Monday's chemo treatment went well. In about 2 weeks he'll go back for the 2nd half of this phase. It's a nice little break. He's doing much better at taking his pills. For a while there it was like pulling teeth to get him to take his pills.

In the clinic waiting room there is a bulletin board with cut out paper hands that kids can write what they'd like to do then they pin it on the board. Kids have written all kinds of things. For a while now Trey keeps saying how when he grows up, he wants to invent a cure for cancer...one that doesn't take so long and doesn't hurt. He's so serious about it. So when we saw the board, he wanted to write something on the paper hand. He wrote that he wanted to invent a cure for cancer. Maybe we'll have a scientist in the family! :)

Last week we went to Trey's class for a special presentation by his teacher. She made a DVD of pictures of the kids throughout the year. It was fun to watch it with his class. Miss Mitchell has been great. We want to thank her for all she has done for Trey. Thank you! Trey also stayed to eat lunch with his friends. What a fun treat for him!

On Monday, Trey had his chemo treatment. All went well. Although just when he was leaving treatment, he threw up...barely made it into a tub. Close call! He has had a lot of anxiety lately. We asked about it, and the Dr. didn't seem too worried or surprised. He said the chemo could be to blame. They did give him something to help calm him down. He has had a lot of chemo over the last week. Trey has had some pills to take and for some reason the thought of swallowing pills has made him so upset. He's had so much anxiety over that. So far this week hasn't been too bad. He seems a little more relaxed. And he's back to being hungry from the steroids he's on. :) The last few days he hasn't had much energy and has just wanted to lay down. But he has been happy and positive.

A few weeks back, Trey discovered that the hospital has a small garden area with plants and flowers, waterfalls and a small pond. Since then, Trey asks if we can walk through there when we come for his clinic visits. He really loves the garden and this last time even wanted to sit on the bench for a while. He must have a calm and peaceful feeling when he visits the garden. He wishes we could build one in our back yard. Maybe some day. For now the one at the hospital can be his little sanctuary.

Trey Made It Through!

Trey did it! He was brave, strong and tough! He was so nervous and has worked himself up so much that he was shaking pretty hard by the time we got to the hospital. We had to wait for almost an hour and half before they administered the shots. We had to wait for the chemo and his tag to identify him. They put the numbing cream on, which helped some, but Trey said it still hurt. Now we wait another hour to make sure he doesn't have any bad reactions to it.

I told Trey that he is so brave and he told me that he doesn't think so. I asked him why he thought that and he told me because he is so scared and crying. I told him that being brave and courageous doesn't mean you aren't scared. Someone who is brave and courageous can be scared, but they press forward anyway with faith. He's resting now and as I look over at him I see a boy who shows a great measure of bravery. I love him so much and I'm so glad he is my son.

Thank you to the many people who prayed for Trey today. Prayer is very powerful and we have felt it in our lives.

Pressing Forward

The last couple of weeks have been great. Trey continues to have his teacher come and tutor him 2x week. She says he is doing really well. His counts have been good...so he has the ok to do most activities.

Today, I took Trey to his chemo appointment. This last phase is called Standard Delayed Intensification. It's a two month process. He has a new chemo drug. It's called doxorubicin. It is an antibiotic that prevents DNA from forming, thus preventing cancer cells from multiplying. It is given through the IV. He also gets the vincristine. So Trey gets both these doses once a week for 3 weeks, then he gets a week break and then he'll start the course over again for the second month. He'll also start on the steroid, dexamethasone again. It won't be quite as strong as last time and not as often. So hopefully his appetite won't go crazy! Trey also had another lumbar puncture, ie back poke. That's were they administer the methotrexate. He had a harder time coming out of the anesthesia. He seemed more groggy and had a harder time walking. By the time we got home, he was very tired and he lost his appetite. (Poor guy hadn't eaten all day because he had to have the back poke.) He laid down right away and within an hour was throwing up. His back is sore and his legs hurt him. I'm just so glad that he hasn't had worse side effects. My heart just sinks when I see him like this...I don't think I could handle it if it were worse. Shane feels the same way.

