...and the results show.....

REMISSION!!!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh. (huge sigh of relief!)

The oncology resident who has seen Nevan many times before, walked into Nevan's room this morning with an unusually large grin on her face and only said one word.... Remission!  Wow... What an amazing word. Craig was at the grocery store doing the ever so important "noodle" run and I called him and told him the news. It was short and sweet as the people behind him in line were getting annoyed, but it got the point across and he called the rest of our family to let them know. Now I was ready to tell Nevan...who as usual was lost in his TV show and didn't hear a word the dr said. 

I walked over and sat in front of him on his bed.  I had a huge smile on my face and was very excited to let him know what was making me so happy.  I took his hands and told him that the dr just told me that the bugs in his blood were gone! I told him that all the strength and bravery he was able to show over the last month killed all the bad bugs, which is called remission! I don't think my smile could have gotten any bigger or my eyes wider, but Nevan's reaction was not what I expected.... He burst out crying....  I am not sure he really understood what I was telling him as we never once told him what 'no remission' would mean. I asked him why he was crying and he just said "I don't know, but I need a hug" I really didn't know what to say to him at that point so I just joined him. I suspect he felt a sense of relief and a sense of pride at what he was able to accomplish.... I am not exactly sure what I felt...just happy... So happy... And crying seemed to be the appropriate response at that time. So Nevan and I gave each other the biggest tear soaked hug ever!  Nevan's tears were quickly replaced with hunger pains and my spot on the bed was soon replaced with a bowl of noodles..... :)

What exactly brought Nevan to this point over the last 6 weeks? This.....

1 ambulance ride

2 bone marrow biopsies

1 PICC Line 

3 lumbar punctures

3 emergency room visits

47 blood draws

6 blood transfusions

5 platelette transfusions

4 sedations

5 dressing changes 

5 NG tubes

93 doses of Chemotherapy oral steroids

67 doses of oral stomach meds

12 doses of IV chemotherapy

224 medical mouth rinses

6 doses of morphine

30 doses of antibiotics

The amazing drs and nurses at McMaster Children's hospital

Nevan's unbelievable strength, courage and resiliance 

And of course you! None of us could have made it through this far without the love and support from our Family and friends. From the kind words to the yummy meals, all of it is helping to save Nevan's life and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Our journey is far from over.... There is still a pretty tough road ahead as we start to treat Nevan's Central Nervous System and begin maintenance therapy to ensure the cancer doesn't return. Nevan's Marrow has also been sent away to Boston to find out if he has Minimal Residual Disease. If those numbers come back unfavourably, this could push Nevan into a high risk for relapse and we will have to take on a harsher course of treatment..... But we will cross that road when we come to it... Today is a happy day! 

Cute story of the Day:

Nevan is hooked up to a feed, IV chemo and a potassium drip. He has 2 bandages on his back from his procedures yesterday and is very weak in his knees and hips. I just walk in from getting us breakfast and a much needed coffee

Nevan: "Mommy! You took too long, I need to go peeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!"

I run in spill my coffee on my bed, throw down our breakfast on the tray and drop our only utensils on the floor, untangle Nevan's lines, pick him up quickly and as gently as I can, stand him up, get his pee pot ready and look up to see Nevan has a huge smile on his face....

Me: "what?"

Nevan: "I was kidding!"

Me: "what?!"

Nevan "I made a joke!"

Me: "yes you did.... It was very funny.... I'm going to get another coffee"