Craniospinal Radiation

Emmett started a new treatment therapy on 6/3, craniospinal irradiation (CSI).  In the past Emmett's radiation treatments have been focal meaning that only the areas with tumor receive a radiation dose.  CSI, on the other hand, radiates the entire brain and spine in an effort to destroy any tumor cells that may have seeded elsewhere within the brain/spine but are too small to show up on an MRI.  CSI is a proactive, aggressive treatment doctors used when they suspect that a tumor may be spreading.  The doctors are hoping it does good things for Emmett.

So far Emmett has tolerated CSI very well.  It hasn't made him nauseous or sick in any way.  Some kids experience strange smells or see flashes of light during the treatment.  But so far Emmett hasn't.  We pray the treatments continue to go smoothly and are effective at targeting his tumor.

While Emmett is receiving radiation we're staying at the Ronald McDonald House at Boston Harbor.  We have a very nice two-bedroom apartment that looks over the harbor.  The kids could watch the boats on the harbor all day long!  We're right next to the Spaulding Rehabilitation hospital which has a very nice park the kids love.  The kids also enjoy riding the shuttle bus to the hospital each day.  We're also doing our best to take advantage of the fun activities the city has to offer.  Monday night Emmett and I went to a Red Sox game that went into extra innings and Emmett was in heaven!  And last night Katy took Clayton on a duck boat tour and he had a blast.  He especially enjoyed driving the duck boat!

So that's the update for now. 

Please keep Emmett in your prayers as he continues his radiation treatments.  Pray that the therapy effectively targets his tumor while sparing his healthy tissue.

Hugs!

A New Challenge...

We received some discouraging news after Emmett's routine MRI in early May.  They've identified a new small spot in his brain that they believe requires treatment.  It's small (4 mm).  Looking back, the doctors now see it on his February MRI, but unfortunately they missed it at the time.  It measured 3 mm in February.

We're meeting with doctors this week to work on a potential treatment plan.  The good news is that we do have options...although the aggressive radiation treatment option they're proposing has its challenges.

It's heartbreaking to see Emmett continue to deal with recurrences...and to see them come more frequently. 

We know that God is in control.  We are very thankful He's seen fit to bless us with "many mighty miracles" in the past.  We pray that more miracles are in Emmett's future!

We welcome all to join us in this prayer!

Still in the fight!

Today marks 7 years since Emmett's first surgery for cancer treatment.   It is nothing short of miraculous that all these years later we're still kissing him goodnight each day.  He's had his ups and downs, and he's still battling his latest recurrence, but that fact that he's still here, playing cards, building snowmen, and cracking jokes, is nothing short of a heaven-sent blessing...for which we express gratitude and thanks every day.

These years have had their challenges, but thankfully the smiles, the happy moments, and the laughter have far, far, far outweighed the hard times.  And these marvelous years can never be taken away.

We may never understand why the Lord lets certain challenges come into each of our lives, or the timelines he has for us...but we do believe that each day we have with our loved ones is a divine blessing to be treasured so deeply.

We will be eternally thankful for the blessings we have received!  And we will continue to petition the Heavens for another day...and another...and another.  We hope and pray for another 7 years...and another...and another!

May we all appreciate every blessing the Lord is willing to grant us!  And continually seek to understand His will and His timing!

Clear Scan!

Emmett's MRI looked stable!!!  We are so excited by the news!  What a wonderful tender mercy from heaven for our family!

We had a good visit with Dr. Chi after the scan on Friday.  She was excited that the scan looked great; however, she was pretty concerned that Emmett has been so sick these past few weeks.  We discovered some pretty significant sores in his mouth last week, but this week was the first time Dr. Chi had seen them (up until Friday we had been working with MGH since that's the hospital where he was receiving radiation).  Dr. Chi was concerned because the medicines she's had Emmett on prevent wounds from healing, particularly Avastin.  So she decided to stop giving him Avastin and the other oral chemotherapy drugs for three weeks to give his body time to completely heal.  So we get a few weeks off!  And we decided to come home!

So we're back in Albuquerque now and will be for a couple weeks.  It feels a little strange to come home in the middle of therapy, but Emmett and Clayton were sooooooooooo very excited by the idea that we had to do it.

We appreciate all the prayers and support of so many wonderful people.  Our hearts continue to be touched by the goodness of so many.  May the blessings of heaven be upon you all.

Post-Radiation MRI

Emmett has his first MRI after radiation today.  Normally they wait a few months to do an MRI to allow time for inflammation to subside, but in his case they wanted one right away.

Also, Emmett has been really sick the past two weeks with the compounding of chemotherapy side effects and a flu bug.  He's finally started to perk up the last couple of days.

If you could please remember him in your prayers, that would be great!

Radiation Completes!

Guess who finished his third round of proton radiation today?!  This guy!! 

Grandma and Grandpa joined us for the ringing of the "end of treatment" bell.

  

 

Emmett was especially excited to go buy something with the gift card the hospital gave him today.

Words can't express how proud we are of our very brave, cancer fighting lion! 

Maybe we'll come back and add more details about the day later...but for now we're very proud, thankful....and tired! 

Haircut Day

Emmett has continued to do well in radiation -- we're 2/3's through now.  The only side effect Emmett has experienced is hair loss on the left side of his head.  Up until this point he's never let on that it bothered him.  But over the weekend he started talking about wanting to do something about his hair...either grow out the top part to cover his bald spot, or to shave the whole thing.  It was sad to learn that this change in appearance was bothering him, but good see that he had some ideas that would help him feel better.

So we had a haircut day!  Emmett and Clayton both ended up with mohawks....and they actually seem to like it!  I'm glad we could talk Emmett out of shaving his head -- though it took a while.  Emmett's haircut actually goes pretty well with the Viking sword he brought from Albuquerque. 

Emmett loves his soda!

We're way behind on posting -- we had a great Christmas and New Years and have lots of good family time together.  Sometime we hope to post more details about the holidays.  But for now I wanted to provide a quick update on radiation.

Emmett's last radiation treatment is 1/23 -- he's almost done!  We are very excited to be done with this chapter of our journey!

We appreciate all those who continue to pray for us!  I got a call just yesterday from a friend asking specifically what she should be praying for at this point in Emmett's therapy.  To answer her question, and for anyone else asking the same question, we are praying that the radiation and chemotherapy might be effective at targeting his cancer while sparing his healthy cells.  And we always pray that the doctors might be wise and inspired in their recommendations.