Well, many of you have figure out that we made it home safe and sound. The rest of the week went ok for Eli, but Friday was pretty rough. He got nauseous and had some lingering pain that lasted well after the infusion was over. However, by Friday night he was in top form and we were both glad the week was over! Any kid that can make it through a week of 3F8 is a true warrior in my book. I have never posted an actual video of what it’s like for Eli going through 3F8. I’ve debated it before, but I’m not sure most people could handle it honestly. I’ve posted pictures, but the video is just a little too intense. People might fault me for even videoing it in the first place, but I think it is something that Eli will want to see when he’s older. Maybe someday when he’s older he’ll want to upload it to YouTube for everyone to see. 🙂 It’s something that fellow neuroblastoma parents and other close friends/family have witnessed and it really seems to have a big impact on them. When you see a little kid literally fighting for their life through the side effects chemo, the extreme pain of a 3F8 infusion, or immobilized on a radiation table, your world and perspective is forever changed. You all have had glimpses into that world because of your support of Eli and we hope that your outlook has been changed for the better. Not one of bitterness, doubt and anger, but a new realization of what truly is important in life and how faithful God is to show that His plans are perfect (even when they are exactly the opposite of what we wanted).
We stayed in New York through the weekend because Corporate Angels was able to find a return flight on Monday morning from NYC to Omaha, NE (less than a 3 hour drive from our home in Ames, IA). This time it was with ConAgra Foods. We rode with 3 gentlemen from ConAgra and everyone was very hospitable and kind. Eli slept from the moment I put him in his chair until after we landed. He didn’t even wake up when we touched down, I had to wake him once we were parked! It is always a blessing to get a free flight because the alternative is to spend at least $400 in airfare each trip. Since we left a day earlier than normal and stayed through the weekend after treatment, it felt like we were gone for a really long time. It felt great to be home!
Our next trip will be for scans on August 18th – August 21st (yes, he has a scan on Saturday). Then (if he is HAMA negative), we will stay the following week (8/23-8/27) for another round of 3F8! Until then, we will enjoy summer, including the famous Iowa State Fair which we are always excited for (last year Eli was wearing a mask in the buildings, but hopefully his counts won’t be as low this year)!
I’ll leave you with a verse that kind of ties into the first paragraph a bit. God’s grace and plan and power for us is sufficient and that becomes all the more evident when we are helpless and things (like cancer) are completely out of our control.
9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 12:9
Thank you for keeping Eli and his friends in NYC in your prayers.
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