Today we started Phase 3 of treatment. This phase is different from the previous 2 phases in that: -it's expected to be 8 weeks long instead of 4
-we are on a 10-days-between-visits schedule instead of once a week
-we are not doing weekly lumbar punctures and will have just one on day 31
-no more daily chemo given orally which means we won't have to wear gloves every time we change JP's diapers except for the 48 hours after chemo day (yay!)
-each treatment is "count dependent" meaning the day before treatment we have to have blood drawn and as long as his numbers are at an appropriate level we keep our appointment. I think this is because if his levels are low his little body won't be able to handle the chemo
-JP will be given two kinds of chemo at each visit - Vincristine and Methotrexate - we've had each of these before but the dosage will be increased with each visit and hopefully he will tolerate the increases well
While I was getting JP ready to go this morning he wanted to wear his cape. All the doctors and nurses loved it and he put on a show everytime someone mentioned it. He'd put his arms behind his back and hold the cape out. He is such a ham! He was extra goofy today, making sure Rachelle (our Child Life Specialist) knew he wanted his race track right off the bat. While we were getting the chemotherapy, he didn't want to sit still. He was up and about between his chair with the cars and the table where he was coloring. Since he was hooked up to the machine getting treatment, I had to follow him around, rolling the machines behind him. He kept getting twisted up in it and didn't like that every few minutes I'd make him spin around to get untangled. He'd greet anyone that walked by with a smile, a "how-ya-doin?" and a "look at my cape!" We found out that the day you start Phase 3 is the date they use to determine your end of treatment date. That means our end of treatment date is May 1, 2015. I'll almost be 31, Josh will be almost 34, JP will be 5 1/2 and Elsie will be 3 1/2. That seems so far away, but my Discover card doesn't expire until December 2016 so I guess it's not that far out... haha!
While we were back in the infusion area (where chemo is administered) we saw all the nurses and doctors gather around a boy that was just finishing his treatment. I didn't realize he was finishing his treatment until they started singing the Happy Birthday song but the words had been changed to "Happy off treatment day to you! Happy off treatment day to you! Happy off treatment day, dear Kyle! Happy off treatment day to you!" and started cheering and clapping when they were all done. Then they all followed him to the door where he rang the bell three times and everyone cheered again. I was brought to tears. Sitting there, I couldn't help but feel so happy for that family. Their son was finally off treatment! After all those years of weekly/monthly trips to Primary Children's to receive treatment that saved their son's life... now they are able to find some sense of "normal" again. There I was, holding my sweet son at the beginning of our journey looking ahead at the next three years. It was a bittersweet moment - so happy for that family and feeling a little bit sad that we have such a long road before we are there. We'll get there.
No comments:
Post a Comment