My grandson Logan has returned to Children’s Hospital in Dallas for his second round of chemotherapy. Today was his first full day back at the hospital after being admitted yesterday afternoon. Logan’s appointment yesterday morning included checking his blood to make sure that it had recovered enough to start the second round. It had as expected. The long journey continues, with multiple rounds of chemotherapy and multiple months. Yes, Logan’s remission after Round 1 is the best news possible. And now the chemo treatments go on as the medical protocol demands
Respite from the hospital
Logan’s, Amanda’s and AJ’s 5-day visit with me and Donna between chemo rounds 1 & 2 was both wonderful and exhausting for all. It was so good to see them and to do what we could to help. Logan was a joy with his exuberant giggling and free rein of the house.
And Logan’s care was a challenge with his feeding tube. You see, he’s just a baby. Logan neither understands nor really knows that he has a tube threaded through his nose and into his stomach. So inadvertently he can catch the tube while rubbing his nose or face and pull it out. He did it at the hospital, and managed to partially do so while visiting us. (Amanda and Donna pushed the tube back where it belonged.) That tactic of letting babies cry themselves to sleep? Nope, does not work for Logan. Any time he cried at night or waking up from a nap, an adult needed to be there to avoid a tube-pulling episode. Let’s just say sleep was disrupted. But sleep was disrupted no more than what Amanda and AJ experienced by themselves all those days at the hospital. They are awesome.
Visitors
Family visits were welcomed while Logan and Amanda and AJ were with me and Donna. Amanda’s parents Kimberly and Mike, and Amanda’s brother Chris and wife Casey visited inside our home. They have been able to quarantine and were helping at the hospital towards the end of the first round of chemo. Other family members such as our son Jeff and his girlfriend Alexis in the picture above sat and chatted through the front storm door. Our daughter Aunt Bridget did the same, as did Donna’s sister Becky. And Uncle Kevin in Florida was a regular FaceTime call. Everyone was happy to reconnect in whatever safe way was available.
The rhythm of daily chemo returns. I rocked Logan throughout his visit. Each time I thought of the challenge he is facing at such a young age, and his strength, and his joy. His little body is being poisoned again to save him. Your continued prayers are needed and requested.