Hi mates, I hope you all have been well and that you are kicking off summer months in the very best way possible!
So many of you have reached out to talk to how Dominic is undertaking and though I share a swift photo on Instagram tales at times, I wished to pop in immediately to give you an update.
Because I last wrote, Dominic has done cycles two and 3 of chemotherapy. Each produced him sick one particular day of the therapy but with a tweak of the nausea meds, he was experience far better.
His new favored in-clinic activity? Music therapy! He will get such a major kick out of playing the instruments 😁
He is also Extremely into day by day bingo 😍
On the last working day of his next cycle, he experienced the opportunity to tour the helicopter pad on the clinic roof, which he Cherished. The check out was amazing and we learned a lot of fun info (mom loves a superior industry journey, ha)!
While residence, he continues to play and pretty considerably enjoys everyday living as normal, like lots of exterior time now that it’s awesome out!
Road Journey
Among rounds two and 3 of chemotherapy, we traveled to New York for Dominic to be witnessed at Memorial Sloan Kettering, where they have a staff of pediatric oncologists who focus in neuroblastoma.
He is getting dealt with below their advice, so significantly obtaining all of his chemotherapy below in Pittsburgh, but we will journey there for his tumor removal surgical procedures.
We both equally had our first Uber journey, experienced Shake Shack for the 1st time (SO Great), and Dominic had his very first remain in a resort. A effective journey, but there is certainly no area like dwelling!
Our New Normal
We are receiving pretty utilized to the symptoms of lower hemoglobin (two times in a row of having far more drink breaks than regular even though actively playing exterior? We guessed he was likely to want blood when he went to his clinic appointment the upcoming working day and, sure more than enough, he did) and minimal platelets (far more bruising). He has experienced several transfusions of each given that commencing this journey, so a fantastic huge thank you to everyone who has at any time donated blood, as we are now so considerably more acutely aware of the importance of this selfless act.
Hemoglobin, platelets, white mobile counts, neutrophils, and ANC figures are now just popular dialogue right here.
We’ve all sort of settled into our new routine of treatment plans, outings to the clinic, taking care of remedies, line flushing, and many others.
The largest hurdle due to the fact this final cycle of chemotherapy is that we have experienced to give Dominic day by day photographs (vs the a person-time pictures just after the very first and 2nd rounds) and it is the complete worst. He has usually hated pictures and he just dreads them, I get nervous, and it’s just a full SCENE. The day-to-day shots were used since of his impending stem cell harvest, to guarantee his counts ended up strong (see below).
Following Ways
This coming 7 days, Dominic will have a stem mobile harvest, exactly where they will insert a non permanent line to extract stem cells (which will then be saved) should really he want them in any capability through therapy down the road. It is our hope that he would not, but they will be there if he does.
The future massive stage is in two weeks when he will have his tumor elimination surgical procedure. Following the medical procedures, he will have an additional round of chemotherapy and then a number of weeks following that, a battery of tests and scans to see where we stand with the sickness.
Make sure you go on to pray that the most cancers is responding to therapy, that the surgeons are equipped to remove the tumor securely and efficiently, and that he has a fairly simple recovery.
Entertaining at Home…
A couple of much more images of the young children from recent weeks ❤️
Wishing you all a fun and secure start off to your summer time! ☀️❤️