Radiation-- Day 1

He's HOME!!!

And, believe it or not, he said he wasn't sore at all!  Tender Mercy!

Caden's first radiation appointment today was at 5:15pm.  We made it before his time (because I don't like to be late) and had to only wait for maybe five minutes before they said they were ready for us-- they were ready early, which I love.  They took us back to see the room, since this is our first time, but we won't be allowed any other time.  Because it was his first time, they did more work to make sure everything was precise, so they took longer than any of the other appoints will take-- 30 minutes, instead of the normal 15 minutes.

 I wanted a picture of the mold.  This is the mat that he laid on that is filled with foam.  Once they had him the way they needed him, they sucked out the air, which compressed the foam into the mold.  He will use this mold for the duration of his treatment, and then they'll release the cap that keeps the foam compressed and be able to reuse it for their next patient.

 This picture is difficult for me to look at.  It kind of looks like Goliath, even though I know it is going to "help."  He looks so small next to it, my Boy in the Bed.  I may need to change it to my Man in the Mold.  My goodness, I love this child.  I can't believe this is my life.

 Randy wanted a picture of the door.  Pretty intense.

I found myself staring down the hallway that Caden would come down when he was finished.  My leg was bouncing, my heart was pounding, my fingers were tap, tap, tapping, and I was ready to run.  Or barf.  Or both.  Next thing I know, I look over to see my Mister twitching in sleep.  How the heck can he sleep at a time like this?!?!  I guess I take on the anxiety of the whole family, and leave the rest to my family.

We left him in the Caution-- High Radiation Room right at 5:15pm, leaving the facility exactly at 6:00pm (Imagine how easy it was to breathe as the minutes ticked past the 30-minutes they said they'd take.  I could have powered an entire city with the wind my bouncing leg was generating).  Things were going great, he was playing with family in the pool and I was starting to think things might just be OK, when he was suddenly slammed with nausea and extreme fatigue at 9:00pm-- two symptoms they said to watch for, although they said they didn't think his nausea would be too severe.  Caden is nothing, if not predictable with his stomach issues.  Once again, he's going to bed with a green bag next to his lips and a mom that wants to crawl in bed to be near him.  And it breaks my heart.  One down, twelve to go...

Please pray for my son.  And for me.  I don't know if I can watch this..... I'm too tired, and I'm not ready.

"We don't like doing this to children.  It's just not fair."  Truer words have never been spoken.