Jonathan finally started his chemotherapy treatment last night, i.e. Saturday night. I was so anxious for his treatment to start, so anxious for his healing to start, that it was sort of a relief when I saw them attached two bags containing the different anti-cancer drugs (cyclophosphamide in one bag, and vincristine and doxorubicin in another bag) to his central line.
What was good about last night was that the entire family was here, i.e. Gabby, Arielle and myself and Jonathan's grand-father and grand-mother. The cool thing was that Jonathan's grand-father was playing with him - with his Play-Doh - and Jonathan was having lots of fun. This means that although he was getting his anti-cancer drugs - he was being distracted at the same time and concentrating on something fun and exciting.
Prior to his starting his chemotherapy treatment - they moved us to an isolation room. Jonathan had develop a bacteria in his stool (poop) and to avoid infecting other patients, etc., they moved us to a single room. The not so good thing about this is that Jonathan is now confined to his room - so he cannot go out to the play room on the 3rd floor, but the good thing is that we have our own room and I get a taste of what being in isolation is like - for when he has his stem cell transplant. At least I can get rid of the notion of Jonathan being in a bubble without any physical contact.
Since starting his chemotherapy treatment last night - Jonathan had a very good night. He slept for the entire night - with us (the nurse and I) waking him up either to change his diaper or to get him to pee pee. The thing with chemo is that as it enters the body, you have to force it out as well - so he is well hydrated via his IV so that his body could flush out the chemo. Thus he is constantly monitored to make sure he is pee peeing regularly.
I remember waking up this morning and thinking that Jonathan is reacting very good to the chemotherapy. We were told that some kids react badly to it and have a lot of vomiting, feeling very sick and so forth. Up to 10 am on Sunday morning - Jonathan has been sleeping, pee peeing frequently (the minimum requirement of every 2 hours), and no vomiting. I remember the nurse and I trying to give him his antibiotics this morning around 10:15 am and Jonathan having his first episode of throwing up. At that time I was thinking the throwing up was due to his throwing a fit - because he didn't want to take his medicine - but the nurse was telling me it was due to the chemo.
Initially I didn't believe the nurse but now I'm more likely to believe her because he just had his second bout of throwing up. Luckily I was there in the room - because he was lying down on the bed and vomiting - so I was able to have him sit up so he could empty his mouth. He is fine now and back to sleep. He has been sleeping most of the time - and the nurse and doctors tell me it's probably because of the chemo making him not feel like himself. I remember asking him earlier how he was feeling - and he said something I thought very strange. He said, "I don't know how I feel". I know I don't know what it feels like - but I'm sure it's equally confusing for him as well.
Tonight he has another round of the 'nasty' anti-cancer drug - cyclophosphamide - again. The good thing is that he also gets additional medicine to help control the vomiting and protect his kidneys. But you know what the really good thing is? My son's treatment has started and now the healing could begin.
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