April 18th, 2008 - Final chemo!

Oh how I wish...Cameron and I are back on the Sunny Coast again after driving down to Brisbane last Sunday evening in preparation for the start of what Cameron’s oncologist has confirmed, will be his last cycle of chemotherapy, which we are all thrilled about. Unfortunately he is not at the end of this stage of the journey, but there is no question that all of our prayers have been answered as we were told in early February that Cameron would undergo 6-8 cycles of chemotherapy, followed by radiation.  This is only number 4 and then on to radiation. Of course he is absolutely delighted. So much so, that he has been telling everybody and anybody that he has spoken to.  Even at the end of one day when he felt so nauseous, rather grey and tired he still managed to say it a few times.
 
So Sunday evening we caught up with our ward friends and made what seems to be our obligatory visit to the emergency room, this time to have Cam’s insuflon (the injection site in his leg) changed.  Cameron made relatively light work of this round of chemotherapy as he did not vomit (or spew as the all the children call it) and not only that, he did just didn’t feel as ill as he has on previous occasions and he put all of this down to his prayers asking for just that. Of course he was still very tired, quite dizzy and very shaky when he stood up, but all told the experience was far less stressful.  He was also very fortunate once again to have been assigned the “Penthouse” – his own room with en-suite and a wonderful view of the city. 

While we were there a few friends came by to visit which he thoroughly enjoyed.   Sadly, we also learned that last week a few of the children from the ward lost their fights against Cancer and our hearts go out to their families.  I could sense some real sadness in the ward when we arrived and apparently all of the ward staff have been very upset to have a lost a number of children in one week. Cameron was also very sad to hear about this and wanted to know how and why and so on.  A few more of the other children also developed infections, while others have had their treatments delayed due to their blood counts not being good enough.  At these times we are reminded of how blessed we are and how incredibly well Cameron is doing. 
 
On Wednesday afternoon, after Cameron’s final dose of chemo for the week we had our first radiation therapy planning meeting, which was a real education for both of us.  Cameron was obviously not feeling great after 3 days of chemo and the science in this next stage is quite incredible, very visible and discomforting in an entirely different way to chemotherapy.  Nevertheless, he took it all in his stride as usual as he had to lay on a bed like contraption that I think came from NASA… (kidding) while they literally made a mould to cover his chest, neck and head. This is used to harness him to the radiation machine and ensure precise, repetitive radiation targeting – using lasers to line everything up. 

The whole Lose Weight Exercise felt like the set of a movie and began with the radiation consultant and 3 other radiation therapists fiddling around a lot, placing Cameron in one position and moving him this way and that, then taking a sheet of hard plastic type material with tiny mesh and holes in and placing this in a vat, then lifting it out wet and soft, and placing it over Cameron’s face, neck and chest with only a slight opening by his nose.  Then they clamped it down on the sides so he could not move and then proceeded to mould it around him to fit his shape precisely. Of course, after a little while Cameron got a little anxious as he lay there incapacitated and barely able to breathe or see what was going on. I cannot say I blame him, as I was hyperventilating myself for him. 

Once the mould had been manipulated to precisely to fit his shape they rubbed ice packs all over it, making it set hard.  Finally, after what seemed an age to Cam they took it off, cut out some eyes and more breathing space around the nose and then put it back on, but at least he could see now.  Once he was clamped back in place he was left alone in the room and followed everyone to the control room while they took an x-ray to check the targeting.  Then they put tape all over to mark the lines from the lasers and did more calibrating.  Finally he was “released” to the CT scan room where he was once again clamped down for another run of scans.  I had to leave him in there of course but was watching through the glass window and it was amazing to watch these smart people at work with this awesome technology at their fingertips. This was the first time I had actually seen how it all works and how the image data is downloaded from the scanner to the operators console at such incredible speed. Finally, for Cam it was over and time to go. Once again we were touched at the dedication, kindness and expertise that all the people involved in his treatment consistently display.
 
