Getting Ready for Christmas
First, sorry for the lack of posts related to Cooper's journey over the past few weeks. As most of you know, Cooper has been in a maintenance phase over the past 2 months. During this time, it has been absolutely wonderful watching him play and run around! There are times when we can (almost) forget that he is sick. Since he's been doing well, we have been taking every advantage to play with him and cherish every moment and smile.
Cooper has been super excited about Christmas this year! He's had a great time picking out presents for cousins, doctors, nurses and the rest of his family. He is also in the midst of a 20 day treatment free span in which he hasn't had to undergo any chemotherapy or blood tests. We feel very fortunate that he had stayed fever free so we can avoid the "no fun hotel" (ER/Inpatient).
Sadly, all good things must come to an end. As anyone who had dealt with pediatric cancer knows, there are good phases of treatment and bad phases. Cooper has now completed (or is just about to complete) his first 3 phases of his treatment. There are three more to go. Two of which are maintenance phases so we expect to have "normal" Cooper back during that time. BUT before we get there, we need to get through Delayed Intensification (end of December - end of February). This will be Coopers MOST intense treatment cycle in which we expect some pretty significant side effects (hair, energy, blood levels). There's no getting around this. We are dreading this cycle, but anxious to get it started and over with (Cooper included)! The good news is there is light at the end of the tunnel that we can see now. Ever since we started this >4 months ago now, the "end game" for us was seeing Cooper return to normal life - mainly school. At the beginning, it was impossible to think about this as we needed to remain focused on today and the NOW in order to survive. Once Cooper completes this intensification cycle, our hope and prayer is that Cooper's levels will recover quickly and can reach this major milestone of completion of his major treatments. Once that happens, and if all else goes as planned, Cooper should be on maintenance for the next 2 years and should be feeling pretty great.
Our prayer request from all of you is that Cooper's DI phase is tolerated as well as can be expected. Cooper's doctors are confident that since he has tolerated the other treatments amazingly well, he should tolerate this phase well too! There are a few new medicines he'll be receiving so they couldn't say for certain but we are optimistic! Please pray that he doesn't feel too bad and continues to avoid fevers and extended inpatient stays at the hospital. He's done amazingly well so far and we are 100% convinced that God is help him/us through this and the prayers he is receiving from around the world are making all the difference. Also please pray that his levels recover as quickly as possible once this phase is over - this is the next major milestone that his doctors hope to see with him.
The Truebloods
Cooper has been super excited about Christmas this year! He's had a great time picking out presents for cousins, doctors, nurses and the rest of his family. He is also in the midst of a 20 day treatment free span in which he hasn't had to undergo any chemotherapy or blood tests. We feel very fortunate that he had stayed fever free so we can avoid the "no fun hotel" (ER/Inpatient).
Sadly, all good things must come to an end. As anyone who had dealt with pediatric cancer knows, there are good phases of treatment and bad phases. Cooper has now completed (or is just about to complete) his first 3 phases of his treatment. There are three more to go. Two of which are maintenance phases so we expect to have "normal" Cooper back during that time. BUT before we get there, we need to get through Delayed Intensification (end of December - end of February). This will be Coopers MOST intense treatment cycle in which we expect some pretty significant side effects (hair, energy, blood levels). There's no getting around this. We are dreading this cycle, but anxious to get it started and over with (Cooper included)! The good news is there is light at the end of the tunnel that we can see now. Ever since we started this >4 months ago now, the "end game" for us was seeing Cooper return to normal life - mainly school. At the beginning, it was impossible to think about this as we needed to remain focused on today and the NOW in order to survive. Once Cooper completes this intensification cycle, our hope and prayer is that Cooper's levels will recover quickly and can reach this major milestone of completion of his major treatments. Once that happens, and if all else goes as planned, Cooper should be on maintenance for the next 2 years and should be feeling pretty great.
Cooper sporting that new Packers swag!
Our prayer request from all of you is that Cooper's DI phase is tolerated as well as can be expected. Cooper's doctors are confident that since he has tolerated the other treatments amazingly well, he should tolerate this phase well too! There are a few new medicines he'll be receiving so they couldn't say for certain but we are optimistic! Please pray that he doesn't feel too bad and continues to avoid fevers and extended inpatient stays at the hospital. He's done amazingly well so far and we are 100% convinced that God is help him/us through this and the prayers he is receiving from around the world are making all the difference. Also please pray that his levels recover as quickly as possible once this phase is over - this is the next major milestone that his doctors hope to see with him.
"Don't forget about me guys!" - Evyn
Love you all!The Truebloods
Comments
Post a Comment