AM of Day -4 ; 1st chemo round

I finally get to use the computer!

We are almost 4 hours into Kevin's first round of chemo. He has 6 hours of the cisplatin through an IV and that started at 6am CT. He has had his first dosage of amifostine to which it has made him very sick and his blood pressure to suddenly drop dangerously low which is 'normal'. We did what they call flip him, put his head down and his legs up so that his blood went back to his heart. He will get another dosage of the amifostine at noon, so in just under 2 hours. I can't count how many times he has thrown up so far. I just feel horrible for him. As for me, doing this to him is heartbreaking. I think I have been really tough through most of this but I am just struggling with the fact that my seven year little boy has to be made so sick in order to save his life. It really isn't fair that he has to go through this. When Kevin pees we are suppose to wear gloves, especially me since I am still breastfeeding Jake, because what comes out of him is toxic. It is such a tragedy that we have to feed people who are struck with cancer these toxic drugs to kill the cancer. I am aware there are other methods out there and honestly the lack of statistics about the number of remissions and 5, 10 and 20 year survival rates scared me away from looking too deep into what is considered alternative cancer treatments but I am hopeful for the future. Being here in a place where they research this daily we get to hear about the hope that they are looking for better ways. Understanding and analyzing DNA more and more to understand how different people are affected by treatment. I heard recently that they are trying to make chemo drugs that won't get the kids so sick. That would be great. I really hope a 100 years from now, that the generations after us look back and have enough understanding to think we were really crazy for doing this to people. I hope soon for the sake of those who may be affected with this terrible disease that there is something better. But for now we are here and what Kevin is getting is better than it was 10 years ago so in that I will try to find my peace.

If you are praying for Kevin please pray that his internal organs are protects but especially his hearing, bladder, kidneys, mouth, nerves and brain are protected. That this treatment gets all of the cancer cells and doesn't cause a secondary cancer ever in him. Also that he doesn't get any fevers or infections over the next 5 months and that his ANC blood counts recover fast. Thank you so much for your prayers and support of Kevin and the rest of us as we navigate the storm of childhood cancer.

Today, from what we have heard from other parents, doctors and nurses this is suppose to be the worst day through this whole thing for him. Hopefully he is able to sleep through most of it.

Eric did night shift last night (he is still here in his PJ's) and I came in this morning and Mike will come later this afternoon and trade me Scotty and Jake to take my place then Eric will come back for the night shift again.

Kevin is the first patient to stay in room #10 on the second floor of the Chili Care Center. His room is a orangy bright yellow. I will take pictures later today and post them.

I have noticed Kevin's angry outburst were less once Scotty came. I think sometimes we as adults underestimate the importance of siblings to help a child get through this.

I hope it gets warm in Michigan for those who are there! I will try to send a little of this Memphis heat back home with Mike in a couple of weeks. It has been close to 90 degrees almost everyday this past week. I hear the summer spiders are just as bad as the heat around here. Does anyone know of any particular dangerous spiders around here we should we aware of. It was pointed out to me we are the same distance from the equator as Africa earlier this week.

Take Care!
Rachel