4-24-24 Hudson's Update Day 519

[bwatcher]

"Been awhile since I've done an update on Hudson. Today starts another 12 week cycle or his 5th time through. His blood counts looked really good and tad bit high (good thing) so a slight adjustment on his dosage. He also had a spinal tap and chemo today.

Overall, last month has been good for him as he's stayed healthy for whole month which is a nice change of pace. We are gearing up for end of school, trying Blast Ball, turning 5, and most importantly his Make a Wish trip in early June.

As always, we are thankful for everyone checking in or prayers for us."

The Make a Wish trip will be for his June 6th birthday, when he will turn 5 years old. They are going to San Diego to Lego Land, the San Diego Zoo, and doing a harbor cruise. Bryan said the cruise was so they didn't have to walk much that day. 

Just woke up from his procedure and he was HUNGRY!

Side note: Valerie has her next immunotherapy/chemo treatment this coming Friday morning. She's really struggling with pain in her hip joints and shoulders from the immunotherapy drug. The dr. gave her a prescription for 9 days of Prednisone. Otherwise she says she's doing okay. 

[grandmazn8]

Thanks for updating and glad things are going fairly well.

[pippin3]

What a guy!

[pippin3]

What a guy!

[Auntcon]

He sure tolerate this well...still awful for tot to have to endure these things. Wishing Valerie well with her treatments!

[maryinmichigan]

Thank you,Mary. He is a spunky little guy, going through all of this that children shouldn't have to endure but do.and I hope all of this will all be behind Valerie soon so she can enjoy her life once again.

[luvmyb_b]

I am glad to see this update, Mary. Day 519 seems unreal to me. Time flies, doesn't it? Based on experience with DH, I am guessing that Hudson likes rice krispie treats? That blue packaging looks like that to me. His birthday trip will be here before you know it. I hope the family makes wonderful memories. They've surely been through A  L O T and deserve fun times together! The harbor cruise sounds like a wonderful idea. I hope the Prednisone helps Valerie.    

[bwatcher]

I got a text message from Valerie this morning that they postponed today's treatment appointment until next Friday. She's apparently in a lot of pain in her hips and shoulder joints from the immunotherapy and the prednisone apparently hasn't addressed it as of yet. The immunotherapy is apparently a double edge sword. It hypes up your immune system to fight the cancer, but it also inflames the joints like rheumatoid arthritis. 

When we talked to her earlier in the week, she said some days she can't walk up the step normally because the one hip just hurts to bad to bend. She steps up with one leg and then gradually brings the other one up to the same step. I gave her different suggestions from sitting in a tub of hot water, to a heating pad, massage, etc. She didn't try the hot bath but said the other stuff helped a little bit. Someone told her to walk, but how do you do that when you hurt that much? I guess we just wait and see if the prednisone kicks in. 

This is day 121 for her, and it wasn't a good one, but I'm not surprised. It's been going too easy so far, but on the blessing side, the tumors were half the original size at the last scan appt. almost a month ago. I guess this is the pain of progress. 

Thank you all for the prayers for both Hudson and Valerie. 

[plantdoctor]

Glad to hear the good news on Hudson, but sorry about what Valerie is going through.  Hopefully they can find something to ease her pain.  I know Hudson and the family will enjoy the trip.  Charlene