Well, I am not sure if all this is put together in the right order or not. I really wish I would have blogged this experience when it all began. I bet it would have been very therapeutic, and nice to go back and see just what happened at what I was thinking and feeling at the time. I do remember that the first 3 or 4 chemo's were the hardest. One thing that was VERY hard was he had chemo & a week later went in for a pain pump surgery. Prior to the surgery we had to go in to Huntsman for a 'trial' run. They put the meds directly in the fluid around the spinal cord, called the intrathcal space. Everything went well, and he was pain free! It really is amazing if you think about it. This drug pump will give him intrathcal drug delivery everyday. It is more effective and no side affects, or at least not usually. We had to wait for insurance to give the OK, and then he went in for the surgery. It made it difficult because he went in a week after chemo, so he had been down all week, only to get kicked back down for the surgery. Surgery was on June 12th. The surgery went well, it took about 90 minutes. He wasn't even nervous. I think he had been in such an awful amount of pain that he was willing to do anything. They went in through his back to place the tube and the went in through his abdomen to put the actual pump in. It is about the size of a hockey puck. It pokes out a little. When he woke up from surgery he was in a lot of pain from the surgery. It hurt worse than he had thought. I remember hurting inside for him.. I could only get him things, and offer love. It sucks not being able to help. The great news, he no longer felt cancer pain. To this minute he has not ever felt cancer pain again! His pain level was never at a zero level. It varied from 4 to 9. AWFUL! Although it was a hard recovery it was all worth it! We had to spend an extra day in the hospital, as his nerves got a little messed up and forgot to tell him some important messages. I remember being worried about him and stressing because I had summer camp in the morning. Although I love those little kids it was a stress I wish I hadn't had. I am grateful for family that were able to be with him when I couldn't, and for friends/family that helped with preschool and camp so I could be with him. Again~ The word THANKYOU was used. I cried the ride home, I hated leaving him there. I felt so helpless. I hated walking out of the hospital without him with me. It didn't feel good at all, but he was supportive and wanted me to teach camp. His mom went up to stay with him. I went home and snuggled my bug. We needed it. Kman was at the Naylor house. The day he got home he went to dinner with one of his BBF, Chad. It was crazy he was out and about but I think he needed it. A few days later we went to our pool to watch Averi swim. Our old besties came, Amy & Shane Morris. It was soo nice! We talked with them for over an hour, and with our neighbors, the Nebecrackers. It really is the simple things that make you smile. We needed that!
It really has been the support & company from friends and family that has helped us both. Kori & Lexi came in for a visit, and came to see us. They brought Rich one of his most favorite 'feel better soon' gifts. They got him a signed DUKE jersey, from the coach. Rich LOVES the coach! It was perfect!
Well, I am not sure if all this is put together in the right order or not. I really wish I would have blogged this experience when it all began. I bet it would have been very therapeutic, and nice to go back and see just what happened at what I was thinking and feeling at the time. I do remember that the first 3 or 4 chemo's were the hardest. One thing that was VERY hard was he had chemo & a week later went in for a pain pump surgery. Prior to the surgery we had to go in to Huntsman for a 'trial' run. They put the meds directly in the fluid around the spinal cord, called the intrathcal space. Everything went well, and he was pain free! It really is amazing if you think about it. This drug pump will give him intrathcal drug delivery everyday. It is more effective and no side affects, or at least not usually. We had to wait for insurance to give the OK, and then he went in for the surgery. It made it difficult because he went in a week after chemo, so he had been down all week, only to get kicked back down for the surgery. Surgery was on June 12th. The surgery went well, it took about 90 minutes. He wasn't even nervous. I think he had been in such an awful amount of pain that he was willing to do anything. They went in through his back to place the tube and the went in through his abdomen to put the actual pump in. It is about the size of a hockey puck. It pokes out a little. When he woke up from surgery he was in a lot of pain from the surgery. It hurt worse than he had thought. I remember hurting inside for him.. I could only get him things, and offer love. It sucks not being able to help. The great news, he no longer felt cancer pain. To this minute he has not ever felt cancer pain again! His pain level was never at a zero level. It varied from 4 to 9. AWFUL! Although it was a hard recovery it was all worth it! We had to spend an extra day in the hospital, as his nerves got a little messed up and forgot to tell him some important messages. I remember being worried about him and stressing because I had summer camp in the morning. Although I love those little kids it was a stress I wish I hadn't had. I am grateful for family that were able to be with him when I couldn't, and for friends/family that helped with preschool and camp so I could be with him. Again~ The word THANKYOU was used. I cried the ride home, I hated leaving him there. I felt so helpless. I hated walking out of the hospital without him with me. It didn't feel good at all, but he was supportive and wanted me to teach camp. His mom went up to stay with him. I went home and snuggled my bug. We needed it. Kman was at the Naylor house. The day he got home he went to dinner with one of his BBF, Chad. It was crazy he was out and about but I think he needed it. A few days later we went to our pool to watch Averi swim. Our old besties came, Amy & Shane Morris. It was soo nice! We talked with them for over an hour, and with our neighbors, the Nebecrackers. It really is the simple things that make you smile. We needed that! 
It really has been the support & company from friends and family that has helped us both. Kori & Lexi came in for a visit, and came to see us. They brought Rich one of his most favorite 'feel better soon' gifts. They got him a signed DUKE jersey, from the coach. Rich LOVES the coach! It was perfect! 
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