Winding down consolidation

Now that he’s familiar with the steps leading up to either port or arm IV access his anxiety is going through the roof. For a 25lb kiddo it now takes three of us to hold him down for the longest minute to clean and access the port.

Luckily, he recovers instantly and doesn’t fiddle with the port once the butterfly is in. He hates the flushes with a heated and fiery passion, and wimpers “no owies” to the nurses any time one comes near his IV.

We’re now giving him Ativan to calm his nerves every time we come to the clinic. I don’t like drugging him every day, but the stress and anxiety he goes through in just seeing the phlebotomist’s face (much less getting stuck) is just too much to bear.

Wes is currently going through his second round of Erwinia – intense chemo shots in the thigh every other day for two weeks. He got platelets Wednesday, he’s getting blood today, then platelets again on Monday, & Vincristine (another very intense chemo) on Wednesday. Next week he should be done with the second phase of treatment, Consolidation, and we’ll move into the scariest part of treatment, Interim Maintenance. He’ll be admitted at CHOP Main for four day periods, receiving a 24 hour IV push of high dose methotrexate, Vincristine, and two oral chemos. Then he’ll have ten days at home to recover, then go back and do it all again… for a minimum of two months.

During this time, our second blessing will be born. I can’t believe she’ll be born into this kind of chaos, but I feel like this is going to help shape her into the incredible woman she’ll one day become. She’s going to be such a force with the best big brother to look up to. I’m already in awe of our kids.

We’re just trying to take things one day at a time. It’s all going to work out. We’ll be ok. This is my mantra these days.

I love you all. 🧡