Here are some stats:
Over the past year Tyson has...
Taken 28 trips to the 'horsey doctor' Primary Childrens in SLC...
Been on steroids 5 times (the first one was definitely the worst though, he was on them for 28 days straight) We call them the little devil pills...
Been admitted to the hospital for neutropenic fever 5 times, staying between 2-7 days...
Taken over 300 pills...
been sedated for 13 lumbar punctures (chemo injected into the spine) had 2 bone marrow aspirates, and surgery to place his power port...
46 doses of IV chemo...
6 platelet transfusions...
and 6 blood transfusions...
had his port accessed over 40 times...
been on IV antibiotics 7 times, he even has his own IV pole...
has had at least 65 blood draws for a CBC...
And lost all of his hair for a while.
Whew! See the smile? Ty has been such a trooper during this whole thing. He has been so patient and cooperative with nurses and doctors even though he won't say much to them. He still lets them poke and prod and examine. He doesn't like his mask (who does?) but still wears it whenever he is in a public place with a low immune system. When he's not allowed to eat cause he is going in for sedation or cause he can't eat within two hours of taking his nightly chemo pill he understands and seldom throws a fit about it. He gets tired fast and often has 'headaches' in various parts of his body, but still runs, plays, rides his bike and laughs. He stayed home from many reunions, parties, church classes, activities, and Sunday dinners because of a low immune system and understands why...but he LOVES it when his counts are high enough to fully participate! I was trying to decide Sunday if I should let him go to his Primary class cause his counts were headed downward...but quickly decided he could go after he begged and begged! We are so blessed to have him in our family. He is our little buddy and we are so thankful that he is still here with us!
What would we do without our Ty Ty?
We've also learned a lot of medical terms, learned a lot about Childhood Cancer, and learned a lot about cancer charities and cancer research funding, been able to participate in some fundraisers, and with friends have been able to start our own grassroots way of helping local families. We are so thankful that we are in a place to be able to help other families, even if it is just a little bit.
I know I've said this many times, but we are also SO thankful for all of you who are a part of
"Tyson's Brave Battalion!"
Thank you for the concern, prayers, dinners, house cleaning, visits, presents, donations, cards, babysitting, rides for our kids, participation in fundraisers, treats, friendship, the list goes on and on.
We have received way more attention and love than we deserve
but this is definitely a battle we could not endure alone so Thank you!
Last but not least, we know the Lord has been with us in many ways and we have truly come to understand what Elder Wirthlin's mom meant when she said, "Come what may and love it." We have learned a little bit more about what this phrase means: "Pain comes, misery is optional." And we only have one bit of advice that I think will work in any situation. Pray.
"How can we love days that are filled with sorrow? We can’t—at least not in the moment. I don’t think my mother was suggesting that we suppress discouragement or deny the reality of pain. I don’t think she was suggesting that we smother unpleasant truths beneath a cloak of pretended happiness. But I do believe that the way we react to adversity can be a major factor in how happy and successful we can be in life. If we approach adversities wisely, our hardest times can be times of greatest growth, which in turn can lead toward times of greatest happiness." ~Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin
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