April 15th update
Maintenance!
Bennett started the maintenance phase today! Hip! Hip! Hooray! He will be on this treatment phase until July 2010.
Bennett’s appt today went good. He had a spinal tap with chemo injected into his spine. He slept for about an hour afterwards. He also received an iv push of vincristine. It was time again for the breathing treatment of pentamadine which prevents pneumonia so he did that as well. We went to Olive Garden for a late lunch to celebrate a special day.
I recall several months ago, that this day seemed to be a long ways off and this will be a day to celebrate. We are so thankful to have all of the intense chemo and radiation behind him! I guess the unknown has me a little apprehensive though.
Bennett feels good. He slept on the way to and from St Louis. We made it home just in time to get his baseball stuff and go to his baseball practice at 4. I reminded him that he just had a spinal tap and chemo so don’t over do it. It’s okay to rest if needed. He is not up to Bennett #35 standards yet on the field but considering he looked good and didn’t once stop.
He had to take nine steroid pills today and two 6mp chemo pills. We are trying to get organized with all of his pills. He takes different doses on different days. The chemo methotrexate is only weekly on Tuesday which is 13 pills. I figured it up and he has to take 75 pills this week of chemo and steroids. Each month he will have an appt at St Louis to get an iv push of vincristine. Every 3 months, he will have a spinal tap also. He will continue this for 2 years and 3 months. (not that we are counting) LOL
This all seems a little scary. He is starting a new phase that is supposed to be easier. Until he gets started though; we are not sure what he can or can’t do. We pray that Bennett can go to school, play sports and be able to enjoy life to the fullest.
We are praising God for getting him through this far!
“Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge him, and he will direct and make straight and plain your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6
Our prayers are with you that this maintenance phase goes as smoothly as your hopes and dreams. Thank you so much for taking the time to keep us all informed on Bennett, I know it has been hard to do, especially when you were feeling low yourself.
Bennett I pray you can have all the fun you have missed out on and that much more.
Hey Bennett- I have been checking your website a lot lately. I am so thankful that you are in the maintenance stage- You are so lucky to have parents that are taking such good care of you-there is so much to keep track of- but I know that parents will do anything for their kids- hope to see you at school again soon- Praise God for bringing you this far – He is walking with us all through this life- See you soon!
Yea!!! Bennett , we are all so happy that your maintnance phase has started, as always you are in our prayers and thoughts daily. Keep up that Page strength, as I know you will. I know the girls can’t wait for you to get back to school.
Mike, Lori, Bill and Alexis
What a day to celebrate!! It seems like a long 14 months!!! But You made it. We are praying for strength to get back into the swing of things! We are sooooooo proud of you! Love ya