Start of Maintenance Round 3

Today marked the start of round 3 of our cycle on maintenance. The start of each 85 day cycle includes a spinal tap, chemo push (IV), and an hour long antibiotic infusion.

Happy Juice

You know how sometimes you put off telling your child something if you think they're not going to like it? Or, maybe you're the type that stretches the truth a little? Jennifer and I've kinda been in that boat with Carson regarding the start of this next cycle. Although he's lightly medicated and not suppose to be able to remember it, Carson hasn't been too fond of his more recent spinal taps. And who can blame him? He knows that they hurt, but the medication keeps the experience somewhat fuzzy. He's not sure why he doesn't like the spinal procedures.

We broke the news to him last night. He had only one question, "Will I get Happy Juice?"

Now, Happy Juice is a powerful sedative that tends to give Carson the giggles. It's also know as N-phenyl-N-(1-phenethyl-4-piperidinyl)propanamide...or fentanyl. (Happy Juice is much easier to say.)

But when Carson heard he'd be getting Happy Juice, he started cheering and running around the room waving his arms in the air. So this has us thinking: Are we fighting cancer only to raise a drug addict??

Meanwhile...back at the clinic.

Carson made counts this week with an ANC of 900. He made it through the spinal procedure, too. It's never fun. He was talking and giggling, at first. The tears and screams came shortly later. Like the other times, he doesn't remember too much about it. He knows that he cried, but not the specific act that caused it.

As with the past visits, he recovered quickly and was talking ears off in no time. And for that, we are always thankful because deep down we'd much rather be at the clinic doing spinal procedures than back in the hospital facing something much worse.

We are truly blessed. And our prayer tonight is one of thanks...and a request that Carson doesn't continue to seek Happy Juice, or any of its illicit relatives, when he's older.

Paul.