Chemo, friends, family, and mothers day
As I write this morning the morning sun lights the room sneaking past the edges of the blind. I need this light to wake me as it has been a weekend where sleep has been highly interrupted. My family is sleeping peacefully. We are now starting day 4 of Sam’s latest chemo treatment. Over this past weekend Sam has had a lot of intense ‘medicines’ pushed into him. I put this in quotes as if we weren’t tackling cancer these medicines would be considered poisons. Along with the medication has been a lot of fluid – resulting in the need to put a lot of fluid out. Sam and I have been awake through the nights every 1-3 hours… I am so glad to see him resting now.
Friends and family visits
For a second weekend in a row were were able to visit with Friends from Prince George as the Bandstras made a special trip. Sam and John had a great time hanging out and playing games. Jess and Kate took Tina out for Saturday afternoon. John (Sr) and I did a few errands. We also had a family movie night, and managed to get in a couple rounds of Coup before they had to make the return trip. So great to have some normal family fun.
My parents also had some good time, simply being with Sam, and giving Tina and I some time to get away. I was able to get away to have dinner with them the night before they left.
Mothers day
I will try to sum this up for Tina but to be clear these are my thoughts not hers. This mothers day was challenging and yet beautiful. The challenge of course is where we are and why we are here. Some hours are just simply hard as we are forced to look into the abyss – to contemplate the mortality of our precious boy. The day was also beautiful. The charities supporting oncology families, and the Ronald McDonald House, have showered Tina with presents; practical and extravagant – who doesn’t like Purdy’s. Tina and I were also able to have a beautiful conversation where she heart-received the message that she is a wonderful mother and that we would, together, continue to love our boy through whatever challenges present themselves.
Victories and concerns
Thankful for visits with friends and family
Thankful for a beautiful mothers day.
Concern for the current round of treatment. We are expecting side effects. Yesterday we started to see signs of them as Sam had his first mouth sore – it is expected that his entire digestive system from mouth, all the way through, and out will become sensitive if not raw and just generally cause him to feel gross. Hair loss is also expected. It cn be described as descending into a valley of pain and then climbing back out.
Concern for potential longer lasting and high impact side effects. These can include damage to bodily organ or secondary cancers.
Ultimately, we are concerned that the treatment is effective and that the cancer is removed entirely from Sam’s body.