Official Scan Results

 

We finally got the official scan results. Nate is a perfect, cancer free boy!

Last Day of School

 

What a difference a school year makes! When Wes started 1st grade, Nate had just gotten out of the PICU after fighting for his life. Amazingly, Nate has not had to spend the night at the hospital since and was able to start preschool this year! Both boys did SO well in school this year. I am so proud of my big, smart, strong boys and all the hard work they did this school year!

Happy Nurse Appreciation Week

They have cleaned up every bodily fluid you can imagine. They have laughed and cried with us. They have held my hand in the middle of the night while I sobbed because I was so scared for my son. They distract and love on the kids when they are hurting or scared. They stay on top of super complicated med schedules. They have come in on their day off to check on us. They have run around the room "flying" in Super Nate's cape just to get a smile. They have bugged doctors for us when we needed answers. They truly love the kids they care for and give every one of them a piece of their heart. This is just a small fraction of what they do every day. They are rock stars! It truly takes a special person to be a pediatric oncology nurse and we have been blessed with so many spectacular nurses along the way. We love you all! Happy nurse appreciation week!

...and Home

 

Nate's appointment was great and he's got DFMO for another 3 months. It was a lot of driving, but the kids do great and we got to enjoy a beautiful beach and desert sunset. Can't really complain about that.

Back to Rady

 

We're back at Rady Children's in San Diego to get more DFMO. Nate has been on the trial for 3 months and is doing great, with no side effects that we can tell. We're here less than 24 hours, but we had to squeeze in a sunset and some sand between our toes. Tomorrow, clinic appointment and more importantly...ceviche before we head home!

Potty Trained

 

Being diagnosed with cancer at 2 1/2 means a serious delay in potty training. Being hooked up to an IV pole, pumped full of fluids and given drugs that cause constant diarrhea isn't exactly conducive to learning to use the potty. Today, Nate earned his water table for being fully potty trained!! We are so proud of him! Even better, a man at Costco gave Nate $1 when he told the man why he earned his prize. Nate chose to put the $1 in the donation jar for "his hospital" (Phoenix Children's). Man, I love this boy!!



NED!!!

 

Preliminary report says scans are clean!!!

Scan Time Again

How does 3 months go by so fast?! It's scan time again. Nate will go under anesthesia today at 12:30 for MIBG, CT, MRI and bone marrow biopsies. Please say a prayer for NED and wear your Super Nate bracelet if you have one. We BELIEVE!

 

 

Super Friends Activate!

Nothing like a flat tire on the way to scans to really test my sanity on an already super stressful day. Thank God for my mom who rushed to pick us up and take us to the hospital and is now waiting for AAA to change the tire, all while watching Ellie. Really, what would we do without her?! We made it in time and Nate went to sleep like a big boy. Believe!

 

 

All done! He didn't even wake up angry like he usually does. Now we wait for results which could be awhile since we couldn't get an appointment until the end of the month. Time to start calling and bugging them!