Chemo started today and everything went well. We were asked to arrive at what turned out to be a ridiculously early time (8:30am). They eventually hooked him up to IV and changed his dressing but for the most part we were left to settle in, which largely meant trying to distract Malcolm from thinking about food (he was not allowed to eat since the night before) but also gave me time to unpack everything. Around 1:30 they did the lumbar puncture, which only took about 10 minutes. They are very good to parents as they allow me to go into the procedures room and hold Malcolm until he falls asleep and then sit beside him in recovery until he wakes up (which took a while as he slept for at least an hour after the procedure).
At about 3:40pm, after he was eating and drinking, the nurse came and hooked him up to his intravenous chemo, which he will receive continuously for 96 hours. His IV line only allows him to get about two feet from the pole so for the next several days I (or some other willing family member or friend) must be within two feet of him unless he is strapped into something secure like a high chair. This is because someone needs to push the pole after him so that he does not snap the line. We cannot leave the sixth floor with the chemo drugs so we are basically confined to our room, the playroom and the hallways. So hopefully everything goes well and by Sunday I can take him further afield, as I'm sure we'll be wanting a change of scenery by then.
Jan stayed with us all day and left around 5:30 to take Donovan to soccer. Grama and Grampa Rainey were Malcolm's first official visitors as they came to play with him from about 6:30 - 7:30pm. He had no trouble settling to sleep tonight. Unfortunately they must wake him every four hours to check his vitals and change his diaper (because of the chemo drug).
For those of you in Halifax, this week would be a good week to visit. His counts (ie his immunity) will not drop until sometime next week so as long as you are feeling well feel free to come see us in our new digs.
Mary Ellen
I glad things went well yesterday. We are praying and hoping here at Kintail. The girls favourite game lately has been to play "Donovan and Malcolm". Johnathon is "Uncle Jan" and I am "Aunt Mary Ellen". It is very cute. They ask about the boys all the time and we pray for Malcolm every night. I hope you got some sleep as well in the hospital.
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