Interim Maintenance Updates

Hi Everyone! We haven't posted much lately because there's really nothing new to report. This is great news. Basically means that we are following protocol with treatment and it is working. Currently Cooper is in an interim maintenance phase, which means he gets 2 rounds of chemo every 10 days and also has 2 lumbar puncture spinal chemos in this 56 days. Compared to his other 2 phases, this one has been EASY! Keep in mind that east is relative to the last 2 phases which were complete doozies! Cooper has been feeling pretty great and has been able to do some "normal kid" activities within reason and with some pretty strong precautions but he has been able to get out a few times, which has been nice. He still has days where he is exhausted, doesn't have energy, and is nauseous, but the majority of days are good days.l Each chemo he receives during this phase is what is called an escalating dose, which means if his ANC counts are above a certain level each week they will escalate the amount of chemo drug that they give him. If he doesn't make counts, then they will hold chemo and delay. This is giving his body recovery time before we head into his most intense phase starting on the 28th. Basically, they try to "trick" any leukemia cells that may be living in his body that they can't detect. The recovery tricks those cells into thinking they can come out or start multiplying again and show themselves, then they will get hit hard with this last phase of chemo basically as a last ditch effort to knock it all out. Cooper's blood levels have been great throughout and he has been able to escalate the dose and tolerate it pretty well.

Tomorrow is his last treatment of this phase and then he gets 21 day off!!!! Woo Hoo!!!!! Merry Christmas to us! Now, last time he had a 14 day break we ended up in the ER with a fever...so lets hope everyone stays well for the holidays.


 A little snow day fun in November




Cooper is currently in physical therapy in order to combat some neuropathy in his legs and his feet that is being caused by the chemotherapy. He loves the physical "fairy" and thinks this is the most fun thing in the hospital by far. He gets to play games, play basketball, ride scooters. God bless his physical therapist Briel, because he takes that girl on a merry chase EVERY week!

Cooper is really starting to handle his port spike quite well. It's a pretty sizable needle and it has caused a lot a anxiety and lots of getting used to, but he is handling it like a champ. 
 Last treatment day was a triple whammy. He had to have anesthesia for spinal chemo as well as 2 IV chemos. He hadn't had the anesthesia in about 4 weeks and was pretty loopy when he woke up. He asked his nurse if the make a wish foundation could find him a cheese themed Disney cruise to go on.
Cooper got cleared to get back on his ice skates!!!!! He did a great job and was so much stronger than he was back in August. This was a huge win for Coop. We were so happy to see him back on skates!


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