Round 2 Chemo - Ollie vs. the PICC line

 Round 2 Begins! I feel like we should get the makers of Rock 'Em Sock 'Em to sponsor us knocking lymphoma out!

Ollie wearing the awesome hoodie friends Tash, Alan and Oliver sent him as he starts round 2 of chemo today.

The morning dawned, dark and  slippery. Naturally we'd be starting round 2 at 7:30 at CHEO during a freezing rain storm. I guess it kind of fit Ollie' s mood of yesterday. All weekend long he had been lovely having great visits with the Navas (he had a blast cutting Stephen's hair off) and the Foxes. Visits with them made the holidays feel more festive and made us all feel more like our old social selves.

But by yesterday again we had fighting from him about going back for round 2. At his refusal we had to give him the tough love and explain that if he gets the chemo he'll get well and live a long and happy life, whereas if we don't take the chemo it is certain death. Pretty tough stuff to lay on your 7-year old, but we've promised not to lie to him through this journey. It was upsetting for all of us (Mario, Abby and I) to have to explain to him why we need him to live. Conversations you never thought you'd be having with your 7- and 11- year old children...

After tears and anger we talked about how to make CHEO less boring. We agreed to take more of his own toys with us this time including Beyblades of course, the Nintendo Switch, and favourite mini board games. With one more bag added for toys Mario swears that it looks like we're going for a month, but Ollie and I like to be prepared for anything. If it sparks joy, right?! 😉

So we got to Medical Day Unit safely and on time today and began the waiting. Mostly waiting for a bed on 4 North since by 9:30 we had blood tests done and the doctor had confirmed that his levels were great (Neutrophils up to 1.8!). By 11 am Mario was complaining and shortly thereafter, Ollie was, too. I reminded them both that Ollie and I had waited 5 his in an Emerg isolation room the week before while we waited for a bed, so it can take time to make room for new patients. Naturally Ollie got progressively grumpier. 

Of course by this time his PICC line was distantly getting kinked each time he bent his elbow and this would set the alarm off on his pump and stop the flow of the ton of fluid they were trying to get into him before chemo. Finally the VAT team showed up to change the dreaded PICC dressing again (see Friday's post for more of that torture) in hopes of fixing it.

We did get a bed after that (about 4.5 hours after arriving), but the PICC continued to cause issues all afternoon. Finally the next shift of the VAT team came on and the expert veteran who fixed the issue with wine ingenious engineering with stern strips the first night of round 1 fixed it again. No further issues, thank God! So chemo stated very late and finished after almost 4 hours just a few minutes ago! 

In the meantime we had an ordering mess up with Gabriel's Pizza (which Abby and Daddy profited from since the order got sent home instead of to CHEO!), reordered and finally ate. 

Maria and Micheline (affectionately named Aunt Squish by the kids on a Tremblant trip we all took together last summer) Cinquino were so sweet to come by despite the rotten weather and bolstered our spirits after a hard day. Ollie even taught Maria how to Beyblade! 

All in all a tiring but successful day. He remarked tonight that we only had 4 more days of chemo this week and maybe one day after that before we get to go home on Saturday, so the positivity we are shooting for is coming along, even if I'm dragging him into it kicking and screaming at times.

Thanks for all of your well wishes for round 2. After this we'll be 1/3 done treatments! Until tomorrow...

'Tis the Season

We've been silent since Monday, because we've been enjoying every moment of Christmas at home. 

My mom and stepdad arrived on Christmas Eve and the kids were beyond excited. We often have a quiet Christmas here with us and Mario's mom and they're always lucky, but there's nothing quite like the chaos of a family Christmas. Last year for example, we were in California with my mom and stepdad and my brother's family. My mom has said many times in recent weeks how grateful she is that we all took that trip given what we're dealing with this year. So Gamma and Bumpa were here and Christmas felt like a special occasion, which we all really needed this year. 

Sadly, Mario's mom was down and out with a bad cold that she didn't want to pass on to any of us given how dangerous it could be for Ollie. On Christmas Day, Mario took her a Christmas dinner and her presents, wearing a mask and gloves to protect us all. That's our new reality and it's hard not to offend anyone given the precautions we have to take now. 

