Last Longterm Hospital Admission

This is the LAST long term hospital admission for Kagan under this protocol.  In our prayers, it is the last forever!  It seems just like yesterday was May 23rd and it was our first admission. I can't even begin to tell you how the emotions have changed from that date to this date. 

From day 1 to now has been:

77 days
2 months and 16 days
110,880 minutes
6,652,800 seconds

.... and I can assure that for the first time in my life each of those seconds have been counted and I have been thankful to God for allowing me to live them!

Kagan had his THIRD PICC line inserted today.  It went in so smoothly and without any complications.   As usual there was the bedside X-RAY to check it's placement.    He wasn't even phased as the process of a PICC insertion is kinda just the normal routine of what has happened at each admission.

We were in ROOM 106 when we first got admitted today.  That room was THE ROOM where we first sat anxiously learning the process.  It was kinda eerie going back there.  For some reason the nurses asked us if we wanted to move to one of the larger rooms so we did.   It was kinda nice to walk out of ROOM 106 in a different manner than the tearful and scared process that happened last time. 

Today there was also some reassurance from the doctor that had been giving us a really hard time.  I think she finally realized what I was concerned with and today for the first time she acted TOTALLY different.  I feel better now that the neck thing being treated and the PICC line being fixed that she realized there were problems and hopefully will listen to us better in the future.

Kagan was also asked to participate in a ceremony at the hospital for the Pediatric cancer patients.  The grant from Hyundai was $75,000 to the St. Joseph's to support children's care AFTER they are in remission.  To better help support children as they grow into adulthood to be able to better coordinate their care for any future issues and to have access to their records for coordinating with other physicians.  They had a car that is traveling around the country and on it the kids place their handprints.   The story can be read here:  Hope on Wheels.

Kagan's handprint is the red one to the right of the logo on the car.   Isn't that the cutest handprint ever?  I can't tell you how many lives he has touched and how his print on life has blessed me more than my words can say!

 Now we sit here at 10:29 waiting for the urine test to come back to okay Kagan to begin chemo.  It has been a long stay but hoping we get to the start the chemo before too long.   Tonight is the rough night because he has to take many chemo medicines that last over 6 hours.  Yet, the good thing is that he will likely sleep (as much as possible) during the chemo and therefore not be quite as difficult unless he get sick.  Nurse just walked in and said it went UP (which is the wrong way) so we are going to try and get Kagan to drink a picture of water to help!   (I am sure that he will love that I shared this whole part of the story)

I am hoping THE CULPRIT is beat the rest of the way down this chemo. It is still about the size of a shooter marble but I am praying that it will just go away after this chemo treatment.    It would be such a mental relief to see it gone.

I got some really sweet emails from people this week that have kids with cancer that have been reading my blog.  They sit where I did months ago and told me that knowing our story has made it easier.   There is no two cancer stories alike but there is one hope that is universal - HOPE!  I am thankful Kagan lets me share his journey for just this purpose.
  
 We will keep everyone updated as we move forward to CHEMO GRAD day!