Week 9 - Radiation

Lining Jake up for radiation

On Monday, Dec. 16th, Jake started radiation treatments (which started our second longest week of our lives--the first being when we discovered he had cancer) at LDS hospital.  Primary Children's doesn't do radiation treatment. LDS hospital is located just NW of Temple Square so the drive was about the same, it was the time that made it hard. He needed 6 total treatments so we had to go every day that week and the following monday to complete it. Monday he had to have his port accessed (needle put in it ) so we had to be at Primary Children's at 6:00 for that and run him over to LDS hospital for radiation. They drew marks on his chest so they could line him up the same everyday. With the surgery bandaid and the port and his radiation marks, his chest was quite the sight. We had to check him in on the third floor then walk all the way to the north end and go to the 1st floor for the radiation.  He has to be completely sedated so he doesn't move so they inject a little "special milk" into his port and he falls asleep. The procedure itself only lasts about ten minutes with the radiation only lasting about 1 min. Then they wheel him on a bed, because he's usually still asleep, all the way back to the south end and back up to the third floor for recovery. We were in recovery anywhere from 20 min to an hour depending on how fast he woke up. We'd usually leave around 8:45.

Tough little guy

They left the needle in the port for the whole week so they didn't have to access it everyday. So we just had to be at LDS hospital every morning at 7:00 am. Tuesday he also had his chemo treatment so we had to run over to Primary Children's after radiation. His checkup went well with the doctor's saying everything looks good. They also gave him a Christmas stocking full of toys. Somebody had donated a box full of stockings for everyone that came into clinic. It's amazing to see how generous and thoughful people are. They hand out stuff to Jake all the time that people have donated.

The week went as scheduled with Jen, Jake and I leaving the house everyday at 6:00 am. It was hard to set him on that table everyday and watch as he was put asleep and all the monitors hooked up. As always, Jake did very well through it all. He came out of sedation in a pretty good mood and always requested an orange popsicle for breakfast. Thanks again to the grandparents for taking turns staying with us and getting our kids to school every morning. Poor little guy would usually sleep the whole way up there. We were even early enough that the lights where still on at Temple Square. It was the same process everyday of walking back and forth to each end of the hospital and waiting for Jake to finish his popsicle so we could go home and then we'd either have a doughnut and chocolate milk from a gas station or splurge at Mcdonalds.

Having a popsicle during chemo...

The last day of radiation the radiation team gave him a Lightning McQueen beanie as a reward for completing his treatment. He also has his weekly chemo at Primary Children's so we had to run over there after radiation. He recieved his chemo and got the needle taken out of his port. We also met with the surgeon as a follow up. He said his incision looked great and he hoped he wouldn't see us again until the port is removed.

It was a long week because of the early morning everyday but in a way I kind of enjoyed the time we were able to spend together every morning. Because of the early time the hospital was usually pretty quiet as we walked back and forth and sat in the waiting room. Jake is such a trooper and usually takes it better than his parents. It's hard to know what goes on in his little mind or what he's thinking as he is hauled to the hospital every morning but he just goes along with it like its normal. I guess to him it is. We are thankful to get this all out of the way before Christmas so we can just stay home and enjoy it. Thanks again for all your support and prayers.