Eli has had many interesting conversations with the various health care staff since this journey began. Whether he is instructing the nurses in proper port access procedure, texting riddles to his surgeon, teaching card tricks to the health tech, sending treats and notes to the lab, trying to stump the radiation oncologist, or giving feedback …
Eli finished another round of chemo earlier this evening. It is the second to last inpatient round before starting maintenance chemo, which is all outpatient. On one hand, I am feeling glad and relieved to be approaching that milestone in treatment and feeling grateful that things have gone so well. I didn't really know what …
I am in a couple cancer related support groups on Facebook. One is for moms of kids with cancer, Momcology. The other is a group specific to Eli's type of cancer, Rhabdomyosarcoma. One common theme that comes up is something the parents in these groups call "scanxiety", the anxiety felt while waiting for the outcome …
Eli opted for Irinotecan in cranberry juice. After consulting with the pharmacist, I prepared the supplies, but forgot put on gloves until I was in the middle of adding half of the syringe of medication into 30 ml (2 tablespoons) of the juice, but I pressed forward. While swirling the contents to try and mix …
Continue reading Crash and Burn (part 2) or Rising from the Ashes
...nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds. Nor sleet nor flu prevent Eli from getting radiation. Today was the last of six weeks of radiation treatment, every week day except holidays. During that time, we had all sorts of weather that made driving difficult and, …
For a while now, I've been thinking of writing a post that describes what cancer is like for Eli and our family. I had preconceived notions about cancer and treatment before we got to experience it up close and personal, so it isn't surprising when others we talk to have questions. Elaine's preconceived notion #1: …
Earlier this week we started chemo again with an overnight stay. It also coincided with the first of 28 radiation treatments. Yay, death to any tumor cells that may still be lurking about Eli's leg. The first day, PCH sent us over to Huntsman in a van equipped with a wheelchair lift so Eli could …
Yes, this is the second post of the day and we are still at the hospital, waiting for the last scan (this was written about 7pm). A clear scan of Eli's foot will make today's happiness complete (of course we won't have the report today, so I'll assume that no tumor is left in his …
Thursday, November 1st It felt good to sleep in my own bed again after having spent the week in barely adequate accommodations next to Eli's hospital bed. We were home, but didn't know for how long, since treatment would begin after the diagnosis of the specific type of cancer was made. The schedule for the …
Eli The Boss 