Yesterday was an emotional day. When I told Jeremy it was time for chemo, he changed out of the pajamas that he slept in, into some old pajamas that are a size 4. I suggested that maybe it would be better to wear clothes to chemo since it was outpatient today. He got very emotional and insisted on wearing these pajamas. This was unlike him and I decided not to push it, and let him wear the old pajamas to the hospital. As we were driving to the hospital Jeremy had a complete melt down and did not stop crying until we reached Salt Lake City. As I talked with him, he calmed down and seemed fine by the time we reached the hospital. In the waiting room there is usually a craft or art project for the children to do while they wait. Jeremy was cutting out a paper puppet when the nurse asked him to come over to the scale for his weight and vitals. Jeremy ignored her and kept cutting the paper. She asked again and he kept cutting. I told him that he could keep working on his puppet in the room while we wait for the doctor. He kept cutting away. I told him the quicker we do chemo the faster we get to go home. He kept cutting and said, "I want to go home now." The nurse said "He is usually so cooperative, I have never seen him like this. I'll be back in a few minutes." I looked helplessly at the other two mothers who were waiting with their child. The one mother said, "My daughter was the same way. She was very cooperative until the last few weeks of chemo. It gets so hard to do after so many months." The other mother nodded with empathy. By the look on her teenage son's face, it was obvious that he did not want to do his chemo either. The nurse returned with Rachelle, the child life specialist. Rachelle asked Jeremy if he was having a rotten day. Jeremy continued working on his puppet. She told him that when she is having a rotten day, and feels rotten, she likes to throw rotten eggs. Jeremy looked up at her. She asked Jeremy if he would like to throw a rotten egg. She threw down a rubber egg and when it hit the floor, it looked like a fried egg. She handed the egg for Jeremy to throw. After he threw it at the floor a couple of times, she asked him if he would like to throw it at a wall. Jeremy nodded yes. Rachelle said, "There are a lot of pictures and people in here, it would be better to throw it against the wall over there (the wall by the scale). Jeremy walked over to the wall by the scale and threw the egg. Rachelle than asked Jeremy if he would like to make a target to throw his egg at. He nodded. She then suggested that while the nurse gets his weight and vitals she will get some supplies and meet him in his room.
Rachelle kept talking with Jeremy as he threw his egg. He threw it so hard, that it broke and water splashed all over. We laughed and he felt much better.
Jeremy making slime.
Dr. Spraker came in and Jeremy was excited to tell her about the rotten egg making a big splash and the slime that he made. She told Jeremy that he only has to do five more chemotherapy treatments. Three hospital stay chemos and two outpatient chemos. She also told Jeremy how proud she is of him for doing his chemo and how pleased she is with the results. When the nurse came in to access his port and administer his chemo, he started to withdraw again. After some gentle persuasion he reluctantly cooperated. When we were leaving everyone praised Jeremy for his courage and bravery for doing chemo. What a great hospital! Today he is happy. We are not sure what to expect next chemo, we might need another egg!