Even in mass I felt that way. Abby sang with a special choir on Christmas Eve at our church, so mom and I went to hear her solo. She did beautifully and it brought tears to my eyes. Multiple times during mass after touching surfaces and after shaking hands (sharing the sign of peace) with those around us, mom and I used hand sanitizer and I'm sure people around us who didn't know our situation either thought we were hypochondriacs or very rude assuming everyone around us had bad germs. Unfortunately my son's health trumps anyone else's feelings or assumptions right now.

I find myself frequently feeling Ollie's forehead for fever. If I wake in the night, I go to his room and check it. When he wakes, I check it. He may end up a hypochondriac himself after this! LOL

We are so grateful to so many friends who are being so understanding and getting flu shots for us, using the hand sanitizer when they pop by our place and step inside the door and don't come around when they are feeling unwell. These are all little gestures that they are feeling for us and helping in ways that they can. 

So Christmas was lovely and the kids were happy with their (too) many gifts. We watched movies, played games, visited with my parents and just enjoyed being together. 

On Boxing Day Ollie did get a bit of cabin fever and was sad and mad that he couldn't go out someplace in public. He and I had a long cuddle and talked about trying to change our definition of fun and thinking about fun things we COULD do together at home. We made a list of things and everyone participated in things like laser tag and give and go seek, even Gamma and Bumpa to his delight. 

On the 27th Gamma and Bumps went back to Southwestern Ontario and Ollie and I had to head back to CHEO for his regular Friday PICC dressing change. It was a hard afternoon with him refusing to cooperate despite the fact that he's had this done 4 times already and is not that big of a deal. It's the fact that he doesn't get to control what is happening to his body that upsets him. When he says no we still have to do it to protect him. 

I also think it was reality returning because he knows we'll be back there again for 6 days as of Monday for round 2 of chemo. He was super angry at me for making him go there and very mean to me as a result. Normally I can take it and tell him to be bad at me versus the doctors and nurses who are trying to help him, but I was sad for him and tired and frustrated. The child life specialist helped me to calm him somewhat and got us out the door after a lot of stomping and punching walls (him not me). When we got in the van which I guess is our safe place now, he began to sob. Then I did, too. 

I haven't let myself do this too often. Yes, I'm often in tears and swiping them away (usually at the kindness of others), but I've only let myself have a couple of big cries and mostly in the shower when he can't hear. I don't want him to think he won't make it and that's not what I think either. It's just that this journey is so often overwhelming and even the strongest of us need to let it all out to cleanse our emotional well being from time to time. So as I sobbed, Ollie calmed down and asked me if I was okay and started apologizing for making me cry. My boy is very empathetic and is like this with his sister when she is sad, too. I explained that mommy tries to be strong for him and didn't want to force him to do these things, but wants so desperately for him to be well that she'll do even the hardest things to make that happen. That I know it makes him unhappy now, but we must endure it so that we can all have a long and happy life together after cancer. Finally we talked about how anger and sadness are okay and normal, but we can't hurt each other when we feel that way. Short-term pain, long term gain is pretty tough for kids to get. 

So we hugged and headed to Tim Horton's for a drive through treat and agreed to go home and enjoy our two days off at home before going back Monday to kick cancer out some more. He says he wants to start the Kids Kicking Cancer martial arts in the new year so that maybe that can help him not to feel so angry. So young and yet such a wise old soul already. 

We are okay and happy to have had this time at home. We'll update you on Monday on round 1. Hugs to all and enjoy your time together!

Stronger together

Sunday we were still at CHEO waiting for neutrophils to go up so this superhero has his infection fighting superpower again. It was a long day that started with his disappointment at not being able to go home. The doctor  offered him a day pass or even just to go outside for a walk. He responded, "What's the point?! I'll only have to come back here and it'll be worse!" My sentiments exactly. Sometimes it's best to just power through.

