Meet the 12th Man!

Hi Everyone!

Happy Autumn!  This is one of my most favorite seasons of the year.  Cooler temperatures, cozy fires and football!  And speaking of football….guess who was asked to be the 12th Man at the opening game of the Indianapolis Colts?  Yep!  Sam the Man!  Wow!  What an opportunity!  This special event came during Sam’s “rest” period when he wasn’t receiving any radiation or chemo and we were hoping he would be up to participating.  And he was!

Jack and Sam in their Colts gear before we left for the game.

A little brotherly love!  I think Jack is just overly excited about the festivities in which he is about to partake!

Even though Sam was feeling “up to it” and still wanted to attend the game, he still tires very easily.  Here he is catching a ride from Daddy before we entered the stadium.

We were asked to be at the stadium about an hour and a half early so we could go down to the field and watch the team warm up!  Even though we were not able to meet any of the team or receive autographs (they don’t allow it) it was so cool to be right in front of the action.

Jack was LOVING this opportunity!  And we were so glad that he was able to participate as well.  We like to think that this was as much about him as it was for Sam.  Jack has always been a wonderful and loving big brother to Sam.

Right before kickoff, we were escorted to the center of the field where Sam was presented with an official game ball, while the entire stadium watched as he was flashed up on the Jumbotron!    He also received an official “12th Man” jersey.  So cool!

As the game was about to begin, we were escorted to our seats, which were right on the field!

The best part of the day was being able to experience this as a family and seeing the joy on the faces of Jack and Sam.  It was truly a great day and one that we will always remember!

Sam continued to be quite tired during his 6 week break.  He also experienced quite a bit of vomiting and nausea as we tried to ween him off of his steroids.  We felt that his little body still needed the medication and therefore, on the advice of his doctor (whom we LOVE) increased his dose and the vomiting stopped.  Hooray!  No one was happier than Sam, although I think I did sneak in a glass of wine to celebrate!

On September 22nd, Sam break came to an end and he began the first of his eight rounds of chemo. Each round lasts six weeks, for a total of 48 weeks.  The first day of each round requires Sam to be admitted to the hospital for the night to receive fluids for hydration, a chemo drip that is administered over the course of six hours, as well as other chemo drugs.  Before he is admitted, he completes a series of tests-hearing, a kidney function test and an MRI.  We are thrilled to report that he did well on all tests and that the result of his first MRI test was CLEAN!  Hooray!  We are so thankful.  God is hearing all of our prayers.  Thank you prayer warriors!

Sam was released the next day with instructions to continue fluids at home for the next three days to help him feel better.  This is standard procedure.  He will continue to receive chemo medication for the next two weeks as an outpatient at the oncology clinic and then will have a three week break before Round 2 begins and we start this process over again.  He has done amazingly well during this first round, only getting sick once!  And even though he feels well enough to attend school, he is not going this week due to a flu outbreak at his school.  With his compromised immune system from the chemo therapy, we have chosen to keep him home.  But don’t think he is getting out of his school work!  There are plenty of things that can be done here at home!

This is a marathon, not a sprint and we have learned very quickly to wait, be patient and enjoy EVERY single moment we have together as a family.  Things we used to rush or take for granted are now celebrated and slowly digested.  Sam doesn’t realize it, but his illness is teaching us so many things and we are witnessing good things during this “unscheduled event.”  We have seen God’s love through dinners dropped by from friends, supportive cards and emails, and phone calls to “check in on Sam and our family”  just to name a few.  I often tell Jere that I love what we are learning and who we are becoming because of this experience, I just don’t like what caused us to get there!  God, wasn’t there an easier way???  :)

We continue to remain positive and appreciate all of you prayers and continued support.  You all have been so amazing and I often think how will I ever repay you?

Until next time,

Erica