Bandaids and Spiderman

No words needed!

Christian's battle over his cancer has entered a new phase. Starting May 9^th we will be going to the Tom Baker Cancer center at the Foothills hospital for 28 consecutive days of radiation.  Excluding the weekends and barring him getting ill our final treatment day will be June 16^th  - one day before Chris and mine’s 5-year wedding anniversary. Where does the time go?  I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a bit disappointed when we received the results from Christian’s last scan. I am not sure what I was expecting so I don’t know how I can be disappointed.  It think my reasoning stems from the thought that with cancer 70% is not enough.  It is either 100% or not at all. It is great that we have come this far but it is not where you have been but where you are going and we need to stay focused on how to get rid of the last 30%.

When we were told that the tumor was still in his vessel I was so disheartened but we used it as a reality check that we cannot let our guard down or lose focus on what we are supposed to be doing- helping Christian fight.  Our oncologist explained that the tumor, even though considerably smaller, still had extensions and is oddly shaped. This makes radiation complicated and a lot of work for the physics tech to create the fields around which he will be radiated. Killing the tumor is not difficult but protecting the organs it is touching is. We had our radiation scan on Wednesday (after the oh so exciting ambulance ride over from the Children’s!) We were pleasantly surprised to receive a phone call the very next day saying that the radiation was a go! Last time we went through this, the radiation oncologist and our pediatric oncologist debated for weeks about whether it was the best course of action (doing the radiation knowing that many of his organs and vertebrae would be badly damaged or destroyed).  This gave us some hope knowing that he looked at the scans and immediately thought it was possible. Yay!

Bingo - my favorite hospital pass-time!

We have been blessed to have Marilyn (Chris’ mom) in our home helping us with the kids and look forward to the visitors we have coming. Rodney, Denise and co., Rhonda and Brent. I am also happy to have visited with my good friend kirsten and her daughter, Morgan, who hung out with us at the hospital on Tuesday. I love how we have reconnected with so many people in our lives and we are so thankful for the new friends we have made. They have become our family and provide us with strength and reassurance that we are not alone. 

Weeks supply of meds and such

Christian continues to do well with his Chemo. This last big dose he was not nearly as sick as he has been in the past. So thank you for all the prayers. Please continue to pray that the tumor would release itself from his vessel and melt away with this upcoming radiation. Thank you to Western RV for supporting our family by allowing us to come in and play with their ‘toys’ and by hosting the Texas Hold ‘em poker tournament. Christian finds strength in all of you and of course his super hero jammies! (Thanks Nanny!)

Today I am thankful for:

1. Health Care coverage

2. Cool band aids

3. Family

Picking out the bandaid....daily ritual