Since December 18th, 2010, Everett has had 16 doses of chemo, 50 doses of arsenic, 172 doses of ATRA, 14+ days of IV antibiotics for a potentially deadly blood infection, 4 bone marrow aspirations, 2 lumbar punctures, 33+ bandage changes, and has spent 124 days in the hospital. Through all of it, Everett has been a ray of light to everyone around him. He wakes up happy everyday and spends his time laughing and playing nomatter what life hands him. Doctors, nurses, and other patients come by his room to see him, because "Everett brightens even the worst day". To say that Everett is special doesn't even come close to describing the kind of child that Everett is, and every night, when I tuck him into bed, I thank God for allowing me to be his mom and for giving us all another day with him.
We can't forget Avery in all of this. What an amazing little guy he is too. While he hasn't had to endure the medications and the procedures that his brother has, his life has been turned upside down for the past 8 months as well. He has spent 21 weeks minus his twin and one (and at times, both) of his parents. Weekends are exciting because he gets to "go to the hospital to see brother", but Sundays come too fast and it's time to go home again, usually without brother. I keep expecting to see the effects of all this turmoil in Avery's behavior, but so far he is the same happy little boy that he was before cancer came into our life. It is my hope that when all of this is finally over, I can look at the boys and say that they have been untouched by the experience of cancer, and if they are changed by it, that it is only for the better.
Since Everett was discharged following Consolidation 3, we have had 2 wonderful weeks as a family and we plan to enjoy the next week as much as possible before we are scheduled to return for Everett's final round of inpatient chemo on August 16th. We can almost see the light at the end of a very long, dark tunnel. We are nowhere near done with cancer, as Everett will still have to undergo chemo at home for the next 2 and half years, and will have regular blood work and bone marrow aspirations to monitor for any signs of a relapse, but our time inpatient at Childrens for intensive chemo will soon be a thing of the past. What a relief it will be to feel like our life is our own again, no longer dictated by cancer and the chemo schedule.
Much love and many thanks to everyone who has supported us emotionally and financially over the past 8 months. Your prayers and generosity have always come just when we needed it most.
Here are some pictures that were taken of Everett and Mommy (when he still had hair):
