Last big intensification push: It has begun

So on Friday we did not make counts to start the second part of intensification, so we went in Wednesday and Coop made counts like a boss! It was such a long clinic day, but we were thankful to go home. We were the first ones there and the last ones to leave. We barely got out before they would have had to admit us to inpatient. Luckily this week, Kristy was able to attend clinic with Coop too. Last week she was getting over the shingles and couldn't go to clinic as a precaution to the other patients there. Good old stress induced shingles...Ugh....just what every parent with a baby and an immunocompromised kid needs, right?

 Cooper actually got out on his bike during the few days we had after he didn't make counts. We figured if he was asking to go outside, he was feeling much better and we had a pretty good feeling he would get going on Wednesday. 

Cooper had the choice to leave clinic and keep his port accessed at home for the home care nurse to come out and administer his daily chemo, or he could get a daily shot. Cooper a serious CHAMP with needles, so he chose the shot, so he could take a bath, play, and it also reduces his risk of infection. We were happy with that since we didn't really want his port accessed on our watch. 

 Out of anesthesia waiting for chemo. Coop had to have tons of hydration with one of the drugs and 4 hours of fluids after it was given. 

 

Hanging out in the playroom as we closed down clinic.

At clinic he had an anesthesia day with spinal chemo, as well as 3 additional chemo drugs, all of which were new. One though, we got to mark off the list and we never get it again! The one chemo he is receiving everyday through home care is the one that has worried us from the start. It is a tiny tiny amount but the drug is a beast. With this drug kids typically feel like they have the flu and it gets worse with each dose. The entire point is to wipe out counts. One of the main side effects is neutropenic fever, so we can five anti nausea meds to make him comfortable but he can't have any Tylenol or anything to make him more comfortable. Also, with this drug he is pretty much guaranteed to need blood or platelets at lease once. They doubt he will make it to second set of 4 doses without needing a transfusion.

Cooper has had 3 doses so far and he has tolerated it really well. So far so good. 5 doses to go. Coop likes home care because his "hospital days" are super quick and he gets to play at home, but I think he would obviously prefer not to be getting a needle every day. We find home care to be convenient but kind of strange. I guess it's just kind of amazing what they allow you to do at home and have in your house. I never thought we'd be figuring out how to store temp controlled chemo with baby food or we never considered a chemo waste container and sharps container when baby proofing our house for a crawler! Oh well...you do what you have to do. Modern medicine is amazing though and it is nice that we can do some at home and not have to be in the hospital. 

Hoping the next 5 doses go as smoothly as the first 3. Thanks as always for the thoughts, prayers, and good vibes!