One more down

Dayssi had vincristine on Monday, business as usual.  This time even the vascular access team had trouble.  There were three of them, with an ultrasound to look for good veins, and when the leader announced after her second unsuccessful poke that they were going to try once more and then quit, I almost fainted.  What do you do when the vascular access folks walk out on you??  But the third poke worked, and they got the medicine into her, no burns, and we are one step closer to going off therapy.  

I wrote last time that Dayssi will receive a year's worth of additional spinal taps (LPs) after going off therapy (OT) and inadvertently created a stir on the ALL kids email list.  Apparently we are the only family on that list that expects extra LPs after going OT.  I asked in clinic on Monday, and it turns out we are having LPs only to check for leukemia cells in the CNS, not to inject more chemo.  I believe this is still unusual, but hey -- that's life at Stanford hospital -- way out here, apparently, on the cutting edge.  

I know that sounds cynical.  Despite our recent frustrations, we know we are blessed to be here and not somewhere else, and to have our oncologist and his 35 (37!) years on the cutting edge in our corner.    

So there you have it, just the facts.  Will try to post again with something more entertaining when I have a few more minutes to spare (ha!).   There is lots to say about India's new, fabulous haircut, Jim's new wrestling accolades, my adventures in bluegrass harmony singing, and the ways in which Dayssi and her enormous spirit continue to stomp all over her cancer.