The start of week 3

Our day begins with the journey into the city for radiation.  10:30 every morning, Monday-Friday.

 This week when Friday rolled around we felt the tired feeling that we know well these days. Ethan has finished two weeks of radiation and this week the side effect that has been felt is fatigue. He gets tired quickly and needs to sleep.

 Ethan is also experiencing his eyebrows and eyelashes falling out which is another side effect. Between weeks 3 and 4 Ethan will be experience a sunburn around his head and all this can last for 4 to 6 weeks after he is finished with his radiation treatment.
Some other side effects will be his hair will not grow back very quickly where the radiation is being pointed at on his head, so Dr. Velez gave Ethan some advice on growing his hair long on top so that it will cover the other spots. We had a good laugh!

 Every Thursday and Friday, we check in with both doctors and on Fridays we get labs done. This week Ethan's numbers were good. We still need to be prepared if his hemoglobin drops below 10 we will need another blood transfusion, but again very grateful that this was not needed this week.

We were visiting with Dr. Velez and she started to talk to Ethan about the next few months 4 more weeks of radiation, then 4 to 6 weeks recovery then we will do an MRI and if all looks good than Ethan will be scheduled to get his port out. Time frame for this looks like the end of June.

I found myself holding my breath as it was a surreal moment that we were talking about the end or should I say the end of this part of Ethan's journey.

 Drew and I have been talking about what the end could look like for Ethan and that it will be an adjustment for all of us yet again to find another new normal because this cancer journey has changed us all we will never be the same. I echo Tabi's statements of not wanting a ticket out, but oh how I long for no more suffering and no more pain and yet these two human feelings make me run into my Savior's arms every day. I am grateful to be carried by my Savior at the same time having the strength when I have needed it to care, encourage, and love each other throughout these past few months.
The love and encouragement from so many of you has been humbling and honestly hard to take sometimes. We are thankful for you all and thank you for all the love and support!

Radiation

The radiation has begun! We had our first apt yesterday. Ethan and I headed off to Tuoro Hospital for the treatment. They partner with Children’s Hospital seeing as the radiation machine is approx. $4 million.

Ethan has been doing well over the last couple of weeks- just knowing the Chemo is done has been a huge morale booster. I have watched and seen his strength return these weeks and I can no longer take it easy when we rough house and when he punches me in the arm it hurts again.   We have had a couple of days where he has not even napped. One day he ran around with me, which included getting plats for the garden and materials at Lowes for a job. Later that night his ankles hurt just from walking so much. There will definitely be a considerable time of recovery and rebuilding when this is over. This past week he has commented a number of times that his eyes seem better as well, so I drug him out to the ball field to make him try and hit a golf ball. With one eye closed he nailed it with the second swing. 

The family spirits are better for the moment, he spent a 2 evenings/ nights with his friends and this was a huge boost and even played some video games for a few hours. Beth is done with Mid-terms, Chas has had more direct attention, and Tabi and I went backpacking for 2 nights.

Last Friday, Ethan and I went in for a number of tests to check over things now that Chemo is done and they all looked good. The only thing to note was lower thyroid function. (.03 lower to .76)  This is not a surprise but it is directly related to hormones which have their control center located in the third ventricle close to where the tumor was located, and will be the focus of the radiation It will be watched as we continue. With this information we got the ok to start Radiation. The treatment actually only takes about 7 minutes but Thursday’s and Friday’s will be the longer days due to Doctor visits. Ethan lays down on the bed (see Picture) and the machine moves around his head shooting the radiation form many directions but it all ends up in the middle ventricle. The many angles of radiation keep the radiation in surrounding areas low and high in the middle where they all meet. Ethan asked me, “what happens if the aim at the wrong spot?” that should give you a bit of where his head is.

The night before we went in he asked me to stay in his room for a bit longer just to be present he said “ I don’t want the day to end.” It is very hard starting this knowing the side effects that are coming especially after feeling so well for a few weeks. But we have started and we laughed a good bit all the way through day one. And day 2 Beth and Ethan had a flat after radiation but they got it taken care of.  They say it will be about 2 weeks before he feels the fatigue, so we are going to make the best of it. This week the schedule is different times but after that it will be every day at 1030 AM

Want to say a special thanks to those that have given both in moral support and finical support. After the time spent in missions I did not expect the response we got. Thanks so much it is greatly appreciated and slightly over whelming.

Up and Going

The new directions are up and going for donations!

Simply click on the "Donate" button and away your go!

Thank you for your patience while everything was updated!

Donation directions

Hey All!

Just wanted you to know that the lakeshore church has updated their website and i'm working on updating our blog as well with how to donate.  Should be updated ASAP!
I'll post again when the directions are updated.

Thanks for your patience!

Happy Mardi Gra!!!

Today is Fat Tuesday a New Orleans tradition for Mardi Gra parades. The parades are going all day throughout the city with lots of people celebrating.

The Adams family normally would not attempt a trip to the city on a day like this- traffic and people make for slow moving, but Ethan's need for a blood transfusion took priority today.

We packed our snacks and books and will be in the hospital for the day to receive his blood transfusion.

The nurse has mentioned to me this morning that it is highly unusual for a cancer patient to not have a blood transfusion throughout chemo treatment. (Ethan will be getting his first blood transfusion today.) This is another reminder that God is with Ethan and has brought him through!!! Thank you Jesus for your faithfulness!!

As Ethan gets his blood today we are very thankful for the many that have given blood on his behalf... Thank you!!:)

Resting in Jesus peace and love today!
Thank you for the prayers of strength and courage!!!

Dr. Chas making his brother laugh :)