A good place

We got good news on Emmett's MRI results; everything looks stable.  They did mention that there's a lining near the tumor site that picked up a little contrast, but it's impossible to tell if it's because there's residual tumor there or whether it's the result of post-surgical change (scar tissue, etc.).  And that area is within the radiation field, so it will get treated either way.  We're happy about that.

We were glad that things looked stable and that there were no new areas of concern identified.  We also were glad that there were no questions raised about the area in his neck that got treated in Denver over the past year.  (We're always worried something might start happening there since he's not taking the EZH2 medicine anymore.)

All said, we're cleared to start radiation this week.  Emmett's first treatment will be Monday (moved up from Tuesday). 

With a full resection of Emmett's tumor, a clean MRI, and radiation and chemo starting this week, our family is in the best place possible, considering all the circumstances.  And for this we are very VERY thankful!  There is currently no disease that is posing a imminent threat to Emmett, and we're starting treatment from a clean baseline, and that's the best place we could possibly hope to be in.

Emmett is his happy old self again.  This week he has been obsessing over a toy trash truck that absolutely blew his mind when he saw it on Tuesday.  He's been talking non-stop about it all week and begging us to take him to buy it (with his own money).  We finally gave in yesterday, and he was very excited to bring it home.  He and Clayton have been playing with it constantly over the past day, and they're having so much fun.

Christmas is coming and everyone is getting excited.  And as far as we know, Emmett is healthy right now!  We feel like we've been given the gift of another Christmas where we will be in a good state mentally, where everyone is healthy, and we are hopeful about the future.  We have come to treasure these periods in our lives...and we pray that this one will last indefinitely.  We really do hope and pray that all the tumor is gone, and that the treatments will be effective.  Maybe another spot won't ever pop up again!  That's what we will continue to pray for!