Well today was our first round of chemo and very emotional. Late this morning we went back down to PICU and Gentry rode on Jerry's lap in the wheel chair. Jerry loved getting to hold him, even for a few short minutes. He looks so little in his hospital gown with a little mask over his face to protect him from germs. It didn't take long to prep him for the procedure and he fights the local anesthetic. It is so funny because he looks like someone who has had too much to drink. He sways back and forth, slurs his words and insists he is "not tired". Then the dr. just slowly lays him back and he is out. They drew another bone marrow sample because Dr. Rosen needed just a little more to help him develop a chemo treatment plan that is specific to what Gentry needs. Then he administered a chemo drug through a spinal tap that travels up and down the spine. The whole thing took 10 minutes. By the time I went to the bathroom and got something to drink he was done. Gentry slept for awhile after that and when he woke was not nearly as fussy as we expected. He just wanted some chocolate milk. He spent the rest of the afternoon playing games in our room. He is the Hungry Hippo champion.

We started to see some of the possible side effects by late afternoon. His teeth hurt when he was trying to eat, which we were told could happen. Then he got sick right about dinner time. But just once and when he was done asked what we had done with his dinner. About 6:30 he received the next dose of drugs, 2 different chemo drugs, steroids and antibiotics. The chemo drugs are administered through the central line in his chest so it is not invasive at all. But he had to take the steroid orally and apparently the taste was horrendous. He has to have it twice a day for the next 28 days so it may be a battle to get him to take it. After that he has been playing all night and feeling good. He could start losing his hair any day now, and that can happen quickly or slowly. We also need to get him up out of bed and trying to walk some. His little body just aches so he doesn't want to stand much. We also learned how to change the dressing over his central line. It has to be changed and cleaned every single day. Unfortunately the nurse who changed it yesterday used some tape that was very difficult to get off. It hurt and was one of the few times he has really cried. We used different tape tonight so it should be better tomorrow.

So, it has been a long and emotional day. We feel like we are on overload trying to keep up with what each medicine is for and when he gets it, how often, etc. It looks like his next chemo treatment will be on Tuesday. Hopefully the next few days we can relax and rest some. Everyone has been so generous and we appreciate everything that has been done for us. Keep up the prayers and good thoughts. It really helps us get through the day!