May Smiles Shine Through!
May is almost over and what a month it has been. Jeremy went on his first work trip with his new company, Hutton had her first 1-day outpatient chemo, she also had her first PET-CT scan since her surgery, she did her last 3-day chemo, and she was able to attend the 4th-grade girl’s tea at her school, she lost a tooth, mom and dad were able to get a couple date nights in, mom was able to get a Disney day, and we celebrated Mothers Day (a week late).
Jeremy traveling for work is a new thing for us, but being a former first responder family, we are accustomed to the unusual hours, missed holidays, and unpredictable schedules. Add a kid who is going through chemo and all the unknowns with that schedule and it’s a lot. I know that I can handle everything with Hutton and between my mom and I, we can hold down the fort. We know the last thing Jeremy wants to do is be out of state or on the other side of the country during this time, but this “new” job was a BIG gamble during the start of this journey but, overall, has been more beneficial than we could have imagined, even if it does take him away at times.
With the end of 3-day chemo, we will now switch back and forth between 1-day (outpatient) chemo and 5-day (inpatient) chemo. It’s so nice not to have to be in the hospital for 3 days but outpatient chemo is a DAY. We have to leave the house early, drive to UCLA, get chemo, and then drive home. It’s typically 5 hours in the car, in LA traffic…It’s a LONG day, but Hutton is excited not to have to be in the hospital as much, which is a win.
Hutton also had her first PET-CT scan since surgery and it went great! She was smiling as she went under and was in a great mood when she came off her sedation. It really helps that she sees the same nurses, anesthesiologist, and support staff every time she gets a scan. She is still showing a small spot on her lung as well as a spot on the nerve in her pelvis, but her Dr is very happy with the scan and optimistic the chemo will be able to get rid of these last remaining spots.
Her last 3-day chemo was better than any other 3-day chemo she has ever had. Typically 3-day chemo comes with the horrible side effects, (mouth sores, no appetite, everything tasting horrible, just feeling icky and sad) but this time she had none of that! We have recently started giving Hutton organ pills, (thanks for the recs Julie) as well as probiotics and I really think that has helped in making the chemo recovery so much better.
We finished chemo around midnight and headed home because Hutton was determined to attend her 4th-grade girl’s tea. We cleared it with her Dr and he was so excited for her to be able to attend the tea party. Before the tea party started, we were able to have coffee (and a smoothie for Hutton) with her amazing preschool teacher, Mrs. Shields. It was so, so good for Hutton to see her! When Hutton first got to the tea she was super nervous and didn’t want me to leave her side but a few minutes into it she was rolling around with her besties passing out Hutton Strong bracelets to all the girls and I didn’t see her again until it was over.
It was so good for her to see her classmates and friends again after not seeing most of them since before she started treatment in October. She is so worried about not being able to be “social” since she hasn’t been around her peers in so long, but attending the tea and interacting with her classmates and friends really made her realize she will be just fine when she goes back to school. We are praying the “Good Vibes” will continue through the remainder of her treatments and as she begins to work on her mobility and having to learn how to walk all over again.
