YES! It’s true! Round five completed! (Or so I say!)

Yep!  You read that right, folks!  Round five was completed yesterday!  The chemo portion that is.  Now it is three weeks recovery, which is technically still round five, but hey, we like to say the rough part is over and it’s time to celebrate and recover!  So, time to check that off our list!  Round 5?  Check!  This round has been Sam’s best round yet, I think,  as far as feeling sick is concerned.  Yes, we had vomiting, but it was far less than rounds past and that made all of us so happy-especially Sam!

Round 5 was scheduled for Tuesday, March 9th-complete with hearing test, kidney test, and MRI scan.  I am happy to report that I received a belated birthday present as Sam past all tests with no change from his last tests!  God is SO good!  Unfortunately, all the beds at Riley were full March 9th, so Sam’s big chemo was delayed until March 10th.  This news always makes Jere and I so sad-Not that Sam has a delay in treatment, but that all beds are full, meaning that there are so many children who need care and hospitalization.

During his hospital stay, blood tests were run to check Sam’s cortisol levels since radiation and chemotherapy can have a negative effect on the body’s natural steroid production.  Cortisol is a natural hormone in the body, secreted by the adrenal glands and helps with proper glucose metabolism, regulation of blood pressure, immune function and is secreted into the bloodstream at higher levels during stressful situations on the body.  After the test, it was concluded that Sam’s cortisol levels were extremely low.  Therefore, he is now on a daily replacement regimen where he takes a pill three times a day to keep his cortisol level in check.

Sam returned home from his inpatient stay at Riley hospital Thursday, March 11th along with three days of fluids to help flush his system of all of the heavy drugs they use to treat his cancer.  As usual, he hated coming home with his port accessed and tried his usual bartering techniques to try to get his needle out earlier!  He’s such a salesman!

Spirit Week at Sam’s school happened to fall during round 5 and he was determined not to miss it!  One of the day’s during Spirit Week was crazy hair day and after a trip to Party City for some spray in hair color, we were ready!  For someone who goes NOWHERE without a hat, he sure surprised us when he told us what he wanted to do for Crazy Hair Fuzz Day!

I can’t help but look at Sam lately and see that he is looking more grown up.  Perhaps it could be that he has lost his two front teeth this year during treatment, or perhaps it could be that he soon will be celebrating his eighth birthday.  I know emotionally, this road has matured him beyond his years.

After our last visit to the Oncology Clinic and his chemo push Thursday, Sam’s counts came back extremely low.  Sam required a blood transfusion and his ANC level (infection fighting ability) was really low…the lowest it’s ever been.  Doctors say this is normal as his bone marrow continues to take a beating from the chemotherapy.  Because his infection fighting ability is so low, doctors said no public places for a few days until his numbers begin to recover.   So this weekend, despite the beautiful sunshine, Easter Egg hunts around town, and dinner plans with friends, we will be spending some quality time indoors waiting for Sam’s numbers to rebound.  We know there will be other fun days ahead and this is just part of the process of getting well.

As always, thank you all for your continued prayers and support of Sam and our family.  You all mean the world to us and we couldn’t do this without your love and friendship!

Erica