All jokes aside, he will be given a cocktail of drugs including the chemo, steroids to reduce inflammation, anti-nausea meds, hydration, antibiotics to avoid pneumonia and a diuretic to keep his bowel movements normal. Maybe they'll throw in a little umbrella and fruit...
They've explained that this first 12 days they'll be shocking his system to kick start the chemo and attack it. Ollie and I giggled the other day over the image of his lymphoma cells being attacked with laser guns and disintegrating, leaving those dead cells as powder (mostly reduced to sodium), which they then flush out of his system so he doesn't turn into the evil villain "Salt Man!".
During these 12 days, one of us will be with him 24/7..mostly me with Mario visiting (with Abby when possible) and staying a night with him every few to give me a break, to give Abby and I time together and to give Daddy and Ollie time together.
After that, we'll be home and he'll continue taking steroids all the time and antibiotics on weekends. After 21 days this round is over and they test his levels for a week or so and decide if he's strong enough to move on to the next round or if he needs time to get his levels up. They have told us that he will likely need blood transfusions and platelets at different points like that.
On this note, for those of you asking what you can do, please give blood wherever you are, if you are able. Obviously Ollie won't get YOUR blood, but some kid like him will get it, while he gets some other generous person's. You can find out where to donate at: https://blood.ca/
More soon...
Sending you love and strength. You will get through this!
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