The Dark Side

I know that I have been telling everyone how wonderful Kagan is doing and it is true.  He is really doing well and keeping a good attitude about almost everything except maybe IV's, PICC lines and drinking contrast.  Those things he is not my sweet baby but his evil twin. 

Today, when they changed the dressing on Kagan's PICC line the IV nurse said that she thought that it was looking a little infected and really wanted to change it.  She opted to do it during his next hospital stay that is coming up next week.   He was NOT happy.  I mean he is the kid who declared that he would just keep this PICC line in for the remainder of his life as to never have to have one put in again.

He was/is not scared of the pain, that part didn't really bother him.  What bothered him was the fact that the line is right on (in) his heart.   He just said he doesn't trust someone that much to have that much control over his heart.  (Words that a mom LOVES to hear that her son is protecting his heart!)   I kidded him saying that I was pretty sure that was not what God meant in Proverbs. 

Proverbs 4:23 - Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

Photo Credit - Cancer Help UK

Then we come to the whole IV issue.  We were told that Kagan could continue to have everything done in his PICC line.  Well apparently "everything" does not mean certain scans that require dye or radio active materials.  Therefore, he was suppose to have an IV inserted for his CAT scans and the PET Scan.  Joy, Joy....

That brings me to the contrast.   Let me just say that I might begin to use this stuff as punishment in the future because he hated it that much.  I am sure that he will never leave a chore undone again if the result is to drink the contrast.

The jolly nurse came out to the waiting room and presented Kagan with TWO bottle of contrast that he needed to drink within a fairly short time frame.  It was "vanilla shake flavor".  I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

Today we did get back his blood test and his counts have skyrocketed again.  We have taken a break on the shots that boost his immune system until next week.  He was happy about that part of today's events.

I was encouraged today in that there was nothing that seemed overly alarming.   The nurse said if there was anything urgent that the doctor would call us this afternoon.  I can't tell you how relieved I am that no calls came.

All and all, it is just a roller coaster of trying to anticipate what the doctors are going to say or do.   Attempting to prepare myself for the worst and the best.  It is odd because sometimes the "do nothing" is almost as scary as what the doing something is in the event of things being wrong.