Late that afternoon he asked to have the special G-CSF injection that could stimulate his neutrophils. He said if it would make it more likely for him to go home for sure on Monday he wanted it. Apparently it is very expensive (so grateful again that we are Canadian!), so they warned him that he couldn't waffle on it as it had a short shelf life and the doctor wouldn't order it twice. He committed and was scared, but did it with minimal crying. 

The beautiful thing is that it worked! Monday morning his neutrophils were up to 1.2 from a scary 0.2 (no wonder he got an infection!!!). The nurse shared the news and Ollie was so excited he was dancing. Then she said it might take a while to get our discharge orders. When Ollie asked how long and she said sometime in the afternoon after rounds, he was mad again!   I am not kidding when I say that CHEO nurses are angels as about 30 minutes after she left, she returned and told me if I didn't have any questions for the doctors, they'd already signed the discharge orders and she'd unplug Ollie from his IV and we could go. Again there was dancing and profound thanking. While I packed up, Ollie enjoyed some Christmas carols compliments of a quartet that came by to play for 4 North. 

By 10:30 am we were on our way home for Christmas! 

More packages and goodies awaited us from friends and family! 

 Lego withdrawal was hard!

 Big Hershey's Kiss!

There were also messages and little things to make him happy from every class in his amazing school! 

This evening, my colleague and friend, Jennifer stopped by for a little visit to bring us incredibly generous Christmas presents from my work team. I have always loved working with this team at the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat because they are not only colleagues, but friends after 9 years of working with them. They are among the kindest people I have ever worked with and honestly the big reason I have stayed there longer than I have ever worked anywhere before. The kids were thrilled with their gifts and we were all wowed by their generosity and thoughtfulness.

Ollie was so thrilled with one of his gifts that he got started on it right away!

 Abby can't wait to wear her cosy new clothes and pjs!

Finally, Ollie wanted to shave his head because the hair loss was too itchy, so Uncle Vic and Daddy followed through on their promise to shave their heads too. We had lots of laughs, and three handsome guys in the end. 

Thanks to all of these beautiful and thoughtful gestures, Ollie feels strong and like you're all in this with him, even when it's hard. We have, however, reminded him that while he has been spoiled lately by so many, this does not make him the centre of the universe and that he should be grateful, but not expect more as people have already been overly generous and it can't be Christmas every day for his 6-8 months of treatment.

Acceptance, Bumpy heads and Emotional Hangovers

The thing I love best about our boy is his ability to put bad stuff behind him and keep going forward. He is always very apologetic and contrite after having a temper tantrum or being unkind or difficult. Many of his teachers have told us how unusual it is for one so young to even be aware of the impacts of his actions on others. This is what makes him normally so kind-hearted and empathetic. 

So after difficulties yesterday, he was apologetic, loving and kind today. It has been a quiet day just watching movies. His fever is still intermittent, but the huge issue is his low neutrophils. These are white blood cells that help to fight infections. If those don't go up, even if we get rid of the current infection, he'll be even more susceptible to the next one and we'll land right back in here. So we're waiting and hoping. 

And I am coaching Ollie to be prepared if we can't go home tomorrow and need to stay longer. The goal is to get well and hopefully be home for Christmas.

I can tell the coaching, change management and too a degree desensitization is working, because today the doctor suggested if his levels aren't up tomorrow we could try a medicine by injection that could raise them. A few weeks ago Ollie would have immediately started fighting the idea and had a massive melt down over the idea of another poke. Today he simply said, "If it gets me home faster, I don't care...I'll do it." Dr. Pinto was shocked and told him how proud she was of him and noted how far he's come in such a short time (because weeks ago four of us had to hold him down to get a poke).

He also started losing his hair more obviously today. He was pretty okay with it, other than the fact that it made his neck itchy. Mario has been growing his hair to shave it off when Ollie is ready. So I guess we'll soon see if the Acosta men have bumpy heads or not. Of course Ollie laughs and says daddy is already almost bald so it won't be much different for him. Just another cancer milestone we're going to pass through on this journey. 

I have a headache today and feel like maybe it's an emotional hangover from yesterday. Hopefully tomorrow will be better. 

