May/June Mishmash

UPDATE ON ETHEN (AND US)

It's been a while since we've written an update. It is with good reason though. There really isn't too much to say by way of update! While we consider it a good thing to have nothing to say concerning Ethen's health, we do want to keep you in our lives and request your continued prayer for Ethen (and all of us). 

As my previous blog communicated, we didn't feel too much after we heard that Ethen was cancer-free. As the news settled on us we gradually felt the relief that we expected to feel. After Christie and I reflected on our feelings, we realized that the hellish nature of the past year walking through Ethen's treatment protocol with him left us close to devoid of feeling. The rigor of back and forth visits to clinic; long hospital stays; watching Ethen suffer awful side effects of the treatments, which nearly killed him; wading through all the information that was entirely new to us a little over a year ago; and other life circumstances had elevated tensions beyond anything we'd known before. We were exhausted and in many respects emotionless. When we heard Ethen was cancer-free, there was relief, but there was still a sense that there was more to come. While it is true that there is more to do, I think we've come to a place of realizing we can let down a little.

Ethen, on the other hand, had no problem letting down. Though he may have some clue that his life is not normal, he has been loving life the past several months! Really since his time in the PICU, Ethen has been living full-throttle trying to keep up with his siblings, cousins, and friends. 

We did start Ethen on the test trial in May. The test trial medication, DFMO, has had little effect on Ethen that we can tell. The effects we've observed are that his bowels are off, and he has seemed to have lower energy at certain points in the past month. The lower energy may be the result of a fast-paced schedule though. All in all, Ethen is doing well!

VACATION AND THE GREAT CYCLE CHALLENGE

Another reason I haven't written anything is because we've had a busy month. Any time I would think about writing a blog I would get tired and quickly put the thought out of mind. The busyness has been mostly fun. Immediately after Ethen started taking the test trial drug, we went out of town for a family wedding. Christie and I slipped away to Greenville a couple days before the wedding for a nice bit of much needed alone time. After a nice weekend away from Charlotte, we returned home for a short two weeks before heading to Myrtle Beach for family vacation. It was a fun week soaking in some sun and enjoying a few touristy activities. We returned home for a week, and then we were off to Raleigh to celebrate a friend's birthday and see friends. 

Throughout the month I've been participating in the Great Cycle Challenge USA, which will soon be over. I'm very thankful to the people who've donated to this organization to support pediatric cancer research! I think I should be able to reach my goal of riding 600 miles in June (currently at 545 mi).

PRAYER REQUESTS

Please pray that Ethen continues in good health. He's had persistent congestion, which is a little strange, but it could be due to some sort of allergy. Pray his lungs grow strong and healthy. Please pray also for us as we adjust to life.