Countdown #1

You guys…

One year from today, September 25, 2021, is Tate’s last day of scheduled treatment. It’s so exciting! There is a possibility he might have to finish a steroid pulse that week which would extend treatment by a few days, but that’s not something we will know until late next year.

Tate’s exam with the Nurse Practitioner Angie on Friday went well. The increased Methotrexate and Mercaptopurine doses (the chemo pills he takes at home) have knocked his ANC down to 1080, which is within the desired range. We also found out that all the tests the GI doc ran had normal results; there was no indication of inflammation, Celiac Disease, or thyroid problems. Woo hoo! Tate also gained another 2 pounds over the last month. He looks really good.

Tuesday’s LP with intrathecal methotrexate and Vincristine went as well as it could. The surgery center at the clinic was packed. There were patients and nurses everywhere, with surgeons and anesthesiologists popping into view for moments at a time.

Countdown #2 begins September 26, 2021, and it’s really important. Once Tate has finished treatment he will be tested regularly to check for relapse. After everything Tate has fought through, it would be devastating, heart-breaking, shattering, terrifying, every bad thing you can think of if his cancer came back. I know that if I focus on fearful possibilities looming in the future I’ll miss the beauty of right now, and I’m trying not to do that because right now is great. Tate can walk, he’s getting strong with his at-home workouts, he’s busy with his online classes, he’s in a good mood.

The first countdown begins.