Tuesday's Report

Hi, everyone! I apologize for taking so long to report. Life is super busy these days.

We had a great trip to clinic this week. Kevin and Grant and I made our way to Chapel Hill on Monday evening. We left around 4pm, stopped in the terrible traffic in New Bern and ate dinner, then arrived at the Hampton Inn around 9pm. Grant was more comfortable this week with the knowledge of his upcoming appointment. He was in a fine mood for our travels and even acted more like himself at clinic.

We made #4 again this week, so we were seen very quickly. Grant and Kevin had a great time playing with his friend Doris. She is 5 and is from a Spanish speaking family. She is the only person in her family who speaks English, so we haven't really learned a lot about her situation yet. However, we do know that she thinks Grant is the coolest! And she is pretty impressed with Kevin too!

Grant's numbers were as expected this week. His WBC (white blood count) was low and ANC (absolute neutraphil count) is on the way down again. He was a 4.1 last week and down to 1.3 this week. So, he is responding just the way he should to this round of medicine. The low counts do mean that we have to be more careful about exposing Grant to any germs as he would be unable to fight off any kind of infection. His hemoglobin was also getting low, so he may need another blood transfusion next week. This is a very painless procedure, but it does take several hours, so our trip could be a longer one next Tuesday.

So, we are hanging out close to home this week. All of the kids are enjoying the warmer weather and finding plenty of time for lounging in the pool. Leah has been home this week with her family, so we are enjoying visiting with cousins and getting to know baby Carter. She will return home to Raleigh tomorrow and we will miss her and hers!

Grant's hair is growing back quite a bit these days. I think that when it initially fell out, it basically just got really thin. So, the hair that is growing back now would have been hair that stayed behind had we not shaved the whole thing! Hindsight! It does however seem to be quite a bit lighter than before. We will wait and see.

He also weighed in at 52 lbs. yesterday, so we are only 2 lbs. off of his starting weight at diagnosis. He had lost weight from all of the sickness prior to be diagnosed, so he actually looks more like himself now. All of his clothes are fitting again, so he is much happier. His larger shorts were pretty long, so he didn't like wearing them so much! Today he is wearing his favorite pirate shirt from Charleston and his camo pants and he looks very much at home in them!

We were very saddened to learn this week that Dr. John Knelson, our family pediatrician has been diagnosed with throat and esophogial cancer. He is being treated at UNC as well and will be doing radiation treaments for an extended period of time. Dr. Knelson is a sweet and kind man and also a man of great faith. We will pray for him and his family and ask that you do the same.

Life is settling into more of a normal pattern these days. We have learned the roads to Chapel Hill very well and feel very comfortable with our new friends at the children's clinic. We are reminded every week just how blessed we are to have found Grant's cancer at such an early stage of development. There are so many children who were not so fortunate and who have a very hard road of treatment.

Thanks to all of our family and friends who continue to buoy is up with your faith and friendship and acts of quiet giving. We pray that you know of our depth of gratitude.

Until next report.........