The Turner Family: Friday, May 21 - Ben and Will visit H/O Clinic for Joe's Chemo

We brought Ben and Will to the H/O Clinic to experience what it is like for Joe to go to his treatments. At the clinic the Child Life workers were making a putt-putt golf hole for the hospital that looks like Cook Children's Hospital. Our boys helped out by painting the blue roofs for their creation. The workers are so creative and also designed a motorized "Bed Pan Bat Mobile" that will be placed at the last hole and will drive out from under the hole with the ball in it. They also put Ben and Joe to work dismantling old toys with screwdrivers using the parts for other projects. Ben and Joe thought taking things apart was awesome. Will played with some of the many toys they have available and, of course, all the boys played the Wii. Ben and Will watched Joe have his port accessed. Will covered his ears thinking Joe would scream with a needle coming near him but as Joe said, "I didn't even budge." This process has become so much easier for all of us and Joe continues to take each step like a champ. Even getting the tape removed is easier for Joe as they have been using a special remover that Joe is quick to request. The boys met all of Joe's nurses and his doctor. They ate snacks as they watched him receive his chemo. The whole process takes about half a day. We left the house around 7:30 am and returned around 1:30 pm. The boys were entertained the whole time at the clinic and never bored. The hospital and clinic do a fabulous job of taking care of these kids and their families. We are so thankful for this wonderful treatment. While we were at the clinic, Caleb stayed and played with our friends, the Shermans. Thank you Pastor Jon and Beth for the fun day he had with you!

Joe just received the one medicine, Vincristine, today. He tolerated the chemo very well again this week, although his hemoglobin, the red blood count, is low...around 8.2. At 8.0 the doctors consider the need for a blood transfusion. It is expected that the Doxorubin he received last week will drop his count the following week or two after so this is a normal occurrence. The medicine he received this week should not affect his hemoglobin. Joe's counts should start to increase this week, and as long as he is not fatigued and sluggish and his counts turn around there should be no need for him to have the blood transfusion. He has had a bundle of energy so they are not worried about him at all and would probably let him dip below the 8.0 mark without a transfusion if the counts did continue to fall. Joe is a little on the pale side and his hair is slightly thinning but, otherwise, he looks great. He is a joy to us and gives us lots of loving hugs. We couldn't feel more blessed with the family God has given us...thank you, Lord!