Interm Maintenance begins tomorrow!!

Last week Caines counts were not where they needed to be to start his next phase of Chemo, so we had a week off.

Went today to check again and his counts are up to 1500 vs 300 (needed to be at 750 to start).  So tomorrow we start our next phase Interm Maintenance.  IM, we are told, is quite mild so we should have a good holiday season.

It has bee nice to see Caine start to come back to his normal self.  His appetite is back and he is wanting to do more.  His hair is starting to fill back in so he is getting more confident(even ok with the odd pic)

Think and pray for us as we go through Phase 3 of 4 of the frontline Chemo treatments.

2nd Phase of Consolidation COMPLETE!!!

Man I am.getting bad for updating the blog. 

Caine has completed Phase 2 of Consolidation.  He made it through with some nausea and vomiting but overall we are happy.  He never become neutrophenic this time...came close at 100 but never did zero out.  We are really happy.

Caine did participate in Halloween this year at both the clinic and with his friends.  I think he enjoyed being a "normal" kid for the day.  He said he got tired but it was worth it.

Caine also took part in his first hockey game on Saturday.  He didn't make it through the whole game but did pretty good overall.

We head back to the clinic tomorrow to see where is levels are at to see if he starts his next round of chemo called Interm Maintenance.  It is supposed to be a lighter round with most kids doing school and sports throughout.  We are looking forward to having something light and a great holiday season.

Slowly but surely we are making our way through this journey.  It has been hard on Caine as he just doesnt get why it happened to him and we have no answers.  He keeps saying he just wants to be normal.  It breaks my heart.

Doing much better!!!

Caine is doing much better this week as far as nausea is concerned.  His appetite is starting to come back so that helps as well.

Caine even went to his first hockey practice on Sunday.  He only made it 30 minutes but did well.  He said he will continue to try.  My brother Ken is coaching so helps alot

Caine is done the hard drugs but now his counts are starting to take a hit.  On Monday is hemoglobin, platelets and neutrophils were all down.  So the plan was to get a platelet transfusion on Tuesday (which we did and it really perked him.up) and on Friday he will have another blood transfusion for his hemoglobin.  His neutrophils are coming down slowly so he is still high enough to do things but just on the edge of "house arrest".  So once we get to Friday we will know what the weekend holds.

Also as a family we had my Grandma pass away at the young age of 97.  We will miss her dearly but know she isnt in pain anymore and reunited with Grandpa, my Dad, my Uncle Rick and her family.  Love you always.

Not off to a good start of the week

Caine has started his second week of Cytarabine and it is already bad.  He had a good weekend of not getting sick.  On Monday at 11pm that changed...he ended up getting sick three times and again in the morning when we arrived at the clinic.

Caine did his treatments while we waited for the bloodwork to come back..but we all anticipated that he would require a blood transfusion as he was pale and his hands were white.  Last time he had to get a transfusion he was sick to his stomach too....and here we sit getting a transfusion as his hemoglobin is low. 

Good news he is starting to feel better and no stomach pain.  So as long as the day gets with a transfusion glad to have one to make him feel better.

Please think of Caine as we make it through the next 3 days as it will be trying to Caine.

So happy this week is over....

Caine had a rough week this week.
He could not bounce back after Monday and threw up all week, sometimes up to 3 times a day.  Smells would make him nauseous to the point of puking.  Needless to say he did not attend school this week.  His bloodwork was awesome with his neutrophil counts (part of the white blood cells that is your immunity) being at 2600.  We will take it.

Caine had a day off today from treatment is is starting to feel better and have a bit to eat with no puking.  Having a 4 day break will be good for him.

Caine is getting frustrated as being sick is not a good thing.  Lots of questions around why him and why there isnt meds that they can give people that dont make him.sick.  I dont have answers for any of it and it kills me.

We are working hard in taking it a day at a time and looking forward to getting through this block of treatment at the end of the month.

2nd week is gonna be tough

Caine had a lazy weekend which was great.  He felt great and his levels were great so that is all.that matters.

We started the 2nd week of consolidation and it has been not so good.  The drugs he is on Cyclomosphomade (just for one day) and Cyberatine (4 days a week for 2 weeks) are the two drugs that make him not feel too well.  Yesterday we were there all day and they gave him three separate antinausiant medications and he still ended up being sick at the end.  These drugs also kill his appetite and cause him to feel "off" not sure how else to explain it.  I can't wait to get through the next few weeks so we can get back on track a bit again.

This is Caine out cold from all the antinausea meds...

On a great note I went to the fundraiser my fabulous friends, Anna and Brad, hosted for Caine.  It was so very awesome and raised about $3500 which will help our family alot in the coming months.  Words cannot explain my gratitude for my wonderful Sasktoon friends I have...love you all so much.

Here is hoping this week will be low key and Caine can get through it like he has in the past.

Week 1 of 2nd phase of consolidation

Where has this week gone.  On Monday we went into hospital for bloodwork to see where is levels were.  I would have beat that he would have increased slightly from 400 that he was on Friday.  I was wrong...he was at 1100 which is awesome, but also meant we started our next phase of chemo which is the same chemo as last round and it was tough on him...so here is hoping we make it through this phase with the same amount of pukes and no infection.

Caine is starting to loose his hair.  It is fairly thin but he refuses to shave it just wears his toque. I am on with it but he isnt happy about it.  Caine is angry about this the most..I think he would take puking over loosing his hair anyday.  We have to remind him it will grow back thicker and nicer...right now he doesnt care he just wants his hair.

Caine is also going to school half days this week while his counts are high enough.  He is enjoying being back but not liking recess too much right now as he has to keep his needle in his port for the week and doesnt like running with it so recess is pretty lame for him.  He has great friends though so he is never alone.  He also wrote his first math test today and the teacher said he did very well so so proud of him.

Bloodwork wont be done again til the end of the week and with the current chemo he is on Nelarabine, it doesnt usually effect counts.  Hoping his immune system is even higher so he can have a great weekend.