The dreaded day is almost upon us. On Thursday, we go back for the PEG-Asparaginase, ie leg poke. He had this done at the beginning of his diagnosis while he was in the hospital. It's an intramuscular injection. Three needles in the thigh at the same time. Ouch! Last time it totally scarred Trey. So he has been fretting over this for several months. I hope he doesn't work himself up to terribly.

We look forward to the maintenance phase, where we will be going up to the hospital only once a month! Trey is a true trooper and fighter. We are so proud of him. Thank you again for your thoughts and prayers. In the uncertainty of life, it is a true comfort to be surrounded by wonderful family and friends.

End of a phase....and FISHING!

I am so sorry it's taken me so long to update the blog. Where does the time go?!

Last Thursday was the last of this particular phases' treatments. Whew! One more phase to go...then maintenance! Once again we are told that Trey is doing so well. Many kids feel the side effects from this particular chemo and at some point the dose stays level and is not increased. Trey hasn't had all the side effects so his chemo has been increased each time. This last one was the max dose that he can receive. The doctor laughed and said Trey drinks this like it's water! (Although you don't drink this chemo, it's given through his port...an IV push) So far Trey has been able to tolerate the chemo. Amazing.

Trey has been wanting to go fishing, so we decided to go last weekend. He felt fine for most of it and we caught 3 fish! We look forward to going more over the summer months. We are humbled by the power of prayer and how it has been a great blessing in our lives especially the last few months. Thank you again for your prayers.

Emotional week

This week has been a rough one for Trey. The chemo treatment from Monday sure hit him hard. He's been throwing up and laying on the couch not wanting to do much. The other day he had a melt down moment. We're trying to help him understand that it's okay to be mad at cancer, to be hurt and to cry, but to also be thankful for how well he really is doing overall. I told him that there are other kids with his illness that are worse off then he is. He thought for a moment and said "there are?". We want him to walk away from this experience 3 years from now with a positive attitude and with gratitude in his heart. I know he already is a happy kid overall. We are grateful for his courageous spirit.

Today, he seems to be doing better, although he is still laying on the couch. I think his muscles have weaken, as he has a hard time walking around and just wants to lay down-not even sit on the couch. I'm worried what the last dose will do to him on Thursday.

On another sad note, our beloved lab, Taylor died last night. She had been feeling sick the last couple of days. Trey took it all in stride. I think he has been so preoccupied with his own illness, that it hasn't really hit home what has happened to Taylor. It's been a very emotional week for all of us. Our 6 year old daughter didn't take it as hard as I thought she would. I asked her if she were sad, and she said not really. Taylor is in heaven. How sweet the hearts of our little ones.

Almost done with this phase.

Trey had another treatment on Monday. It was a long day. He had another lumbar puncture and I guess it took a bit longer for him to come out from being put to sleep for the procedure. Then he went up to the clinic for chemo treatments. His counts still look great so they of course increased the dose of Methotrexate. He also got a dose of it with the lumbar puncture or spinal tap. Then he got the Vincristine dose. One of the side effects of this chemo treatment is something called "foot drop". It's when you have trouble lifting the front part of your foot. Every time Trey has clinic the doctors look for signs of the different side effects. They checked for "foot drop" and Trey is showing some difficulty with lifting the front part of his foot. It's not terribly bad, but we are noticing that he shuffles more when he walks.



We've noticed that right after Trey's clinic visit, he seems fine. It's about 24 hours later that the effects take place. Last time he didn't get sick right away, and when he did I thought it might have been the flu bug. But I think he was sick because of the chemo treatments. Today he has been laying on the couch most of the day, not feeling really sick, just tired. Tonight he got sick and threw up. He says his legs and feet hurt too. I feel so bad for him. Hopefully tomorrow he will be feeling better. He's such a trooper!

In 10 days he goes back for the last treatment of this phase. Then he'll get 2 weeks off! Hooray for Trey! He has one last phase before maintenance. The next phase is suppose to be pretty intense as well. We just need to remember to take one day at a time. We are so grateful for how Trey is doing. Thanks again for your prayers. We send out all our love to you.