Week 2 of the First Cycle

Zachary has completed his hospital stay and one outpatient treatment. He has experience occasional nausea and has had some low appetite days. On the other hand, he has also had some days with a good appetite and he is looking and feeling good.We met with the surgeon and the oncologist this week and both are very happy with the way Zachary's treatment is progressing. Zachary will have one more outpatient treatment on Thursday and he will have another 4 weeks off to let his body recover. On Thursday Zachary will also have his follow up with the Radiation Team. Our spirits are much higher seeing our son feeling better. So far so good. Here are some pictures of Zachary with his sister Natalie, his friend Gabo and Dad at the Auto Show this weekend.

Hospital Stay

Zachary was hospitalized January 14, 2009 to receive his first of nine inpatient chemo treatments. Overall it went very well. While he was at the hospital, he felt well. He was released the following night since he was doing so good. However, as soon as he got home, he started getting nauseous. He has been ok for the last few days. He has not been eating much but he is still in good spirits and playing with his sister. The chemo makes him extremely sensitive to smells, so we are trying to ensure that we do not cook too much at home. Today, he actually ate a six inch sandwich from Subways. This was great! In the pic, he is relaxing with his big sis.

A New Year:

Zachary has had some time off and has made the best of it. During this rest time he gained some weight and his blood counts have increased. He's really looking good. On Wednesday, Zachary had a hearing exam and an MRI of the brain and spine. All the results were positive, with the MRI not showing any signs of the tumor re-occurring anywhere and his hearing is normal. This was a big relief. They will continue to do MRI's every 3 months to monitor this. Although everything is clear, the treatment must continue for preventive measures. He will have 9 cycles consisting a couple of days in the hospital and a couple of outpatient visits. On Wednesday we will begin the first cycle. He will at the hospital for 2-3 days, depending on the reaction to the chemo. He will then return the next 3 Wednesdays for outpatient chemo before getting almost 3 weeks off again to recover.