The Second Cycle Begins...

After some more uncertainty about whether or not he would actually get a bed, Steven was admitted to the hospital Saturday evening in preparation for his second of four bone marrow transplants.

He went to the hospital early in the morning for blood draws to be sure everything was a "go" (it was), then we were free until 8 pm. Steven decided he wanted to spend his free time before chemo watching a snake feeding at the Memphis zoo.

The Memphis zoo has a 21-foot reticulated python, and they were trying to feed it a frozen pig that had been thawed. Unfortunately, the python was preparing to shed her skin and wasn't interested in the pig, so they'll try again in 2 or 3 weeks.

We visited the Komodo dragons also, and we're planning to return on a Sunday afternoon so we can watch them eat. Maybe when Steven is feeling better.

Steven started his first of three days of chemo Sunday morning. Like the previous cycle, he will get three days of chemo, a day off, then get an infusion of the stem cells they harvested two weeks ago.

So far, Steven is doing much better than with the previous cycle. Last time, he threw up probably a dozen times the first day, this time it was three times, and by evening he was feeling better.

Today, he received a different chemo drug, and threw up so far only once. We learned from his previous cycle to be proactive with the antinausea drugs

Some kids manage to eat while on this chemo, Steven's not eating anything, so it is likely they will send him home on IV nutrition. Last time he went without eating for 9 days and lost 10 lbs, then his appetite came back with a vengeance and he gained back the weight he lost.

We're all a little less stressed this time, in no small part because we have an idea of what to expect.

We're praying his treatment is effective in killing his tumor and that he continues to do well with the chemo.

- Kathleen