Thanksgiving and More Chemo

Kameron went to the cancer clinic on Monday. His red blood cells and platelets were doing better and he was no longer experiencing symptoms of anemia, but his white blood cells remained critically low. Too low to proceed with his 5th to last round of chemotherapy. We were told to go home and enjoy Thanksgiving together. And to come back on Friday to see if Kam's cells would bounce back by then, but we were cautioned it probably would still be too low. 

We spent the early part of the week getting groceries and setting up for Christmas. Kirby got us a real Christmas tree and she and Jesse got it set up in the living room. The stockings were placed, and the cinnamon pine cones really helped jolly the house up a bit. 

We enjoyed being home together as a family to celebrate Thanksgiving. It was just us, but it was warm, yummy, and I was grateful to get to be together and not in the hospital. Jesse is an amazing cook and roasted a perfect turkey. He also made Kameron's Thankgiving favorite: stuffing. Jesse, Kirby and I spent most of the day in the kitchen while the boys played games, and watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, the National Dog Show, and a new Christmas movie. 

On Friday, Kameron continued to gain weight (inching closer and closer to his pre-treatment weight). Kam says, "4 or 5 meals a day keeps the dietician away!" He has been doing a good job of snacking throughout the day to avoid more weight loss. We also learned at that visit that his white blood cells had bounced back to a safe level to (finally) proceed with chemotherapy! He was admitted to the hospital yesterday afternoon and had his 5th to last round of chemotherapy last night. After this current hospitalization, he has 4 more treatments left.

Many have asked us, after that... then what? Kameron will then undergo numerous scans: a MRI of the leg that had the tumor, a bone scan or PET scan, and a CT of his chest to look for any more tumors. He will also be closely monitored by his oncology team. Once he is doing well and there is no evidence of active spread of his cancer, then he will be seen every 3 months for at least a year. Then every 6 months the next year after that. It will take his body 6 months to recover from the chemotherapy and for his immune system to be normal-ish. 

I say "normal-ish" because there are some long lasting effects from treatment Kam will always have. Such as, a degree of irreversible hearing loss. His cancer is a super aggressive type, and he will need to be monitored every year for any heart side effects or a resurgence of cancer for the rest of his life.

Please continue to keep us in thought and prayer. We've admittedly been, at times, discouraged. Thank you to those of you who reach out and check on us. It means a lot. We know Kam and our family are not battling this alone. 

Five Treatments Left

Kameron handled the chemotherapy in clinic like a champ! We saw little change in his energy level and he never got sick once! More importantly, he was able to continue eating well and has even put back on some of the weight he had lost. After his last chemo treatment a couple weeks ago, I took him out to Red Pavilion, his favorite Chinese restaurant here in the Treasure Valley. I told him "mom's paying" and he ordered 3 things off the menu. I was happy to pay! It is so good to see him have an appetite and eating heartily. 

Last week Kameron enjoyed his expected week break from treatment and all was well at his weekly check-up. Our two youngest sons were able to get their COVID vaccines last Saturday and it was a HUGE relief for our family. As they say in the cancer world, "if you want to protect the castle (Kam) you fortify and take care of the moat" (his family, those closest to him that could and would most likely get him ill). Unfortunately, Noah, Kam's youngest brother, started coming down with cold symptoms the next day. We immediately quarantined Noah and Kameron away from one another, and as Jesse and I are used to saying by now, "we divide and conquer." Thankfully, Noah was NEGATIVE for COVID, but we still have to keep them quarantined from one another none-the-less to protect Kam. 

This week we anticipated a hospital admission for Kam's next round of chemotherapy. Unfortunately, he did not make counts for admission and was quite anemic (critically low) on red blood cells. Furthermore, he was showing mild symptoms of anemia: fast heart rate when getting up, headache, and mild lightheadedness. So yesterday he received a blood transfusion in clinic and was sent home. His platelets (which help with blood clotting) and white blood cells (which help fight infection) were also critically low. So he failed meeting admission criteria this week on multiple fronts.  His energy level and spirits remain good. For this we are grateful.  

We also celebrated Kameron's Gotcha Day on Tuesday, the same day as his brother Noah's birthday. It's hard to believe he became our son 6 years ago. It often feels like he has always been our son.  Kameron returns to the clinic on Monday to check in and see where he is at with his counts and if he meets admission requirements, at that point. This delay has extended Kam's anticipated end of treatment to sometime early January 2022. 

As we head into the holidays, we'd like to wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving. We are grateful for those in the tribe that continue to pray, send encouragement, and love on us in the various ways many of you have in this difficult season of life. We ask for continued prayer and encouragement as we get closer and closer to the finish line. Much love and blessings to you all. Thanks for battling with us. 

Kam begins Cycle 5 of Treatment for Osteosarcoma

Kameron did not make counts last week to start his 5th and final cycle of chemotherapy, so he had an unexpected week off. For those who've closely followed his story, this means he will not be done with treatment until after Christmas. This expected end date of treatment is constantly shifting, as the doctors say, we cannot make bone marrow make cells any faster then it's going to. Today, he made counts and starts with the in-clinic chemotherapy and he will come back in tomorrow for day #2. He was happy to hear he made counts this week. He is ready to finish treatment and be on the other side of this battle.

This cycle of chemotherapy is anticipated to be a total of 8 weeks long. He loses 1 of the 3 chemotherapy medications he has previously been given. And now there are only 2 one week breaks over this 8 week cycle. And 4 of those weeks will require a hospital admission. This means he is likely to be spending Thanksgiving and Christmas in the hospital. 

Kameron enjoyed his extra week off playing video games with his brothers, building some of his Monkey Kid Lego, trick or treating at the Oncology clinic, watching movies and TV, and we went to a local retro arcade as a family. Noah (the youngest brother) was beating Kameron at the game Street Fighter. Kam thought he was playing the computer. When he realized it was the youngest brother repeatedly defeating him, that lit a fire in him to overcome, that gave all of us a good laugh!

A lot of you've asked what you can do to help during this difficult season. One request I have is if you have leftover Halloween candy you want to get rid of, we can take it off your hands! The cancer clinic has recently been down to bubble gum in their candy supply. We brought in our leftover chocolate lovers bag from Halloween and it brought smiles to a lot of kids faces! Please message me or Jesse if you'd like to donate. Please donate fresh/recent/untampered candy only. These are sick kiddos with fragile immune systems. Another option is, please donate blood or platelets to your local blood bank. These donations help kids like Kameron (who has had 2 platelet infusions so far in his treatment).

Thank you for your continued prayers, encouragement, and genuine love and support that you've held for our family. We are getting closer and closer to the finish line. Today and tomorrow's infusions mean Kam has 5 treatments left after this week!