Sunday, August 5, 2012

Monday we met with the pediatric oncologist who will be following Collin while we are here in Houston, and learned that he was still planning on admitting Collin that day for his IV chemo. He also informed us that Collin's hemoglobin was low (it was 7.9, and needs to be at least 10), so he needed a blood transfusion that day as well. We were admitted around 3:30 Monday afternoon. They had to type and cross Collin's blood, which took hours, so his blood transfusion didn't start until 10:15 pm. The transfusion took four hours, and then Collin had to have his IV hydration for the chemo. This ran over three hours. So his chemo didn't actually start until 5:00 Tuesday morning. Once it finished at 11:00 am, the mesna (rescue agent) ran for 12 hours. The second dose of chemo started at 5:00 Wednesday morning, so the mesna wouldn't be done until 11:00 Wednesday night, so we stayed in the hospital until Thursday morning. Thankfully the hospital stay was uneventful; Collin did not get sick at all from the chemo, and I had my hands full entertaining him the whole time (which is a good problem to have!) The hospital room was comfortable, and every single member of the hospital staff was very friendly and caring.

Captain Collin

Collin trying on a new hat...yes, it was clean!

Collin napping in the hospital

Collin wearing face paint

Collin and Neya on the observation deck

We were discharged Thursday morning around 11:30, and went directly to the Proton Center for Collin's first radiation treatment which was scheduled for 1:30. At the same time Collin was being prepped for treatment, Bill was taking off on his return flight home. I was holding it together pretty well until the anesthesiologist asked "Where's Dad?" As I watched Collin be put to sleep and be positioned on the gantry, I fell apart. I wished we didn't have to put Collin through any of this, and I wished Bill could be there with me. I tried to pull myself together while I tried to eat a little lunch, but it was hard. The first treatment took about an hour and fifteen minutes. When Collin was in recovery, I went to sit with him. It took him a while to wake up, and when he did he was very groggy and cranky. He was hungry, but he just kept putting his head down and not eating when I offered him food. Finally I just got him into the car and drove home. He slept the whole way, but his mood was a bit better when he woke up. The only thing we could get him to eat that evening was some ice cream.

Friday was his second treatment. Again he couldn't have anything to eat for eight hours before the treatment. He handled it pretty well though, despite his treatment being delayed for over an hour Friday afternoon because one of the machines broke down. Thankfully he woke up much quicker and happier, and he ate a bit of lunch (at 3:30) before we got in the car to drive home. They are constantly rearranging the schedule as people begin and end treatment, and they do their best to get the younger kids scheduled early, so next week Collin's treatments will be earlier in the day. I am hopeful that will help get him back into a more normal routine for eating.

Collin making Mr. Potato Heads before radiation Friday (because, what else would Collin be doing in a playroom?)

Next week will be busy again; along with the daily radiation treatments, Collin has clinic visits and a hearing test on the schedule. With all of these different appointments, along with the drive back and forth, we'll be keeping pretty busy.

Please keep our friend Bella in your prayers. Hospice has been called in, and she's on morphine around the clock to keep her pain at bay. I can't believe that when we saw her a few weeks ago in clinic, it would be the last time we'd see her. It breaks my heart to think about what her family is going through. I hate cancer soooooo much!!!