checked. Once his pediatrician saw it, she sent us immediately to the hospital for an x-ray. It was late in the day by the time it was our turn at the hospital so it was Wednesday before we had the results. Everything was normal, no break, sprain or anything unusual. She then told us to keep an eye on it and if it hadn’t gotten better in a week, she wanted to see us back. Well, in a week’s time it wasn’t better and in fact appeared to be a little bit bigger. We called and made the 2nd appointment with the pediatrician. When we arrived at her office, she informed me that if there was not any change, we would be going to Akron children’s hospital for an MRI ASAP. She had already spoken to Peter’s oncologist and both agreed due to his history that this was the best plan. We agreed because we were concerned and did not want to allow any more time to pass. We were at her office at 10:20 and by 1:00, we were at Akron Children’s for the MRI. Peter was able to do the MRI without sedation because he was old enough to hold still and therefore we did not have to wait or worry about when he had last eaten, which really helped expedite things. Unfortunately, Peter’s oncologist was there to meet us as soon as we were finished with the test. There was a definite mass, “uninvited friend” according to Peter, there and it needed to be biopsied. She sent us home because that needed to be scheduled and done under General anesthesia, plus she wanted to touch base with a few other doctors before proceeding. I understood that, because for one, Peter was scheduled to spend 5 weeks in the hospital over the summer for corrective spine surgery, to correct the Kyphosis side affect from his original cancer and surgery. We both knew that this would need to be postponed until the mass was diagnosed and treated. She also needed to contact the Orthopedic oncologist. On Monday, June 17th, Peter had his biopsy done, by Tuesday June 18th, we had the preliminary results, that it was a small round, blue cell tumor, which means it is a malignant cancer. On Friday June 21, Peter had a CT scan to check the rest of his body for tumors. We found out that one small lymph node in his left armpit reacted to the contrast, as well as the tumor in his left arm, but no where else. On Tuesday June 25, we meet with an Orthopedic oncologist, the one that would surgically remove as much of the tumor as safely as possible, he also had a PET scan to check his head and neck for any spots and we meet with his oncologist and got the actual diagnoses. The name of the new “unwanted guest” as Peter refers to it is A.R.M.S. for short or Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma, a very aggressive and fast growing cancer. We had to wait for the full treatment plan and staging of it until all test results were back, but Peter’s oncologist wasted no time getting the ball rolling. On Monday July 1, Peter had surgery to remove the tumor, the affected lymph node, port implantation for Chemo and bone marrow aspiration and biopsy. At this time, it was also planned that in two weeks, he would start Chemotherapy, on July 16, just enough time to let him heal after surgery and to get all test results back so that the treatment plan could be 100% figured out. Once all the test results were back, the final diagnoses is for A.R.M.S, intermediate risk, stage 3, group 2c, which means, 42 weeks of Chemotherapy, 4-6 weeks of radiation treatment, and 6 months of maintenance Chemotherapy. He has to have radiation because the lymph node was effected, but it is not considered metastasis because it is a regional lymph node, close to the original tumor sight, and the orthopedic oncologist could not get 100% of the tumor out with out effecting Peter’s use of his left hand...and so his story continues....Welcome to our CaringBridge website. Mom & Dad created it to keep all our friends & family up to date about me. See how my journey begins by reading My Story. I, Peter Rees Stenz, was born Friday October 22, 2010 at 3:17 pm. I am a handsome little boy that weighs 8 lbs. 7 ounces and am 20 1/4 inches long. I am healthy, happy and eating well. My parents could not be happier. They get to take me home after a few days, we had to stay a little longer in the hospital because I was stubborn from the beginning and after 17.5 hours of labor, mom still had to have a C-section because my head was too big and I didn't want to come out. However, I did come out, and after a couple of days, a few cute nurses and a lot of dirty diapers we were headed home. Once we got home, I met Karl Heinz, Daddy's puppy that I love, and will be mine by the time I am a year old. After five minutes we are already the best of buds. Everything is sailing along wonderfully. I am eating well, sleeping well, keeping Mom & Dad up at night, and peeing on them if they aren't paying attention when they change my diaper. It's so  much fun. So we are doing great, and getting into a rythym, starting to get everything figured out, and enjoying being a family.  On November 19th, I turned one month old and Mom & Dad took cute pictures of me in my room with the Giraffes that Uncle Eric, Aunt Christa & Cousin Braden and "Aunt" Cynthia, "Uncle" Bryan & "Cousin" Luke got me. Mom & Dad think I look adorable, who am I to disagree with them. Then a couple of days later on Monday November 22nd, after Dad gave me a bedtime bath, and Mom gave me my bedtime bottle, they noticed that I was weezing just the tinest little bit. Now Mom had had a cold the week before, and tried extra hard to keep me from getting it, but thought maybe I had gotten a little bit of it after all. She kept a close eye on me all through the night and noticed it got a little worse, but nothing terrible, so first thing in the morning she called my Pediatrician. Mom told them what was going on, and they made an appointment for her that day for me, at 10:50 am. We hung out at home until it was time to leave, and since I seemed to be doing fine, she planned on running a few extra errands in town, which I didn't mind because I like riding in the car. Anyways, we arrived at the doctor's office, and after waiting a few minutes we were in the exam room. Mom had to undress me, and lay me down on the exam table while we waited on the Doctor to come in. My Doctor is very nice and took the time to warm up his stethescope before putting it on my warm chest and belly. Which I liked, but I must say, I didn't care for his expression after listening. He told Mommy that he definetly heard something, and that it could be bronchitis, pneumonia or RSV, and that he wanted me to go to the Emergency Room and have a chest x-ray done to see what was going on. Mom bundled me up and we were on our way to Union Hospital to get checked out. When we got there, it was really, really busy. Mom & I had to wait 4 hours before we went back to see the doctor, and get the x-ray. Mom was holding me on her shoulder trying to get me to burp, since she had to feed me there after waiting so long,  when the Doctor came in. He listened with his stethescope, and asked why we were there. He didn't hear anything. Mom told him my Doctor had sent us over for a chest x-ray, he didn't really think I needed it, but Mom said we would go ahead and get it done. Better to be safe then sorry, and we had waited a long time, and didn't want it to be a waste of time. The Doctor said O.K., and said it would just be a couple of minutes. The nurse came and got us to take us back to the x-ray room, mom got to carry me back & hold my hand while they took a couple of pitcures of me. They made Mom wear a big apron that was really heavy while they did it, it looked funny on her. It wasn't like a chef's apron, I like it when she wears them. Anyways, we went back to the exam room to wait for the pictures to be developed. While we were waiting Daddy came in, he had just gotten off work and wanted to know how things were going. Mom was telling Dad all about it when the doctor came in. He said my lungs were clear, no cold, however there was a very large mass behind my left lung. I didn't know what that meant, but I know Mom & Dad did not like the sound of it. The doctor said that they did not have the resources to take care of me there, and that I needed to go to Akron Childrens Hospital in Akron. He then said it would be better to go by ambulance, and asked Mom & Dad if that was O.K. They said yes, and that Mom would ride with me, and Dad would run home, let Karl Heinz out to go potty and then come up to the hospital. The ride up was pretty cool, I like riding in cars,  and this was even bigger than a car, it wasn't to bad. We arrived at the Hospital at 6:17 pm, and went straight into a exam room in the ER, no waiting this time. The Doctors came right in and said there were test that we needed to do....and so begins my journey.