I was also feeling a bit, "why us?!" today until I saw this in the kitchen, reminding me that so many of us have to bear it and do survive it.

On the home front we are grateful to dear friends who kept Abby overnight last night, and took her shopping today and to another who was at our house today to oversee duct work cleaning and kindly folded laundry. Many others checked in with me over the last two days to be sure we were doing okay, offered to run things to the hospital and dropped off special treats. Every little gesture and kindness is acknowledged and appreciated. 

We'll keep you posted on his progress, but are going to bed early now in hopes that we're both much better tomorrow. Sleep well!

Intuition, Fever and Fear

This is post number two because today's events warranted their own post.

Last night everything was fine. Ollie went to bed snuggling with me in his new twin over double bunk bed. He seemed warm to me, but did not have a fever. As I lay with him and he fell asleep he was restless and very sweaty. I got up and prepared Abby's lunch and did a few things, going back to check on him a few times. I told Mario I was going to bed and felt I should sleep with him as I fear fever in the night right now and had a sense something was off. 

Fever requires immediately going to CHEO Emergency because his immune system is shot since the chemo and he is now what they call neutropenic. This means that his white blood cells (WBC on a blood test) are very low and any illness is dangerous because the body has no ability to fight them off. 

So my mother's intuition told me to sleep with him and several times in the night I woke to a very sweaty kid and took his temperature. Each time it was normal, but I knew something was not right. When we woke about 7:30 to get ready to go to CHEO for his usual Friday PICC dressing change, he felt warm, so I took it again and it was a bit high. I waited a few minutes until he was up and had cooled down from the warm covers and took it again. Higher again this time and definitely a fever. So plans changed rapidly. I called our Oncology Coordinator to let her know and she told me to come to Emerg and she'd alert them.

I sent Abby and Mario off to their regular days, promising to let them know any news. Ollie was otherwise well and cooperated to get to CHEO, walking himself into Emerg. Once there we were triaged immediately and shown into an isolation room to minimize our exposure to anything else. That's the fastest we have ever been triaged at CHEO. At least cancer patients get VIP emergency treatment. LOL

We were quickly visited by nurses and a doctor who checked him all over for any sources of infection (nothing obvious). Everyone was gowned and masked as a precaution. Bloodwork was drawn rapidly, a urine sample taken, a team came down to change his PICC dressing, a second doctor from oncology arrived to do more checks. IV's of antibiotics and fluids were started. 

The doctor told me he'd have to be admitted for 48 hours for meds and observation. Admissions arrived and had me sign forms to admit him (again so glad to be overinsured and always paid for the full hospital coverage).

I guess I'm getting used to all of this as I found it all comforting because it reminded me we were in the best place for him to be safe, whereas weeks ago it would have elevated my stress levels. 

What did stress me out was having to tell him we'd have to be admitted again. To say he took it badly is an understatement. Sadness, anger and complete defiance ensued. There was yelling, wall punching and absolute insistence that he was going home because round 2 of chemo wasn't starting until December 30. Despite everything I could not calm him by myself and it took me, two nurses and a child life specialist to sooth him and bring him down to a manageable level. 

One of the ways they did this was by talking about what made him angry and suggesting we make a punching pillow and draw a target and write those words on it. 

Luckily, one of the nurses who came by was also our POGO Interlink Nurse, Graham who had stopped by our place on Wednesday to help with paperwork and had bonded with Ollie over Beyblades. Graham had also gone into the school earlier this week to teach his and Abby's classes about lymphoma, so we recognize that he has done a lot for our family this week. So Graham also engaged Ollie in a discussion about Beyblades, taking his mind off the fact that he was being admitted. 

The thing about Ollie is he is passionate like Daddy, but pragmatic like Mommy. So after the room had cleared, he and I had a good chat about how powerful his brain is and if we prepare for the worst and hope for the best things generally turn out fine and we aren't disappointed constantly. He asked me what the worst was and I said we'd be in hospital a few days, but maybe less and we could still hopefully make it home for Christmas. Then my bright, sweet pragmatic boy said he had done eleven days already and two days wasn't bad and we could do it. I pray that it's only two days and I don't have to disappoint him and ruin the lesson.

