Cycle 3/ Our New Friend

Hi Everyone!!
Sawyer has completed cycle 3 of his chemotherapy. We were a little concerned how he would respond to the drugs this cycle because he had never had them before but as usual he did amazing. He hardly had any side effects, mainly tiredness but no nausea. I even remarked to one of the nurses that I was wondering if they were giving him his medicine because he was doing so well. He was up walking around multiple times a day and regularly went to the playroom. He even added a couple new LEGO sets to his growing collection.

Sawyer made a new friend this visit. Out of respect for her family and their privacy at this time we will only say that she is a little girl the same age as Sawyer. They just recently came to the hospital and are in the process of determining a final diagnosis. While we do wish that we had met her and her wonderful family under different circumstances, we do hope that our friendship will help in some way as they go through this trying time. It was not that long ago that we were in their position and sometimes it helps to have someone to talk to that knows what you’re going through.

All too often we forget just how much strength our children have, throughout this entire process Sawyer regular shows us his. Most of you know that we don’t hide Sawyer’s illness from him. But we do try to explain it to him in ways he can understand (with a little help from the Child Life Specialists at the hospital). He knows that he has a sickness called cancer and that it made the tumor in his back and we go to the hospital, so he can get the special medicine that will eat the tumor. The medicine is to help him feel better and make the tumor go away forever. Well the other day Jeremy and Sawyer were in the playroom when his new friend and her parents came in. While they were playing Sawyer started telling her about his tumor and she said that she has one in her belly. Then he helped her to understand that the special medicine will eat her tumor too. Well she told her sibling exactly what Sawyer told her and then they told their cousins. We were so proud of how he helped his new friend and her family understand what was going on with her.

We know that you don’t know them but please keep this family in your prayers and intentions as they go through this difficult process.

Sawyer does not have any scheduled procedures before his next chemotherapy cycle which is slated to begin April 16th. But we will keep everyone updated as always.
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Thank you all for your continued support and prayers! They mean so much to our family. Thank you again for reading!
Until next time.
Jen, Jeremy, Sawyer, and Calvin