2 More Days Until School Starts

Derek, Sophie, and Jack had meet the teacher night at school on Thursday. We met all of their teachers and met old friends in their classes and new friends too. Jack is in Mrs. Ake and Mrs. Isbell's class, Sophie is in Mrs. Tutt's, Derek in Mrs. Bounds. During the summer the principal from the elementary called and told me about a new inclusion class that was being formed in the 1st grade. They were bringing in 3 children from the special education department to include in a mainstream class and that class would have 2 teachers rather than one. She thought I might consider this class for Jack. I thought it would be a good idea as his small motor skills are still redeveloping from the tumor. And because we don't know what this year will bring, 2 teachers means a little extra help is possible.
I went over all the medical stuff I needed to pass on to the teacher and to the nurse. My greatest concern for Jack is that he stays healthy and pray that God will put a hedge around him from unecessary germs this year. I will pray that every day for him. Because his immune system is compromised due to the chemotherapy, he is at more of a risk for hospitilization over any kind of fever, cold, flu...He is on a daily dose of bactrum which will help him as far as bacterial infections, but all those virus' that hang around school rooms are not affected by antibiotics. The oncologist said point blank, "Do not seclude your child, or keep him sheltered from other kids, let him go to school." He said seclusion causes more long term damage to the child's psyche than an illness will cause. Every week he will have his blood counts measured from a blood draw they do right before the chemo is given. Those numbers will help us know just how strong his immune system is, so that is our weekly guide to where we go.
As 4 days have passed since Jack's first chemotherapy treatment he has done well. He stayed dosed on the zofran for 12 hours after chemotherapy (the anti-nausea drug), did well the very next day, then the 2nd day he woke up nauseated, so I started him on the zofran again that day which made him feel better. The zofran tastes like a piece of metal melting in your mouth, so as you can imagine he is not too hip on taking it. We might try the liquid form next time and see how that tastes. The best news of all to Jack this week, was because he is feeling so well, that he and the other two kids were able to go ahead with their regular sleep over at the grandparents on Friday night. Everyone was happy about that, especially Rob and I because we celebrated our 10 year anniversary by going to a dinner and a movie.
Thanks for keeping up with Jack and our family, keep their new school year in your prayers.
Love, Tammy