Round 2 is Done!

Brendan did sleep well last night.  Almost too well.  With radiation changed to 7:30 a.m., we had to get an early start.  Unfortunately, one of the nurses gave him some anti-nausea meds that make him really sleepy at 6 a.m. so Brendan had a really hard time making it through radiation.

 He had to get his morning antibiotics while rushing out to the transport van.

 He slept on my shoulder until they came to get him for his radiation treatment.

 He made it to the vault and they got everything set, only to have Brendan raise his hand.

  They quickly took off his mask and he told them that with his stuffy nose he couldn't breathe.  They tried a couple of times to adjust the mask, but each time Brendan had them take it off.  Finally, they took the gauze out of his mask so he had room to open his mouth.  That way he could breathe through his mouth during his treatment.  (The last few days they have made some adjustments trying to straighten out and lengthen his neck so they can radiate it better.  The adjustments have made his mask much tighter on his face.  He comes out of treatment with mesh marks on his forehead and chin now.)
 This was Brendan in the van on the way back to Primary Children's Hospital.  You can tell how much he loved radiation today.

 Then sun was just hitting the east side of the valley on our way back.

 Once back to our room, Brendan crawled right into bed and went back to sleep.

 The nurse started his fluids with magnesium (4 hours).

 By 1 p.m. the "ben/phen" was wearing off and the Mannitol fluids (diuretics- to make him urninate) were being started.  We felt it was time to get him up, get him moving, brush his teeth, and get him showered before the chemo was started.  Brendan fought us and protested, but once he got moving he enjoyed being up and it was hard to get him out of the shower!

 "The Plan"

Chemotherapy was started at 3:30 pm

During the first round of chemo, it was rather unnerving to think of such a toxic substance being pumped into Brendan's body.  But Brendan has such a great perspective on it that he's rubbed off on me.  This is what Brendan said when I asked him about having cancer:

What do think about having cancer?

"This is stuff that happens to everyone else, not me.  Yes, cancer can happen, but it can be fixed.  We can get rid of it.  Through painful and awful torturous ways," (he says with a laugh!)  With big machines and big rooms with doors that say “radioactive” on them. :)

I guess, I’ve just kind of accepted that it is real, but it’s going to get better."

 At 4 p.m. three Utah Grizzlies Hockey players showed up to give Brendan a signed pennant and hockey stick and wish him a Merry Christmas!

 Lots of helicopters coming in today . . .

 It was nice to see the sun shine through the windows this afternoon.

 Brendan stayed perky all afternoon -- playing the xbox. . .

 playing with his kendama. . .

 and checking out the crazy hats Jennifer Conner sent to keep him laughing during chemo.  It worked!

We'll be laughing for days!

We learned a new card game.

And after all that, Brendan wanted a pizza.  What?  He hasn't eaten anything more than carrots for days.  But, why not?  I wasn't sure he would eat it once it got here, but he did!  All but a few bites.  

 Chemo just finished (9:45 p.m.).  They are pushing fluids through the lines to clear them of cisplatin, and they just started his overnight feeding.  Anti-nausea meds will be given every two hours all through the night.  He can sleep all he wants. (Wait-- just kidding-- he's required to use the bathroom every two hours through the night.)  The 24-hours of post-chemo fluids begin now.  So far, no nausea.  Thanks for the prayers.  We are feeling them tonight.