Radiation (take 3)

Emmett started radiation this week.  He has done wonderfully in every meaning of the word.  He isn't nervous or scared in any way and actually seems to look forward to getting his treatment each day.  He sits perfectly still while they put on his radiation mask (which holds him perfectly still during treatment) and at the same time Katy or I start a playlist of his favorite music which helps him stay calm and focused (and pumped up!) while they verify his positioning and then administer the focal radiation after everyone leaves the room.  (More on the playlist later....maybe.)  They tell us that the radiation beam is only on for ~30 seconds or so. All said, he's in the radiation room less then 15 minutes and then he comes and finds us in the lobby of the Francis H. Burr Proton Therapy center and we collect our things and head back home.

In years past when he required sedation during radiation we had to be there an hour before his scheduled radiation time and we wouldn't leave until perhaps 30 to 60 minutes afterwards depending on how long it would take him to wake up from sedation.  Now, we can be in and out in less than 30 minutes if everything goes smoothly, and that is amazing!  In addition, because they do the sedation patients early in the day, in years past we would be leaving the house at 6:30 AM and would sit in more than an hour of rush hour traffic on the way in.  Now, without sedation, we can schedule later in the day when traffic is light and that reduces the stress that much more.

Clayton never wants to be left out and he wants to come with us to radiation each day.  The boys both got a nice treat when the Boston Bruins came to the clinic last Wednesday.  The boys had a great time visiting with the hockey players who were all very nice.  Some of the players jumped right down on the floor to play with the kids.  Emmett enjoyed comparing scars with one of the players who had seen some action on the ice the night before (can you  guess which player it was?).  He agreed that Emmett's scars were by far the most impressive.

All said, things are going very well.  We're a week in to radiation, Emmett is feeling healthy and upbeat, and we're enjoying the monotony of a daily routine for once.  And Christmas is next week!

We appreciate the thoughtful cards and letters we've received from many of our friends back home in New Mexico and from friends and family around the country.  Your encouraging words bless and strengthen us -- thank you!  We wish you all Merry Christmas and hope you enjoy this special time of year when we remember and celebrate our Savior's birth.

One of Emmett's favorite pass times.

Emmett's toy from "Toy Friday" after his first week of radiation!  He loves it!