So we finally got a bed on 4 North after lunch and with a new positive attitude, we arrived in our new room. To his delight it's a private room (we were alone in a double last time) and has extra amenities like our own mini-fridge (please send wine and cheese...LOL), a PS4 and TV for it in the room (we borrowed a communal one from the playroom last time, but apparently these were donated for isolation rooms) and the crowning glory...his own tub (he had to have a bath down the hall last time and found that unacceptable...imagine having a bathroom in your room with no bathtub!)! He exclaimed that this really was at last more like a hotel.

No sooner had we settled in then a special visitor arrived to bring some presents and spread some Christmas cheer. See below...

Got to meet Brady from the Ottawa Senators who was even a good sport when he learned the Sens are Ollie's number 2 team and the Leafs are his number 1 like Daddy. 

Now Ollie is napping and I am drinking a coffee from Keurig pods that some Christmas angel left in the kitchenette for everyone and thanking God for them and the fact that there is even still some sugar and cream that I left behind when we left here not quite two weeks ago.

None of this is what we planned, but as a strategic planner, I know the importance of an "evergreen" plan that is constantly being adapted to accommodate changes and also of always having a Plan B and sometimes even a Plan C. So we'll hunker down and watch our new subscription to Disney+ this weekend and pray that by Monday we are home and cosy again. 

Sending you all love and prayers for a lovely weekend before Christmas. Please be safe, be good to each other and remember that the perfect outfits, food, gifts and decor don't matter this or any Christmas. It's being wherever you are with people you love and enjoying time together. 

Boxes, Bunk beds, Buzz and Battles

The last few days have been eventful, so I'm going to post two blog posts today.

On Wednesday we had a visit from our POGO Interlink Nurse, Graham Robinson won offered to come to the house and help us with some paperwork and planning for my leave at work. I am so fortunate to be a federal public servant and my employers are phenomenal. I have enough leave banked to be off paid until February 24, and then will be using services like EI to help out. We are also so fortunate to have been advised by our investment and insurance advisor long ago to buy the policies that have critical illness insurance for the kids, so we will have extra money coming from that which will help with the loss of income since EI only pays 43% of my salary.

Ollie showing Graham his new Beyblades.

Ollie also got a new bunk bed on Wednesday that had been planned long before diagnosis, but the timing is great to keep things interesting when he's home so much.

 Building the new bed with Daddy.

Typical kid enjoying the box more than the contents...

Finished product with upper bunk already messy from playing up there!

Thursday I had to go Christmas shopping for new washer and dryer because of course the bearings on the current set decided to die in the last two weeks. Merry Christmas to Mommy and Daddy I guess! LOL

On Thursday afternoon, it was the kids' Christmas concert at school. Since it was Abby's last one given she's graduating this year, we arranged for Mario to work from home and be with Ollie so I could attend. Her performance choir did a great job, as did her class.

St. G Performance Choir

 Abby's Grade 6 class

A few days before the concert Ollie's teacher, Mrs. Didiomete suggested he might want to join the concert online via Google Hangouts. So Mrs. D, the principal, Mrs. Philippe and our School Council Chair and dear friend, Siobhan organized the technology to be set-up at the concert so Ollie had the best seat in the house (while mommy arrived late and was standing at the back! ;-)) and could watch everything from the comfort of home. At the beginning Mrs. Philippe even had everyone at the event say hello to Ollie! It was very touching to have him there and when his class's turn came and they sang their hearts out, I know he was glad to see them all. 

 Ollie was in the laptop on this stand with his teacher checking in from the background and Siobhan in the foreground. 

We are so thankful for the thoughtfulness of the St. G teaching team. They are working hard to make sure he still feels part of the school despite his isolation this year.

We rounded out the busy day with a family NERF war that evening. Mom, Dad and Abby are now his primary playmates, so playtime at night is important and frankly, the laughing together always makes us all feel better.

Acosta-Pickering Family NERF Wars...where safety never takes a holiday!

