Maintenance Update

We are almost one month into Maintenance. We have been looking forward to this stage of treatment since the beginning of Hank’s treatment. Hank has been able to go back to school, and his hospital appointments have dropped to two a month at the most. We are very thankful for the change in pace, and for it feeling much more like normal life. 

Hank still has to take chemo by mouth everyday, but he has been doing really well with this. He has had good energy and seems to be doing well. 

With getting back to a normal life, this means we are able to now travel. Already,  we have been able to go on two trips away from Houston. Unfortunately, on both trips, Hank got a fever and we had to go to an emergency room. We were able to get him antibiotics and be discharged rather quickly, but it added some stress to the travel. 

We are planning on going to Florida this week for a week long vacation. This will be the first family trip we have taken since Bash was born. We are very excited for the time away, but Maddy and I are both nervous about Hank getting a fever while we are there. As long as we are close to a good hospital, Hank is not in too much danger if he gets a fever, it is just a hassle to go to a hospital for a few hours to get the antibiotics he needs. 

Also, it seems that the chance for relapse is always hanging over our heads. Maddy and I get very anxious anytime Hank gets tired or begins to act off. One of our biggest fears in this is that the leukemia will come back. 

Bash has grown up so much and has been so fun! He and Hank really enjoy getting to play together. Bash is the typical little brother, antagonizing Hank from time to time and getting the occasional water gun thrown at his face. All in all they are becoming very close and developing a very sweet brotherly bond. 

We continue to be incredibly thankful for each and everyone of you. You have helped tremendously to make an awful year more manageable. Thank you for your continued prayers, words of encouragement and for simply checking in to see how we are doing. I cannot imagine the last year without the support from you all. 

Prayers:

• For our time away as a family. That we would be able to have a great week together, that Maddy and I could get some rest and that Hank will stay healthy.  

• That Hank will remain in remission for the rest of his long and healthy life, and that Maddy and I would find peace from anxiety about relapse. 

• That Hank will embrace being back to school, and be able to get back to just being a kid. 

• That Bash would not feel forgotten and that he would know how loved and treasured he is. Also that he would make it longer than 20 minutes in child care at church on Sunday mornings.