The Next Phase

8/12/2011:  1:57 PM

Wow. Where did this week go?  I apologize for falling behind on the blog.  It has been a hectic few days.

Davis has felt awesome all week.  He has felt close to his old self. He still manages to nap every day, and he still grazes between meals, but other than that (and the obvious medication routine), things felt back to normal.



Dr. Coffey and the floating head prepping
the patient

On Wednesday, Davis was entertained by Annakate. She is amazing. She has such an imagination and figures out ways they can play together. He rested most of the day to save energy for church. I was very apprehensive about letting him go to his Wednesday night church class. It is safe to say that I have morphed into Marlin, Nemo's dad, nearly over night. It just goes to show that God provides you with the perfect soul mate, because Kyle is a nice balance to my overprotective, stick-my-kid-in-a-bubble approach. Kyle thought attending class would be perfect timing since his counts were building and we had an appointment on Friday (usually sickness takes two days to manifest).  The doctors also feel it is important that we try to provide him with a seemingly "normal" life when his counts are high enough. He loved it.  Despite the precautions put in place, he enjoyed it and participated in everything with the exception of tug-of-war. A few of the girls, with their sweet nurturing spirits, looked after him. He now refers to them as his bodyguards.



performing the procedure

On Thursday, I met with his school principal, district nurses, and his fifth grade teacher. They are really bending over backwards to accommodate Davis and his needs. I am so appreciative of their willingness to go the extra mile to make Davis feel normal and included. And I know very well as an educator myself, that many of the accommodations and arrangements they are making are not required, and this is just another example (as I have heard many in the past) of how the administration and staff place the well-being of their students first. I am really looking forward to easing into the school year. Jefferson feels like home already.

annakate provided entertainment by using her hair
to make unibrows, moustaches, and goatees

On Thursday afternoon, Davis's friend, Drew, brought him a blizzard. They were able to visit for awhile too. It was the highlight of Davis's day. Unfortunately, I have very little details (and no pictures) because I was meeting with the teacher who was hired to replace me this year. I am never shy in saying that I work in one of the best school districts in the world and we function as a close-knit family, helping and leaning on one another. Needless to say, asking for a year off was heartbreaking for me. I love my job. I love the students I have been privileged to teach and befriend over the years. And I have figured out that the joy and happiness and worry they bring to me every day far outweighs what I have to offer: English knowledge and a listening ear. I know they do more for me than I feel I can do for them, so that is why this temporary leave is so difficult. I am grateful; however, to be able to leave my students in good hands, so that I can focus my attention and care on my son. 

taking advantage of the cooler temps

 Davis's ANC (immune system) was below the recommended 750 required for the chemo scheduled to start on Friday. His was 704. We were told to come down to Children's on Friday, and the CBC would be repeated. If his levels were too low, chemo would be postponed a week while his counts continue to build.  That brought us to today.

The doctors decided it was a go on chemotherapy today even though his numbers might not be ideal. They said there is no real risk and felt it was appropriate to pass on to the next phase. One of the chemo meds he is getting today requires major hydration to protect him from bladder irritation and bleeds. Our appointment this morning was at 9:30, his port was accessed at 11:00, and he is just now getting ready to receive his first chemo treatment. He had to be hydrated for up to two hours previous to the treatment and four hours after the treatment. We are hoping to be out of here by 5:00 or 6:00 PM. My, this makes for a really, really long day. Kids weren't designed to sit around this long.



being casted for chest guard

Oh, Davis met with an orthopedic and prosthetic specialist to be casted for a chest guard.  This will allow him to participate in mild or moderate PE and recess activities and more importantly, baseball in the spring.  He was able to pick out a design/color for his guard, and he chose camo.

We will be down here the rest of the weekend. Davis has three more days of chemo.  For awhile, his chemo treatments will be Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.  We meet with the radiology oncologist on Monday.  We were relieved to find out that Davis will only have two weeks of cranial radiation this first wave of the consolidation phase.

We have been reminded quite a few times today that this phase is as equally intense as the induction phase. Many children struggle with the side effects of the medications. We are praying these side effects off of him. We are praying that he will take this chemo well so that he can attend school for as long as possible. And of course, we pray every night for his healing and his CURE.

Thank you a thousand times over for your continued support and prayers. We draw strength from knowing that we are not fighting this alone, because we have an army of family, friends, and prayer warriors behind us.

We will keep you posted.