It seems we’ve reached the point of treatment where we are really starting to see and feel the rollercoaster that is chemotherapy. While we are forever grateful for these medications and treatment methods, it is very difficult to watch our child and our family experience what we are going through.

Hunter was able to complete chemotherapy Thursday September 3rd, after his week long hospital stay and while my sweet parents were in town. This was the first of four treatments during the second half of phase two. Erin’s dad (Papa) went with so he could see how clinic days work and was able to be in the room with us when they accessed Hunter’s port. Hunter’s buddy Lorenzo the service dog stopped by to say hi! We completed another round of chemotherapy injections at home Friday 9/4 through Sunday 9/6 and the kids continued to get to enjoy their time with Nana and Papa.

Hunter was admitted to the hospital Wednesday 9/9 with severely low glucose which could have been a result of the oral chemotherapy medication he was taking at home as well as his lack of appetite and inability to eat enough food to keep his body nourished. He completed chemo session two in hospital and was released on Friday 9/11 with good numbers. His third chemo session in this half of phase two was last Thursday 9/17.

We are currently at the hospital with a persistent nose bleed due to severely low platelets. He had a platelet transfusion and will receive blood and plasma (for low clotting factors) while we are here. They are admitting him for observation so hopefully we will be able to go home tomorrow 9/21.

If all goes well between now and this Thursday 9/24, he will finish this phase of chemo on 9/24 and move onto immunotherapy, which will provide him with a month long break from chemotherapy.

All in all Hunter’s energy is great on the good days. He is still his goofy self, always wanting to go fishing, go to the grocery store, play rescue trucks and fire fighters (like his uncle Jack.) We’re hopeful this next phase will provide him and us with some relief and an opportunity to get out of the house a bit more than we can now.

Please pray Hunter is able to eat more and keep his strength up and that these transfusions will put him back on track to finish phase two on Thursday 9/24. Pray for patience for all of us as we navigate these emergencies and hospital stays. Pray for Jackson to remain understanding and supportive as our attention is divided and pray for us to keep our eyes open for opportunities to lift his spirits as well. Hunter occupies a lot of our time and emotional bandwidth and we aren’t always great at balancing that with Jackson’s needs. I do hope we learn how to do better moving forward and we’re eternally grateful for the family and friends who have stepped up to fill that gap for Jackson.

As always, thank you for your prayers and support, we could not do this without God and the fellowship of our family and friends.