Finished with Consolidation 1

Well we've made it through a month of Induction, waited 3 more weeks to start Consolidation, and made it through 5 weeks of Consolidation 1a.  It's hard to believe that we've been through 3 months of treatments already.  Everett's ANC was 1500 this week (the highest I can remember it being).  We are getting a three week 'break' (he will still need his medication and changes of his bandages where his broviac line is) as a family. 

After this, Consolidation 1b starts and is 5 more weeks just like this round.  After another 2 week break, Consolidation 2 starts, which is only 2 weeks long, we'll have another 2 week break, and Consolidation 3 will start yet another 2 week treatment.  Unfortunately Consolidation 2 and 3 will be inpatient and may last longer than 2 weeks as we will have to wait for his ANC to reach a certain level again before he can come home.  At least with Consolidation 1 we're outpatient so we never stay overnight in the hospital.  Being back in the hospital will be tough for all of us.  I hope he can have an enjoyable Spring and his counts recover quickly.

Everett has inspired us in many ways.  Over the last week alone, Val and I have given blood (my first time), got typed for bone marrow donation, and have made donations to charity.  We encourage everyone to give blood, to get typed for bone marrow, and find a good charity.  We have met so many families that have gotten life saving bone marrow transplants.  We know that some day they will call and our bone marrow will be used to directly save a life.  There is also a chance that Everett could need bone marrow during one of his later treatments so how could we ask for something that we're not willing to give?  If you would like more information on the bone marrow registry or would like to join, click here:  http://www.marrow.org/JOIN/. 

As for Avery, he has been struggling as of late.  He seems to have had enough with the constant changes with mom and dad leaving every week.  Last week he had 3 different people help watch him.  Watching him break down every time one of us has to leave, and even sometimes when I go upstairs to work, really breaks our hearts.  This week after I told him Megan would be watching him and I had to go to work, he didn't say a word or make a noise, but the tears just started rolling down his face.  It's like he was trying to be tough for me but just couldn't hold it in (very much like dad).

We ask that you continue to pray for Everett, our strength, and for Avery as well.  Mom and Dad are going out tonight to try and have some alone time.  Love you all.

Week 4, almost done

Week 4 of 5 will be finished tomorrow morning.  Then Daddy, Everett, and Gramma will be heading to Oil City for the weekend.  Everett had another great, event-free, week this week and we're very happy about that.  Today someone from the National Pediatric Oncology Group stopped by and gave Everett a forehead tattoo that I thought we'd share with everyone.

She also took his picture (better than mine) and said it would be presented at an oncology conference.  Everett's doctor also said he'd be a good candidate for a Children's Oncology Telethon this fall.  We might have to consider that one.

Thanks for all the continued support.  Much love from Everett and all of us.  God bless.

Consolidation 1 Week 3

Last week was mom's week to take Everett to Children's for his arsenic treatments.  It was another uneventful week, which is just the way we like it.  Most days we were at the clinic by 9:30, hooked up to his arsenic IV and EKG monitor and running by 10:00 and back at Ronald McDonald house by 12:30 or 1:00.  Everett hasn't had a single side effect from the arsenic so far and we pray that his last 2 weeks (and his second round of arsenic) are the same. 

Each day that I spend with Everett at the clinic, where they pump his little body full of poison in hopes of killing every last leukemia cell, I am amazed by how brave and strong he is, and I am shocked that a 2 year old will sit in one spot for 2 and a half hours playing quietly simply because mommmy told him he had to so he could get the medicine that will make him all better.  Whatever the nurses and doctors ask of him, he willingly complies, and even asks "can I help you?".

Everett is doing great, smiling and laughing, playing and just being himself.  Every day at the clinic, he runs to greet his nurse and has a way of making everyone's day a little bit brighter.  So far he seems unfazed by the turn his life has taken, and we are working hard every day to make sure that he and Avery have as "normal" of a life as possible.  For now normal happens to include weekly trips to the hospital.

As for me, I feel privileged to be able to take this journey with Everett.  With every fiber of my being, I hate that he has to fight cancer, but I am so proud to be his mom and every day I am inspired by him.  Each day is a struggle to hang on, and some days I don't feel strong enough, but I will for him and for Avery...because they deserve everything in life and it is our job as parents to do everything we can to give it to them.