On my recent checkups, my counts have been good. No blood products have been needed. My speech has been coming along superbly too. My Uncle Cole thinks I'm walking better too. My strength is good, it's really just balance and coordination that I am working to improve.


I had a hearing test last week and I have moderate hearing loss now in my right ear. This may still be temporary or it could be permanent and from the radiation. Time will tell. In October, I will have a minor surgery to drain the fluid from my right ear. This, hopefully, will resolve my hearing loss.

Not sure if the right side of my face has come online yet. A future MRI may tell us something. There has been some recent twiching on the left (when I practice smiling).

Today, I am at BAMC receiving my second round of chemo. I have a lot of anxiety before any appointments but am comfortable now. My port was accessed without any trouble so that helped. I have a huge room all to myself and have been watching movies and playing computer games on my Uncle's laptop. They started chemo around 2 pm, so I should check out at 2 tomorrow. Wish me luck.

San Antonio is beautiful. This past week we checked out the local Zoo. It was great and I plan on making plenty more trips there. We also go to the local science museum. They're both within walking distance, so I'll get to go once or so a week!

My mom contacted Make a Wish and soon I'll get to pick a wish. Any ideas??? Please leave them in the comments section. I've always wanted a motorized vehicle of my own, but I am also contemplating an Alaskan Cruise (maybe see a Polar Bear). So leave ideas in the comments section for me, I'd love to hear them.

Have an awesome weekend. I'll check in with you soon!

Ethan

Hi All,

Met my new doctors and they were extremely nice to me. The clinic is really nice, has tons of toys, and a huge playing area. This will come in handy for me and my lil' sis Brynn. They let Brynn ride tricycles up and down the halls while I played games with the docs. We were showered with toys too. I don't think I'll get bored when I have to stay overnight. The setting is really clean and I'll get my own room when I check in! That was the absolute worst thing about Phx Children's, even if it was a good hospital.
I get truly freaked out when I know the docs are going to access my port now. I get anxiety for at least a day ahead if I'm aware of an appointment. It's never as bad as I anticipate though and I perk up immediately afterwards.

San Antonio has been a lot of fun so far. We go on long walks through the park and woods every night or check out all the Victorian houses and mansions around. It's really pretty and there is a zoo, museums, and gardens within walking distance from my house. Oh, the Riverwalk is really close too.

I've been walking around the house a lot. I think I'm getting a little more comfortable with my walker too. I eat at least a snack a day now too! My parents are really happy about my progress.

My Uncle Cole has moved out here too to help out. He just got here yesterday. His dog is a lot of fun and Brynn likes to play frisbee with him. Oh and Uncle Cole was trying to teach Mom how to cook. She literally slaved away in the kitchen for four hours! I think they had fun though. I played with some clay for almost half that time while they cooked.

Dad has been going to orientation daily for his new job. Hopefully, he's starting to feel more comfortable with our new change. I think we all are. Our house is a very cute and very old Victorian; we all like it.

Well, wish me luck that I continue to feel so well and keep making positive changes. Thank you and love you all!

Little Ethan

It has been an interesting day. This story makes its way around to Ethan eventually. As many of you know, Ryan just joined the Army. We are waiting for military benefits to kick in and for Ethan to be assigned docs here in TX (still pending). Since Ethan's diagnosis, we decided to invest in a larger vehicle to help transport the whole family comfortably,including wheelchairs, walkers, etc. We bought an older Ford Explorer and brought it out to TX. On the trip, we noticed some odd sounds so Ryan took it to the on-base mechanic. They said a dealership would need to fix it and it could be a thousand or two. Well, we woke up this morning to drive it over to the local Ford dealership for repair. Unfortunately, it blew up. Okay, okay, it didn't blow up but it made crazy sounds then died. Then tons of oil started leaking out. Awesome!

Soooo, the dealership arranged for a tow truck to come out. The guy gets here and does his thing and leaves with our car. (He suspects a piston rod blew threw the engine. Are we up to 5k now?) Later in the day, the service rep tells me the tow car driver waived the fee. He did meet Ethan and I was pretty distraught while he was here. We thought what a kind thing to do.

Well, we just got back from running an errand and found Bill, the tow truck driver, in our front yard. He said we really touched his heart and turned around and showed us a scar like Ethan's on the back of his neck. He said he had a brain injury, same region as Ethan's. The doctors told him he wouldn't walk and look at him now! He brought with him a battery for our old beater Nissan, that won't start without a jump, to help us out.

I can't believe how awesome and kind people are!!! Bill is amazing. All large and small gestures continue to touch our hearts as well.

Ethan has been doing great. His ANC was pretty low on Friday and the doctors were concerned about him developing an infection, fever, etc. while traveling but he has done superb. Despite the low ANC, he has had a fair amount of energy. He wants to walk everywhere and talks all the time now.

He is at his new hospital in TX right now getting checked out and getting a new doctor assigned. This morning he got to see his daddy get his first salute as a Second Lieutenant Army Officer. The General gave Ethan his own Warrior coin during the ceremony to recognize his own fight. It was quite a surprise and a wonderful gesture. Ethan will cherish that coin.

We will keep you posted. Hopefully his ANC has started to climb since Friday.

Sorry about not posting earlier, we have been in the process of moving. I promise to update more often once we are settled. Ethan has been doing great; talking (getting clearer and clearer), walking (assisted), and in much better spirits overall. He did have a blood and platelet transfusion on Monday, but has still been really happy and animated lately.

This cancer thing is not an easy road to travel, but our little guy sure is coming around! We hope and pray we continue to see these positive changes... Well, we know we will.

He has one more AZ dr. visit before he takes the final drive to TX. We will check his counts on Friday and they'll boost him up, if needed, then we will head out and start again in TX. He is not due for another round of chemo till the 27th, so hopefully his little body kicks into gear and starts creating hemo and platelets on it's own.

Thanks again to everyone who has helped us on this journey. We love you all and appreciate everything ALL of you have done for our family. We look forward to many more positive posts!

Love,

Nikki & Fam