December 2nd

Happy December!!!! Seth is doing very well! Yesterday we were at Johns Hopkins for a routine hearing test and found that the chemo has not destroyed anymore of his hearing. Seth still has the high frequency hearing loss in the left ear but some of the other frequencies have actually improved. So all in all that means that he will not have to wear a hearing device... yeah!! After the hearing test Seth and I went to clinic for an appointment with his oncologist. Everything went well and his blood test showed that his body is rebuilding itself. Even though Seth's blood counts are still low his counts are showing an improvement from the last time. And improvement is what we want to see. I told his doctor that I finally feel like I can "breathe" again. Tomorrow will be a special day it will truly mark the end of chemo (at least for me). Tomorrow is the day they are taking the port out!! Finally that device that gave access from the chemo to Seth's main vein is coming out. The procedure is schedule for 8:45am. You can be praying for Seth at that time. Before we left clinic the doctors and nurses celebrated with Seth. They had an ice cream cake and they sang a song of congratulations to him. They also gave Seth a T shirt that was signed that said "You Did It" across the front. How proud I am of him!!! But then you look around and see the other children so sad and you read it in their eyes them saying "what about me? Why can't I be done with all of this treatment?". As I celebrate with Seth and rejoice in all of the good news my heart is heavy for all the innocent children who are missing out on their childhood and having to deal with cancer. It is a horrible thing to watch your child go through and my heart just aches for the children and their families. Seth's cancer journey does not end tomorrow but will continue for years to come. Seth will be getting MRIs and having visits at Johns Hopkins every 3 months for the next year. Then it moves to every 6 months for 3 years and then after that once a year. I told Seth one time it is not a question is cancer going to change you because it will change you but it is more of a question on how is cancer going to change you, for the better or for the worse. Things are going to happen to us in this world it is our choice... do we become angry and hold onto unforgiveness or as hard as it might be do we find joy in the mist of our trials.