#GabeStrong: Day 7-10

I know everyone is waiting for an update on Gabe, so I apologize for the delay.  I could come up with lots of reasons why I haven’t updated, but the truth is: I’m tired.  I’ve never felt so exhausted.  I am mentally, physically and emotionally drained.  Not even having all three of my children compares to this kind of exhaustion.  I don’t think I can describe this to you, but I will try.  It’s like my brain is running every emotion 24/7, and at the same time.  I may be feeling one thing, but all of the other emotions are in the background and it doesn’t take much to switch between them.  Little things can trigger the switch, like watching Gabe playing, or when he is crying and not wanting to take his medicine.  It’s an exhausting process trying to navigate between these.  I took at two hour nap today, for the first time since we arrived in Memphis.

Please continue to pray for us! I know I will say this over and over, but that’s the main thing that helps us while we are here and it’s what is keeping us going.  You will never know just how much all of your prayers, encouraging words, phone calls, texts, fundraisers, and donations mean to us!

Here’s a rundown of the past few days:

Day  7: (Jan 5^th, 2017)

This was our first full day in the hotel, (no appointments today) so we spent most of the time trying to organize our clothes and items so we are not living completely out of a suitcase.  We’ve had to change the bed linens quite a bit, because Gabe’s diapers have been exploding.  For 48 hours after Gabe has a chemo treatment, we have to wear gloves and wash his clothing twice each time we do laundry.  Needless to say, we are doing laundry quite a bit.

Aunt Allie (my sister) came to visit us today and both us went to Wal-Mart to pick up a few more things on our list that we needed.

We are getting better at hopping on the shuttle and going over to the hospital to pick up our meals and bring them back to the room.  (Gabe is still on isolation) so we can’t take him out to the cafeteria.  So far, he is feeling decent. He has his moments when he is cranky, and tired.  The steroids are continuing to perk him up and keep him hungry.  He has started to complain of his leg hurting.  This is a side effect of the treatments; he can have bone/joint pain, along with several other side effects.

 

Day 8 (Jan 6^th, 2017)

Today was an outpatient day and we had chemo again today.  We were very surprised to see snow this morning, as we made our way over to the hospital for our appointment!

Gabe continues to do well during his treatments, and his blood levels and body are also responding well to the treatments.  His platelet’s were a little low today, (which is a normal thing, we may have to receive blood or platelets off and on) so he received those in addition to the chemo.

Our youth pastor, Dustin, (who we serve with at HHSM) came to see us today!  His story is such an encouraging one to us, because he was Gabe’s age when he was diagnosed with the same type of Leukemia as Gabe, and at the same time of the year, and also went to St. Jude’s! We are very blessed to have him to talk too, and it has really given us encouragement and hope! He blessed us by running out and getting us some lunch that wasn’t cafeteria food and Gabe was so excited that he brought him tacos.  LOL! Gabe has been on a taco kick lately.

The chemo treatment wiped him out today, so he spent the afternoon resting, and Jacob, Allie, and I just hung out that evening playing a game.

 

Day 9 (Jan 7^th, 2016)

Jacob’s parents brought Daniel and Bella up here today to spend the day with Gabe.  Yay! We were really happy to see them, and Gabe loved playing with them.  He was in good spirits all day.  We also had a friend from high school come by, and Jacob was able to get a small break and get out of the room for a little while.

Today was a hard medicine day.  Gabe does not want to swallow some of his meds, and he even threw up a dose, and in true Howard kid fashion, he threw up ALL OVER Jacob!  It’s hard for me to watch him get so upset, but he needs the medicine, and it’s hard to rationalize this with a three year old.  I’m finally feeling better, and I’m almost through my antibiotics.

We found out today, that once Gabe is symptom free from his pneumonia, and other viruses, it can take up to two weeks before we can leave isolation! It really does suck to be stuck in this hotel room, but on the other hand, the idea of taking him anywhere scares me.  His immune system is almost to 0, so we have to be super careful.  So if we ask you if you’re sick before you visit, and you are, we will ask you not to come.  Please understand that it’s not that we don’t want to see you, it’s just he can’t be around anyone that is sick, even just a runny nose!

Day 10 (Jan 8^th, 2017)

Today has truly been a day of rest.  We didn’t have to be anywhere this weekend, so we’ve lounged around today and I took a nap.  Gabe did somewhat better taking his meds today, but his leg continues to hurt him.  He’s been walking on his tip toes today, and hobbling around.  Please remember his leg in your prayers.  It’s hard for this mama to see him hurting.

After I post this blog, I’m going to get his backpack ready for tomorrow’s chemo treatment.  We have to be there at 8 am, so I’m finding it’s easier on everyone when we pack the night before.

Please continue to pray for us.  We love you all, and will update again soon!