The Latest

Brayden is still hanging in there. His energy level fluctuates from day to day. We've definitely seen his appetite diminish and he's having more trouble sleeping. With his platelets low last week (okay, almost to nothing) his poor legs are all bruised up again. We learned this is common when platelets are low. We're trying to ensure what he does eat is healthy. I was stunned to have to cut his hair. Even though it's still thinning out, it's definitely grown since we cut the faux-hawk. Isn't that crazy? We didn't even think he would have hair at this point to cut. Somehow I managed to do well on the trim with scissors and his faux-hawk is still in tact!

He's having fun with turning our dining room into his play room. We had moved all the decorations off the table because of our game day marathon the last two weekends. Well, he's taken all his blankets (which I keep re-washing) and made a little tent for himself under the table by draping them over the top and down the sides. It's so cute and he's having a ton of fun under there. I drew the line at him eating and sleeping under there. On a rainy day, I wish I could stay under there and play!!

We went back to clinic locally to get chemo on Monday and an update on his counts. He's still hovering above the Neutropenic line which means he still doesn't have a SAFE number of white cells to fight off normal germs that you and I come in contact with every day. This is the reason for isolation and our extra cautiousness on visitors and limiting our time out individually. When Bryan comes in from work, he's having to leave his shoes in the garage and go straight to the shower and washing clothes so Brayden doesn't come in contact with germs he might have brought in with him from work.

The other things we look for in his blood work each time is his platelets and hemoglobin to ensure he's not in the danger zone of needing a transfusion like last week. We were glad these numbers had come up more from last Thursday's update since the transfusion took place a week ago now.

We'll find out by Friday if his counts are high enough to proceed to the next block of treatment. Another unknown in terms of impact to him and his reaction. It will be after this 2-month block of treatment that he will have radiation. We don't know whether to wish for higher counts so he can go to the movies again and get out/have visitors more, or wish for lower counts so he can have another break from treatment.
I'm working on thank-you cards. We've been so appreciative of the support that has been extended to Brayden. I tried to say thank-you on here to everyone but we want to ensure that there isn't anyone that thinks us any less grateful because of the lack of a personalized note. Thank you to Uncle Sammy & Denise & the United Methodist Church in Richardson, TX, for the incredible prayer blanket. Thank you to Amelia for more Hangman pads - YEAH!! Thanks to Miss Wendy & Logan for the AWESOME turtle book and we can't wait to go online and adopt the turtle. Thanks to Miss Juli for never failing to send Brayden an email each week to help keep his mind on other things.

Please pray for Brayden. School supply lists are out, back to school commercials are on, his friends that are calling him are talking about school, and he has to wait. He can't go NEAR a store yet due to isolation. He wants to do his own school supply shopping, as he always has, so he'll have to wait. I've got some silly things in mind to help get him through, but I know it will still be hard on him during this time and not getting to participate in the Back to School events. As of now, he still will have to wait until January to return to school. We're still planning on working with him at home so he doesn't get behind in starting the 4th grade and I'm thankful he won't have to be behind and so thankful for a wonderful school that he's been a part of since Kindergarten.