Chemo 4 and 5

Chemo # 4

Linsey came to this round of chemo with us. She lives in Washington, so she had never been able to come see what an amazing place Huntsman's is. 

She was so sweet and brought Josh a birthday present!

It was really great to have her there with us! 

Just recently they built a new infusion room at Huntsmans. This is where they give chemo to the patients. 

What an amazing set up! We are truly so grateful to be at Huntsmans. 

Linsey is watching Vampire Diaries!

Sound asleep during chemo!

                                                                   Chemo # 5

Last Wednesday night (November 30th) we drove to Salt Lake. The Doctor really wanted to do a Pet Scan before the next round of chemo. We had some scheduling conflicts, so Thursday we were there at 8 in the morning just waiting to see if they could squeeze us in. We hung out in the waiting room until 2 PM and then ended up scheduling everything for Friday. So Friday Josh did a Pet Scan, Lumbar Puncture, and then his chemo.

It was a long day for him. 

His Pet Scan came back looking good.

So as of now the plan is 1 more round of chemo, 2 more lumbar punctures, and then the bone marrow transplant. 

On our way to Salt Lake 

Waiting room day

 After we left the waiting room, we went to a few bike shops and the boys were in heaven!

Friday:

This is during the lumbar puncture. They stick a needle in Josh's spinal sac and take some spinal fluid. Then they replace the fluid with chemo.

The last time Josh got a lumbar puncture he got a horrible spinal headache. So this time we really did not want that to happen! The best thing for you to do after a lumbar puncture is to lay flat and drink lots of fluids! So they did his chemo in bed so he could lay flat.
We made sure he laid flat the next few days.
The last week he's been in bed most all day each day. Each round of chemo gets a little tougher. Knocks him down a little bit more. He's very weak. It's hard for him. He made the bed the other day and he said he was out of breath for quite awhile, just exhausted. It's hard for him to feel that way.
Some days are worse than others. There definitely are some really really hard days thrown in there.
A week after chemo is when his white cell count goes the lowest and that's when he feels the worst. His body aches.
But overall Josh is doing really good. He's super brave! He just does what he has to do!