Stay tuned for post # 2 of the day shortly...

Wishes and Miracles

Ollie took this pic. Santa came to the CHEO Medical Day Unit (MDU) and gave me one of my wishes early this year...scroll down to hear what it was!

Ollie got to see Santa after all this year! 

Every day in MDU there is excitement. You'd think that with so many sick kids there it would be a depressing place, but there is a happy atmosphere there that defies logic. It's like you are being wrapped up in a womb, enveloped in warmth and comfort despite the cold reality that cancer forces you to face daily. If Disneyland is the happiest place on earth, MDU is the happiest place at CHEO for the same reasons. Everyone bends over backwards there to make it a positive and rewarding experience for families. 

Today it was Christmas in MDU. We were there for some blood and kidney tests. Santa was there, accompanied by Officer Amanda from the Ottawa Police Service. The Ottawa Police had provided presents wrapped and labeled (Boy 8-10, Girl 4-6, etc.) for every kid there today and they're doing it again all day Thursday. I have always had a lot of respect for the men and women who keep us safe in this city and it today it got bigger. So maybe buying cancer kids presents at Christmas is easy enough to do and send, but sending a Santa and an officer to help was classy. And the officer was awesome with the kids and treated them like normal kids. Also surprisingly unusual as a lot of adults I have come into contact with recently don't know how to treat sick kids.

Excited to open a present from Santa (courtesy of the Ottawa Police)!

Ollie got over $100 value in Lego and I was blown away at people's generosity once again. There was a lovely card that made me tear up, wishing him a healthy 2020 and that he feels better soon. 

Playing a trick on Officer Amanda of the Ottawa Police with Molly Penny's help!

Officer Amanda showing Ollie that her pink handcuffs were actually real police handcuffs and him trying to escape!

We also saw our oncologist, Dr. Pinto setup was super pleased with Ollie' s response to the chemo, noting the amazing reduction in his bump already and remedying on how terrific it was that he was still super energetic (as he bounced around the room asking a million questions and bouncing an actual ball on his hand too voraciously). She explained that although they had originally slated him to start round 2 of chemo being admitted to hospital on December 24, they discussed pushing that by a few days and given the number of others scheduled to be admitted them, decided he is strong enough to wait until December 30 to start round 2. So my Christmas wish came true and we get to be home safely with our family together and wake up Christmas morning in our own beds to see what Santa has brought. Christmas miracles do exist and we are so grateful for all of the positive energy and prayers being sent our way, so please keep them coming in the new year. 

More soon...

Hail Mary and Learning About Lymphoma

This little dabbing elf is home and doing really well as we rest and wait for round 2.

It has been a quiet and uneventful few days. We had a quick visit to CHEO Friday followed by a dash in to Walmart with Ollie wearing mask and gloves to avoid exposure to viruses. All so he could be a normal kid and choose a few new Beyblades with Christmas money received. This is our new reality. We are unable to take him into highly populated public places where he might get a minor cold or flu bug that for anyone else would be uncomfortable, but for him could land him in a serious illness with isolation in hospital because the chemo is killing his immune system. So many kind friends have offered to bring their little ones over to play and it breaks my heart to have to explain that we can't risk the exposure to kids we all love and miss playing with. Please don't forget about us, because Ollie will be back to play as soon as cancer has been kicked out. To this 

end, his teacher Mrs. Didiomete kindly pointed out to him in a recent online video chat with the class that he is still part of the class and they have kept his desk there to remind them everyday. My eyes are leaking...😭

So for the meantime we are trying to make some new friends at the hospital who are in the same situation and through activities such as Kids Kicking Cancer, a martial arts program for kids with cancer, which Ollie is eager to try this week. 

Abby is dealing pretty well, but has found it tough sometimes to explain to kids that cancer doesn't automatically mean that her brother is dying. The kids are empathetic, very well meaning and truthful about their thoughts, not realizing how tough that might be for her to hear. Fortunately, our Interlink.Nurse from CHEO went into the school today to Abby and Ollie's classes to talk about lymphoma and to allow kids to ask their questions. He explained that Ollie's cancer is highly treatable and he is expected to come back next year and what friends can do to help keep Abby and by extension Ollie safe as he goes through treatments.

