December 10, 2011

We've been home for a few days, now. SD is tired all the time, but at least he's home!

We went to our first outpatient clinic on Thursday. SDs counts are gradually improving; he's making his own blood now. That was the first time he had his port accessed. He was so brave that they gave him a Thomas hat from the "poke box."

The blood test took a while, so we had to stay there for a few hours. SD did not want to play in the activity room; he rested on Stephen instead. Stephen stepped out at one point and tasted the blue raspberry slushie that they had there for the patients. It was gross.

We had a chance to talk with SD's primary oncologist while there. She talked some more about how they found a small amount of leukemia cells in SD's spinal fluid, which slightly increases his risk of relapse. It was such a tiny amount that she is not changing his treatment for this month of induction; she wants to see how his body responds to current treatment and base any possible changes off that. Stephen asked about the possibility of using radiation therapy, which she was strongly against, to our relief! However, if SD does relapse, radiation would probably be considered. We are praying for him to reach remission and stay there.

Our Pastor's wife (Mrs. Biggs) babysat Emma while we were in Grand Rapids, which Emma seemed to enjoy immensely. Mrs. Biggs also made dinner for us, and even did a bit of cleaning. What a blessing! When we arrived back home, there were a few plates of cookies for us. One was from a Christmas party the mixed ensemble Stephen and Mandy are a part of had while SD was in the hospital. There were also more presents for SD from a couple very good friends.

Shortly after Mrs. Biggs left, SD vomited. It was primarily because he was trying to swallow a prune whole. We gave him some nausea medication and he seemed to return more to normal. Unfortunately, he had to go without his ball blanket while it was washed and dried.

That night, SD gave goodnight kisses for the first time since he went to the hospital. He normally does not want to go to sleep until he kisses everyone, so it was encouraging to see another step toward normalcy.

SD's daily chemo medication is mainly responsible for changes in his personality and mood. Fortunately, he only has to be on it for the first month, with 4-5 day returns over the course of treatment. We have been assured that he will return to himself once he stops taking that medicine. One unexpected change in SD is that he still does not want to read. The doctor was surprised when we told her of this, but thinks that he'll come around soon. We look forward to that day!

Another difference in SD we've noticed is that he's become truly attached to an object. He's had favorite toys before, but has never really shown an attachment until the ball blanket came along at the hospital. He has never agreed to sleep with a blanket before, but now he doesn't want to go anywhere without that blanket, and even lets us put it over him in bed.

His next clinic is on Monday morning, which will include another bone marrow aspiration and some chemo given via IV (into his port).

SD is having some more trouble eating, and also taking his medicine. There are some sores in his mouth or something that makes it painful.

Our primary prayer request at this time is that SD's cancer will go into remission and that it will stay in remission. If it does, then the chemo he now has will be all that's needed, and in a few years it will be all over. If the cancer does not go into remission, or if it does and then comes back during his chemo, then we'll be forced to consider stronger chemo drugs and/or radiation therapy. Both of those choices have much worse long-term affects, some of them very scary.