Radiation / Chemo Day 1

Day 1 of Radiation and Chemo: Monday April 15, 2013

Today is the day…. Riley has no idea what in the world he is in for and how do you explain it to a 5 year old?..... You don’t! We tell him things he NEEDS to know and fake the rest. Like for example "Radiation", is just a big camera that takes pictures of his belly. Today it took a total of about 2 hours, from sedation to the time we left the hospital. We accessed his port today, which they will leave accessed until next Monday. This makes it easier and less painful to draw labs and give meds, rather then using an i.v. in his arm every time. He told me he was scared and didn’t want to take any "pictures." I told him me too buddy and then I told him I would be there the whole time. He came out of anesthesia really fast and man, did he wanted to get out of there!!

Walking down the hall to radiation with Daddy

Our Anesthesiologist trying to negotiate with Mr. Stubborn

After the negotiating went down....waiting for the Versed to kick in so he can relax and not remember how scared he was to “get my picture taken.”

After a quick 20 minutes went by they came and got us and said they were done.  He was already awake and he just wanted to be in my arms. 

Waking up from anesthesia, I just want mom to hold me.

Then we were on to Primary’s Children Hospital for Chemo.

Our view every Monday for a while

We got there at 10:00 and fought to get Riley weighed and his blood pressure!!! That was so fun!! {not} Then we went into a room to draw labs, and talk (and talk and talk) about everything. We talked to 2 Oncologists (plus a med student), 1 social worker, 1 child life specialist, they answered any questions we had and gave us a lot of information that I don’t think I will ever process!!!  

While they talk and talk...Riley plays and plays!

Here is a breakdown of his lab results: Were starting out really good!!!

HGB: 14.1 (less then 8 is bad)   

Hct: 41.8% (less then 24% is bad)   

WBC: 10.5 
PLTS: 621 (less then 30 is bad)    

ANC: 7.6 or 7,600 (less the 500 is bad)

Finally we were off to get the chemo.

Looonnnnggg hallway to the "CHAIRS!!!"

It is so crazy that these drugs that are supposed to help my son, are given by a nurse that is all dressed up in protective clothing because it is so dangerous. And for some reason I thought he would be hooked up to machines for hours while receiving treatment, he’s not, the nurse sits there and administers it through his port until it’s all given. He can just sit in a stroller, play the I-pad and drink a chocolate milk during the treatment!! How easy was that?? Haha!! At least for this treatment!

Waiting in the chairs for the chemo...

Sipping his chocolate milk.  He is really good at tuning everyone out!

The first drug Dactinomycin

Second drug, Vincristine

They got our post op follow up appointment changed to today, so we don’t need to come back here tomorrow! Which was so nice!! Dr. Meyer’s said everything looks really good from surgery and we are good to go and see her next week!!

WHEWWW! After a long 5 hours at this hospital, we grabbed our prescriptions’ and we headed home!!

But only to find this……. (once we arrived!!)

How dang cute is that?? We have so much support and love!! Thank you all so so much!! Riley had a grin from ear to ear!!

The bad news of all of this is, Riley started throwing up before we even left P.C.H. and it didn’t stop until that evening.  Dang it, I thought we would have a couple of days before this hit…. Guess not. We have the throw up bags ready at all times!!

However, this sign says it best!!  Riley IS Rocking cancer!!!!