Day 9 Update and FAQ's

It's been 2 days since Josiah had his first chemo treatment and so far he's physically been largely unaffected other than being more tired than normal. He's in good spirits and still sports his trademark smile when he's well rested. 
He takes a steroid as part of the overall treatment plan that is believed to be the source of his occasional grumpy-old-man mood swings.
Talking with the older kids and nurses on our wing many have said they experience the worst side effects 5 to 7 days after each treatment.

I've captured some of the more frequently asked questions and sprinkled in a few unasked to keep you on your toes. 

FAQ's
Question: When is Josiah coming home?
Answer: The current plan is tomorrow 11/7

Q: How many chemo treatments has he had in the hospital?
A: 1 so far. On his birthday 11/4 he had his first real dose and another 1-time dose is scheduled for tomorrow (called a PEG). To unconfuse those of you paying close attention, technically he did receive a low-dose of chemo during his spinal tap on 11/2 but none of the medical professionals seem to count that one.

Q: Where and how often will his future treatments be administered?
A: The plan is for him to receive future treatments in the outpatient clinic at the hospital. For the first month (called the induction phase) those treatments are weekly. He will not getting chemo treatments at home.

Q: Has he played with all of his birthday gifts yet?
A: Not a chance. Not even close. He'll have to work hard to check this box before he turns 5. The joke at the hospital is we're going to have to rent a U-Haul to get it all home. He's a loved little boy.

Q: Is he expected to be re-admitted to the hospital?
A: Not if things go according to plan. He will only be re-admitted if there are complications such as troubling results from the blood test he'll get during each visit to the outpatient clinic or if he were to get an infection.

Q: Will the tumors be surgically removed, will he get radiation, or just chemo drugs?
A: The goal is the chemo drugs will kill the cancer cells, the tumors will dissolve and be flushed out of the body without surgery or radiation.

Q: How people-restricted will he be?
A: For the 1st month he can't go to large public gatherings (church, school functions with Mary, rides on the Phoenix subway) and after his 4 week assessment he should be OK to go anywhere (except the Phoenix subway) as long as there aren't known sick people there

Q: How long will the chemo treatments last?
A: He's on a 3 year treatment plan. Even if the cancer appears to go into remission the treatments continue.

Q: When will we know if the treatments are working?
A: At the end of the 4 week induction phase, he'll go through a day of tests (repeating the same tests done during this visit) to determine if the cancer cells responded as expected. The outcome of these tests will determine the approach for the subsequent phases of treatment.

Q: Will he lose his hair?
A: Probably. He's already talking about it and I think he's fine looking like Daddy for a little while.

Q: What things will Josiah miss the most from his hotel room stay (we initially called his hospital room a hotel room and it has stuck)?
A: The dino nuggets (dinosaur shaped chicken nuggets- need we say any more about how awesome this hospital is?), the red button (nurse call button that he's not afraid to use), eating in bed, the playroom, mom or dad's undivided attention, unlimited supply of apple juice, the morning look out his 7th story window overlooking Scottsdale to answer the inevitable "is it wake-up time yet?".

Q: What things will he miss the least?
A: His tree (the IV and medicine dispensing unit on wheels with lines running to his medicine button that goes everywhere with him), blood pressure checks every 4 hours, not getting to regularly see his sisters, being confined indoors