It takes me back to Abby's grade 1 class where another St. G family (whom we are grateful to know) had done the same when their son had leukemia and Abby was in his sister's class. It was the first I had heard of their battle and it touched me deeply. This family bravely fought and won their battle with leukemia and have been supportive of us on our journey. I remember asking the mom after they kicked it how you do it when it's your child and she told me you just do because there is no other option and you find strength you never thought you had. She was totally right. They give us hope and understanding at a time when we are often unsure and we are very grateful to them.

I am also learning a lot about Lymphoma. I never imagined I'd be so interested in blood counts, test results and medical procedures. Change forces us to learn new things and grow in ways we never expected. 

Last night Abby's choir sang in an Advent Caroling event that our parish puts on. 

The St. G Performance Choir (including Abby) in the Advent Caroling event at St. G church.

Abby made her debut doing a reading at church. As I sat there watching her read I was so proud of her and then overwhelmed with emotion that she is handling everything with such grace publicly for one so young. She has had her completely justified moments melting down over all of this, but mostly she's just stepped up to be a better sister and daughter over the last weeks. 

All of the readings were about the coming of Jesus at Christmas. Naturally, Mary as his mother features heavily in these stories. I've never felt so drawn to her as I have in recent weeks. Even as a person of faith I marvel that she agreed to bear God's son, knowing full well that He was the savior and would one day be sacrificed to save the world from sin. 

I have prayed to Mary as a mother in these last weeks, asking her to give me strength to bear all of this. One night after Ollie's bone marrow puncture when he was in a lot of pain, Mario (who believes, but is not very religious) even suggested we all.pray the Hail Mary together and she carried us all through the pain. She is sending me her strength in ways I never imagined. I know in my heart that God is good and will save my son with the help of medicine. I have faith that He loves me and understands that as a mother I cannot accept anything other than a full recovery and a beautiful life for him after this. This feels like a test for all of us, but fortunately I've always been an excellent student and aced tests and I'm not about to fail now. 😁 

Mario is stoic as always. He has moments of emotion when friends make overwhelmingly kind and unexpected gestures to help our family. He is the strongest teddy bear around. 

Overall we are all doing pretty well, all things considered. We're resting up and trying to enjoy every moment of being home together to help us get through the next round. Thanks for your continued thoughts and prayers.

What we need and how to contact us

A few of you reading the blog have said you can't see our list of what we need or the contact us form. 

If you're using a mobile version, scroll to the bottom of the post and select the full web version of the blog and you can see the list on the left and the contact us form at the very bottom of the page. 

You can also reach us through e-mail, text, messenger, or phone if you have those for us. I will get back to you as soon as I can. We appreciate your thoughts and prayers!

Home is our refuge...

This is a fave t-shirt of his that Mrs. Hatoum gave him when Abby and friends worked the Lemonade Stand for Cancer last spring. Ironic that the very organizations we were all raising money for mere months ago are now supporting my family. 

We have enjoyed three beautiful days at home without having to go to CHEO and we all feel more ourselves now. Ollie is feeling great physically and mentally, but is starting to realize that this journey will be somewhat isolating for him because his world will mainly be the house and the hospital. This is to limit his exposure to potential viruses.  He is quickly coming to love taking car rides just to get out and also online shopping with mom. 

Here he got his ball stuck and is sporting one of the PICC line covers that a dear friend made for him with another friend.

He is loving the indoor basketball set that he got as an early Christmas gift and engaging us all in games, often. 

Ollie has received so many new Lego sets and built so many recently that he has now conned Daddy into being the master builder so he can simply play with them after. 

We even found time to bake (not for ourselves as we already have so many yummy things from kind people who have brought goodies by) for the St. G youth group tomorrow night and Ollie was thrilled to help.

A normal, boring evening at home is so underrated and we are so enjoying them, but back to CHEO tomorrow for a PICC dressing change and a lesson.