Cameron is so happy to be home again, but last night and today he has been a quite emotional, moody and irritable. This is a side effect of the drugs and I am sure being poked with so many needles doesn’t help.  Of course the huge afternoon he spent being inducted into the next stage of his treatment also brought the realisation that he still has a way to go and that he will be clamped down in that mask type contraption every day for 3 weeks.  He is processing a lot in his little mind and  I think he has earned the right to be a bit irritable, but having said that in true Cameron style he still manages a big smile and a chuckle now and then and is happy to engage in a good chat with everyone from the ladies at the local pathology lab where we had to go for blood tests yesterday, to our GP who kindly gave Cameron his GCSF injection, which he gets on day 4 of chemo, to stimulate his white cell production. It is a particularly painful injection and while we were there he had his insuflon changed again. 

I feel rather drained at the moment. This thing is like a treadmill that none of us can get off. It is so hard to even begin to understand how Cameron feels.  Somehow he continues to display great courage and faith and whenever he says he wishes he did not get cancer he is always quick to say he is luckier than the others that he knows and that he will rise above this and is being healed a little each day.  He also believes he will be able to help other sick children when he is better. He told me the other night in the hospital that he is so grateful to God that He hears his prayers and is helping him through this time. 
 
Now Cameron has a bee in his bonnet. Actually he has a number of them. The major one is about going fishing this weekend. So yesterday he went into the garage and began pulling out all the fishing gear and once he had sorted it out he came out smiling.  I think he enjoyed the space of being on his own and doing what he wanted to do and feeling like he had actually accomplished something.  In recent days he also decided to write a letter to Kevin Rudd about another issue that has been bothering him. It looks like we have another activist in the family.
 
“Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the Lord.” Psalm 31:24
 

This entry was posted on Friday, April 18th, 2008 at 9:16 am and is filed under Week 10. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

5 Responses to “Final chemo!”

  1. billsr Says:
    April 18th, 2008 at 6:13 pm

    Hi Cam,
    Well it’s been a while, but I can see that you are facing up to what is ahead with much courage and faith. Also glad to hear you are managing the chemo with less stress. Good for you!!! The fight is still there and soon it will be in the past, so remember to keep on smiling and the whole world will smile with you. You are always in all our prayers in South Africa. All friends and relatives send their love and best wishes. I will keep track and hope to see even better news soon. Love from Grandad Bill in Cape Town SA

  2. toddke Says:
    April 19th, 2008 at 4:04 am

    Hi Cam,

    Glad to hear you are done with the Chemo. So brave and from all counts an inspiration to the other kids and all us folk too.

    How about those Reds mate? They seem to be on the rise.

    Take care, enjoy the fishing and the beach. We’ll chat soon. God bless.

    Kenneth

  3. Deidre Wadl Says:
    April 19th, 2008 at 5:17 pm

    Dear Cam So happy to hear the chemo is over now you have to go through the outer space days but maybe this also does not take so long. Keep up your good faith and most of all your wonderful inspiration.
    Question who cleans the fish that you catch? I could never do it. But enjoy the beach give all my love and when your mom puts on skype we can have a chat maybe.
    Take care and sweet dreams, love as always Dee Martin Manuella and Kenneth

  4. Elicia Says:
    April 23rd, 2008 at 9:12 am

    Yay for Cam!!! Hate to say it, but I miss you Buddy! I am so happy for that you’re home! I just wanted to let you know that I am with you in wanting to help the other sick kids, and boy, so is God!!! His favour has been all over my every visit to the hospital!
    Can’t wait to tell you all my stories. You my friend, are an AWESOME young man of God!
    Love, ELicia

  5. Kudlas Says:
    April 27th, 2008 at 12:42 am

    Dear Cameron
    Sorry we’ve been a bit quiet. We have been away but have managed to keep checking up on you. So glad the Chemo is over. Just keep taking a day at a time and before you know it, you be at the end of this particular journey in your life. Love to you all.

    From the Kudla Family.

AWSOM Powered