Amazing family weekend
Our break away from the hospital comes to an end today, yet we can bask in the joy that this weekend provided! We have had an incredible weekend as a family and with some of our extended family. It was amazing to see how well Sam is doing. I don’t know if the cancer i gone – but I do know that it has been dramatically reduced.
Reflections on this past weekend
June 3
Our first full day off. A day of rest and simply exploring the RMH (Ronald McDonald House). We also took care of all the medical items ourselves – medications and needles and NG tube feeding. We had it all down all the steps were going well – until we hit a glitch. We do not have a reason for it, and we have seen it happen a number of times while in the hospital: The NG tube clogged and this time we could not get it back. After working at it for about an hour we decided togive up for the night and pushed as much Coca-cola into it as we could (a hack that sometimes works to dissolve clogs).
Saturday afternoon1, we had a wonderful visit with Bob and Wendy H. Sam shocked me as he was also up for the visit. Wendy and Tina had a good catch-up, while Bob, Sam, and played on a digital game table. Sam and Bob broke the game after Sam discovered a glitch and they both exploited it.
June 4
Sunday morning the NG remained clogged. We were fairly quick to recognize that this was a blessing! Sam had a new job – to eat and ensure that he met or exceeded the calories that he would have received via the NG tube. He did not disappoint –our boy has his appetite back. About mid-afternoon, Tina pulled the tube.
Also in the afternoon we had some great visits. First with Uncle Kevin and then joined by cousins Chris and Jane (Cal’s children). We all chatted and hung out outside. That evening the cousins and the three of us got Sam off hospital property for the first time since this whole journey began! We got out for a meal – at the Kerrisdale White Spot where Sam had a milkshake and a double-double.
June 5
Another great day as a family starting with a full breakfast provided by volunteers at the RMH. Times talking together, imagining, drawing – including time outside (outside can be precious following weeks of being in hospital). In the afternoon we grabbed an ride-share down the Marine Gateway Cineplex and took in the new Guardians o the Galaxy movie – loved it!
These last few days have felt like a vacation!
Concerns and victories
Celebrating how well Sam has been doing
A joyful family weekend – letting medical issues be in the background of our lives.
Bonus physiotherapy for Sam. The elevator at the RMH was under repair for most of the weekend. This initially forced Sam to take the stairs – two flights up to the room. By the end of the weekend he chose the stairs to keep restoring his strength.
Today we will learn the results of last Friday’s PET and CT scans – the current state of the cancer.
We will discuss with the medical team what the next steps are. Once again we will be stepping into the unknown. For now we know what life looks like until mid-day.
Footnotes
added on June 7th↩︎