Halfway

As of today, May 14, 2013, Derek is half way through his treatment for leukemia.  One year, eight months, 6 days down. One year, eight months, and six days to go. We are so thankful that he remains in remission.  Hopefully the worst half is over. Here is a look back with links to related blog posts. Click on the pictures if you want to see larger versions of them.

Two weeks before diagnosis. Making a sheet tent with Kristen.

September 10, 2011, two days after diagnosis. PICC line in. He still does not look sick.
Click here to read how the journey began... 

September 23, 2011. Hair falling out. We gave him a buzz cut.

Kristen has been such a big support for her brother through the whole journey.

When they discovered Derek had pneumotosis in October, he had to go without eating for 14 days straight. He had actually had it on diagnosis, and had even perforated his bowel, but they completely missed it on the initial CT.  When they discovered it five weeks into treatment, they thought it was something new and treated it by making him NPO to rest the bowel.  When at last they compared the initial scans, the saw that the perforation had already healed and allowed him to eat again. While he was NPO, he received IV nutrition called TPN.  TPN is the color of milk, and the bottom of the bag looked like udders, so we made this cow to hang on his TPN bag on the IV pole and Derek named it "Messy Bessy."
To read about the miracle, click here.

Finally back at home, the kids played doctor with new realism.  Mr. Bear became the patient complete with port-a-cath accessed, IV line in, and blood pressure cuff.
Click here to read about Derek finding the humor in cancer treatment.

Thanksgiving 2011. We were so very thankful for how God had provided for us. And thankful to be home.

Legos became his passion at the hospital and at home, and many friends kept him well supplied.

Then on December 3, Derek developed pancreatitis as a reaction to one of the chemo drugs.  Back to the hospital he went again in so much pain they had to knock him out with strong pain killers. He got out of the hospital two days before Christmas.
Click here to read about evidences of God's care in the middle of all this.

He was in and out of the hospital from January through March for in-patient treatments.  Again, Legos helped keep him occupied.

Blog Posts from this time period:

Reaching a new normal.

I am a Cancer Mom

Hope

Hope Reprised

In May, Derek lost his first tooth.

By June, he had just completed eight days of cranial radiation which made the rest of his hair fall out.

In August, his energy was starting to return and we enjoyed some outdoor excursions.  His hair started coming in again.

One year milestone

November, 2012

He still takes naps occasionally.

Derek's hair came in very curly.

Derek has monthly chemo at the outpatient clinic and oral chemo every day at home through January 2015.

As of May 2013, his energy is good, and he feels pretty good most days. We are so very thankful he is doing so well. Thank you for your prayers and support!