Medical Updates:
The counts from Phin's clinic checkup earlier this month were nice and boring--maybe the most normal-looking labs we've seen for him since 2021, and certainly since BMT. Always a huge relief for us. His clinic appointments are getting spaced-out again, meaning the occasions where we get a peek into his circulatory system to see what's swirling around in his veins are becoming fewer and farther between. On one hand, it's cool, because 1) it suggests things are going according to plan with his recovery and 2) nobody likes having their kid get poked with even more needles.
But on the other hand, it's scary. Not knowing, I mean. Every time he gets a cold, falls asleep in the car, or doesn't feel like eating breakfast, our thoughts fly right to the darkest place. How could they not?
Anyway, this month his counts look great. Not only that, he got to check in with physical therapy for the first time since June and retake some of the assessments for strength, balance, and stamina. Six(ish) months ago, he was a year out from BMT, and he'd only just barely resumed attending school for the full day, and his flexibility and range of motion was declining rapidly due to GVHD. Now, after half a year of martial arts classes, soccer, swimming, and regular schooldays since late July, he's basically doubled his scores on the strength, balance, and stamina tests. Phin was super proud of himself. You can see him in the gif above, doing the standing long jump assessment in full Hulk out mode, sans shirt. Smashing it.
Phin On the Daily:
I haven't forgotten about my promise to report on Phin's Make-A-Wish trip. It's overdue, and I'm sorry for not getting it out yet. Still processing. Honestly, these last few weeks have been tough. Phin's health is looking great, but for our dear friends, and for our pediatric cancer community in general, it's been a very dark time. Bear with me a bit longer. We had a really exciting and fun trip, and I'll tell all about it and share some special moments soon.
In the meantime, rest assured that Phin and his sisters and cousins had a good Christmas together. We spent it largely with Neesha's family, staying up way past our bedtimes, eating far too many sweets, and having a holiday that felt kind of happy, kind of sad, and, for a change, blessedly, kind of oddly normal.
