I've started this post several times and keep rewriting it because I don't want it to come across too negative. The truth is the last month and a half have been the most difficult part of this whole journey. Connor was treated with both radiation and chemo for six weeks. We drove to Philly every weekday spending sometimes up to 8 hours there and needing great patience when the machine would break down. The days radiation was cancelled only prolonged his time there since those days were tacked onto the end. In addition to this he had a chemo infusion each week and takes an oral chemo 6/7 days a week. He will continue this regimen at Penn State until May. During this time we celebrated holidays with lots of fun family events. Connor was able to get together with friends and also had the opportunity to meet some of the Eagles players at CHOP. On January 17th , Connor rang the bell once again, this time for radiation. 

As expected the effects were cumulative and the last few weeks he has suffered in pain, has not been able to eat normally and lost another 12 pounds. I can't begin to explain how difficult it is to watch someone you love, let alone your child go through this. However, he continues to press on, take his meds, follow doctors orders and have unbelievable strength and determination. Our sweet Charlie never left his side knowing he needed some love. His goal from the beginning which everyone knows has been to get back to school for the spring semester. Last week Doug and I drove him to PSU on Monday and moved him in to his apartment with his friends. We met with Connor's new oncologist, Dr. James Powell and his staff at Mt Nittany Medical Center. Everyone there was welcoming and kind and I'm confident he will be in very good hands there. I offered to go up for his first treatment but Connor wanted to do it on his own.  The transition for Doug and I has been tough, but we know he is exactly where he needs to be. We both could not be prouder of Connor's preserverence and strength to get to where he is today. He will have his first scans when he comes home for spring break in March. We plan to go visit him in February for THON which we are looking forward to. Until then we are all settling in to our "new normal" and look forward to Connor gaining his strength back and enjoying life as a college sophomore . Thanks be to God for seeing us through this difficult time and to our family and friends who have always been there for us. We are so grateful to you all! xoxo