Clinic visit today

Happily, the clinic visit today was uneventful. We talked with the doctor for a bit, then Sawyer received a quick dose of vincristine (liquid drug, pushed in through a needle in his port) and we were on our way to the Olive Garden for a delicious lunch.

Our conversation with the doctor centered around the "event" of last week as well as what to expect next Monday when we come. The drug that Sawyer reacted to was asparaginase, an important one in his chemo protocol, and he'd had it twice before. But since his reaction last week was so unheard of, the doctor has done, and will do, more research to decide how to approach the next time he's supposed to receive it. The doc will be talking with other physicians around the country who may have had a similar experience and will try to form the best opinion and option he can for Sawyer's treatment. Asparaginase is a drug derived from bacteria and is therefore a foreign protein to the body (and thus why there can be a reaction even if there wasn't one before). There are apparently some other variations of the drug, derived from different bacteria, but still in the same family. There will be some consideration if it will be possible, or even advisable, to use one of those. The doctor obviously would prefer that Sawyer not get near asparaginase ever again.

The nurse that treated Sawyer today was the one that performed CPR on him last week so we were able to express our thanks to her. We had been told she was the perfect one to have been on scene since she's their CPR training expert. Sawyer had a question or two about CPR in general and over the course of his conversation with her figured out why his sternum had been sore over the last week. He hadn't mentioned it to me or else I could have explained the amount of pressure often applied during CPR would result in a sore chest.

Next Monday will start what's called the "interim maintenance" phase which lasts 2 months. He'll start in the clinic and get another LP (spinal tap), get hooked up to some fluids and then move to a room in the hospital. He will be hospitalized every other week for 4-5 days and receive methotrexate each time. There will be 4 different hospitalizations, each one a bit harder on the body. It will take 24 hours to infuse the drug through his port and 3-5 days to flush it out of his system. They will give him plenty of fluids and prep his kidneys for the process since it can be tough on them to have to handle the drug and all the accompanying fluids. The primary side effect is mouth sores (each time he receives the drug the side effects will be more pronounced). Secondary side effect, no surprise, will be some nausea but it's not supposed to be too bad and hopefully mostly controlled with medication. We will work with the school to get the hospital tutor lined up again.

Mark and I will split the time in the hospital with Sawyer. I'll do the first half of the week and Mark will do the second half. We'll all be happy to have visitors so don't be afraid to call or email us if you want to stop by!

One bit of good news is that Sawyer won't have to receive any medications on the weeks in between the hospital stays. We're all looking forward to the beginning of April and getting through this phase, with the hopes that he will be through the most of difficult times. But until all of this is actually over, we'll keep our fingers crossed for no more surprises or unexpected turn of events.

In the meantime, we are being pampered and spoiled at home with some very delicious meals, and since Sawyer's appetite has been good the last week he's also been able to enjoy them!