5 Days Left!

We have mixed emotions as this week approaches. Believe it or not, we'll be sad in some respects as JR's radiation treatments end this Friday. Our routine has had its positives - we've grown attached to our driver J.P. and his great gift of conversation and cheerful prospective on things, we've experienced some wonderful people at the radiation oncology floor at Memorial Sloan-Kettering, Raymond being our senior guy there who has been so accommodating and great to chat with. He's also paid JR some great compliments without even knowing it and I know that JR will miss him and several of the other team members. I'll miss our "down" time together just hanging out doing whatever in the back of the car, sometimes just chatting or attempting to do school work or just looking at cool graffiti in the Bronx or playing hangman or reading licence plates. We have a pretty good list of licence plates at the moment but are still on the lookout for several unusual states! We all know that kids can drive you crazy but I've had this brief gift of one-on-one time with a great little guy and I am rejuvenated. You never know where rich little treasures are buried.
Enough of that - let's get to the meat of it. We have 5 radiation treatments left and only 2 more nights of chemo. After Friday, he has about a four week break (4 to 6) and he'll start a new phase of treatment which should include 10 rounds of chemo. A "round" is 5 days on and 23 days off. The 5 days on call for strong doses which we are hoping he will be able to tolerate OK. We have no idea except to say that he's got an amazingly strong "constitution" and can only hope for the best. The doctor says that the typical low point is 10 to 14 days after the first day, so we'll keep close tabs on him (like we aren't already....) and take it one day at a time. I believe he'll keep up with the weekly blood counts (the one thing that he gets upset about each week is his finger stick, poor thing) and we'll have periodic MRI's (first one should be right as he starts his next chemo round). The doctors say that the likelihood of anything showing up on this next MRI is very low, so we'll just keep up the good work. He's still doing great.
Other related news items - Make-a-Wish Foundation of CT visited us this week and we discussed a few ideas for a family trip. Seems as though they are willing to send our family on quite a nice trip, so make room in your prayers for that organization. We are again humbled.
Our tutor (Miss Tobin) has been great and is another person to whom JR has become attached. We are thinking that he might start back at school 2 weeks from tomorrow, depending on his blood counts, etc. He asked if he could have a few days off after the radiation ended so I gave him a week. I'm a sucker for a pretty face.
The "Feed the Schoens" program has been a tremendous success, drawing participants from near and far. Thank you to the Fullers, the Quinns of Stamford, the Bidells, the Knights, the Blackwells, the Jessops and the Servases to name a few. We are fat and happy. Now I know to go all out when asked to help as I've learned from my wonderful friends and neighbors. I can't say enough about how incredible people have been.
Finally, JR turned 9 last Thursday and had quite a nice birthday. Jim took a treasured day off and we went to MSKCC in the a.m. JR was treated to a surprise little party thrown by his "team" with gifts and a cake et al. We then took him to the top of the Empire State building and to the "New York Skyride" movie that's kind of a Disney-esque fly over and around NY type thing. Then home for the biggest rain storm our home has ever seen. Jim had us laughing to tears all day and we had the greatest time. Missed Addie but it was special to have just the 3 of us.
We probably won't have too much to say over the next few weeks but will post an update soon. Thanks for your concern and we feel the love!