Strength for today

Caleb has amazing nurses watching over him. Here are Mike and Caleb.

Mike cared for Caleb for Tuesday and Wednesday.

Caleb was able to go for his surgery today. We took him down to the OR (operating room) at around 1 pm. He took his anasthetic well, much better than he did two days ago when he went for his bone marrow procedure. The doctors have installed a portacath and they also did a lumbar puncture (needle in his spine). The lumbar puncture was to test his spinal/cerebral fluid for blasts and to deliver some steroids to that area, the beginning of chemotherapy. We'll get results at some point about the blasts, but we're thankful that we were able to begin treatment today.

There was a complication to his surgery, and fluid built up around his left lung. The doctors had to put in a type of drain in his side to allow the fluid to go out. The pressure of the fluid pushed on his lungs, and so for now he is on a ventilator to keep up his oxygen. This is very difficult to see, and one of the most difficult parts of what we've been through so far. We know he is in good hands, but it sure isn't easy. Caleb is sleeping, sedated, in the Pediatric Intensive Care unit, with his nurse on constant watch. For this we are thankful. One of the things about this unit that he's on now is that there is no place for parents to sleep over night. Bittersweet is a mild word to describe this. Leaving Caleb at the hospital in some one else's care is so hard. Coming home to our girls, hot food, and our neighbours is so good. We pray so hard that Caleb will have a good night, and stay sleeping, and that we will have a good sleep tonight to get us ready for the days to come. We also pray that we'll be able to have Caleb's tube removed tomorrow morning, and return to our regular ward. Did I ever think that I'd be hoping and praying to be back on the oncology (cancer) ward? Thank you all for your prayers for him and for us. God continues to give us strength for each moment.

On a nicer note, Nella joined us in Caleb's room this morning. She came early in the morning, with Tim, and played and watched movies with Caleb for the morning. She even got to put on surgical pajamas with Caleb. Caleb and Nella practiced their IV and surgery skills with therapy dolls with Maria, a "child life" worker. It was a special and sweet time. Caleb and Nella rode down to the operating room together on Caleb's bed, in their matching pajamas, and drew smiles from all of us. It's hard on her, but she is taking things very well, and times like this morning help so much.

Caleb and Nella are learning and playing with small stuffed dolls;

they give them medecine and talk about surgery. The child-life specialists

do this to help prepare and teach kids about what is happening for them.

King Caleb and Queen Nella are taking a ride on the bed, up as high as it goes!

Just before surgery today, Mom in scrubs to accompany Caleb, Caleb and Nella in surgical jammies. Caleb was not impressed, but he handled it well.

Thank you again for your calls, emails, prayers, and offers of support. We need all of this, and we'll need it for some time. We won't be able to keep up with returning all of your calls or emails, and we really hope that this blog will help us all to stay in touch.

Jess