Round 1... CHECK!

From Drew:

Ethan made it home last night, yea!

He is home a day early because he did better than expected. Which we are very grateful.

Cycle 1:
Day 1
He received a dose of CARBOplatin Chemo. This is the stuff that is known for being potent and causing nausea for about a week, however it is also the chemo that passes through the blood brain barrier so it potentially is the more important chemo.

Day 2 and 3 he received ETOPoside chemo.

Day 2
In the evening Ethan was feeling quite sick, had bad headache and had one pupil bigger than the other (strange, but everyone reacts different). Finally, around 9 pm they put him to sleep with benadryl.

Day 3
 Just slight nausea, but he was very self-driven to be good enough to go home- which he did! :)


On September 19,  he goes into the clinic to have his blood checked. Then again on the 26th. They are looking at the blood for many things.  As I understand it, the main items of focus are hormones, white cells, and platelets. This is going to be done on a  regular interval after all cycles/rounds to see if he needs transfusions. If levels are acceptable, we will start the next cycle around October 3.

The next cycle will not have as potent of a Chemo but the quantities will be larger.




We have had many of you praying and supporting us in many ways and we are deeply thankful for it. We have also had many people ask how they can help and I have been unable to answer. This has been due to the overload of everything and the prioritizing of mental energy to pressing needs. Now that I have taken some time to recenter myself I think I have some suggestions.

Food, Gas, and Misc needs are some ideas.

The meals that have been brought have been outstanding!  Thanks!

It has become evident that we are going to have a considerably more expense with fuel (we're predicting this expense to double).

We will be and have already been making extra runs to CVS Pharmacy and Walmart. I believe gift certificates/cards to these would be used.

Gift cards for restaurants and coffee shops around the hospital is also an idea- leaving for food would be good because it will cause us to trust the staff, leave, take a break, and go to eat rather than packing food and staying at hospital constantly.  I think this would create a healthy habit (getting a chance to get away).

Meals brought to our home would be a great gift, especially when we get home from the hospital- the evenings that we are there for chemo and then the few days following.  Knowing that we won't have to think about preparing food will be a great blessing.

Thanks again for all your support and we will do our best to be open to it.

Thanks,
Drew