first round

The urine test they were waiting on from last night was repeated this morning and came back with normal (or at least expected) results, so they began mixing his first batch of chemotherapy. The nurse just came in now and set it going. It’s a bit anti-climactic, actually, they just hang a different bag in place of his saline drip, and that’s it. There’s two different types of chemo he’s getting this round (which will be a 5 day round), and they do one right after the other, each for about 30-60 minutes. So a couple hours from now, he will be done with his first batch of chemotherapy! They’ll repeat that each day the next 4 days, and the 6th day he’ll rest here and be monitored. If all goes as planned, we’ll then be able to go home with him! He’ll recover for 3-4 weeks and come back and do it again….

He was way more alert today, which was very good to see. He smiled a few times, and was sitting up, making noises, and overall more vibrant than he’s been in a good week or two.

We’re still looking at various stages of his treatment to finalize decisions – specifically where he should get the surgery to actually remove the tumor, 5-7 months from now. At the moment the tumor is wrapped around his aorta, making the surgery exponentially more difficult than it typically is (and it’s typically a difficult procedure). We’re hoping the chemo will actually shrink the tumor enough to where it is no longer gripping the aorta, which would make the procedure that much more routine. Again, though, even routine in this specific surgery is a difficult one, so we’re praying and researching various surgeons to see what decision should be made. Good news there is we’re months out, so we’ve got [a little] time.

Bottom line for now, things are all going according to plan, and he is holding up like a mountain weathering a storm.

A lot of us are familiar with Jeremiah 29:11, which has been mentioned a few times to us lately, and as I was thinking it over, I remembered Jeremiah 29:12-14, which we’re holding onto as well for our little guy…

“11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity.”

So many scriptures, promises, and hopes we’re holding onto.