Six weeks in Seattle

We found out today that we will be going to Seattle for 6 weeks of proton radiation therapy that will start Dec 21^st. It will be 5 days a week for 6 weeks and she will be getting her chemo every other week at Seattl Children’s Hospital during these 6 weeks while doing the radiation.  We’re grateful to be fortunate enough to do this type of radiation on her spine. In talking to the DR in Seattle today, I learned that many patients that have the same type of tumor removal surgery that Elizabeth had end up needing rods or some sort of metal in their back. Had she needed any type of metal put in her back, she would not be able to do the proton radiation.  We didn’t even know about this miracle today! I had no idea that most people end up with metal in their back and that having metal in your back prevents you from being able to do proton radiation. The benefit of proton radiation is that it stops at the tumor and does not damage any surrounding tissue. This means her colon and all other organs in her pelvis and lower spine area will not be affected by radiation. A HUGE BLESSING! We will do photon (more general) radiation on her lungs after chemo is done in the late spring/early summer. Dr’s assured me that lung radiation is very advanced and they have excellent ways of avoiding damage to her surrounding organs and heart once the time comes for that treatment. Elizabeth is now done with day one of chemo. She’s already feeling too sick to eat, even with all the nausea meds, and I hope she can get a little food in before falling back to sleep for the night. Her dad brought her up some cheesecake it would be nice if she could enjoy a little.