Radiation and Chemo this week!

Monday Seth started a second round of Radiation Treatments. He will do 12 again and they do not do treatments over weekends or holidays so it'll be about 2 1/2 weeks until he is done again. His hemoglobin levels while he does radiation have to be 100 or higher and on Monday they were at 98.  Almost avoided a blood transfusion! So Tuesday we went for radiation at 7:45 am, then to school to write his Socials exam and back home for a bit and then off to the Stollery for a blood transfusion. 

Seth showed zero side effects of getting the blood transfusion, thank the Lord! By Wednesday he was getting pretty tired though and asked me after radiation to and from school that day. I'm not sure if it's the radiation making him tired or the fact that he has to go every morning, sometimes really early. I figured it's probably a combination of both.  

On the weekend Seth participated in the Credo Weekend! Credo Highschool from BC came to play volleyball and basketball with our school.  They had many activities planned for senior high students to hang out and Seth participated in all of it. For the basketball game Seth participated in the warm ups and then the game started with a little tribute to Seth.  He then got to be part of the starting line up and score the first basket.  It was so nice to see him in a jersey and play, even if it was for 10 seconds. 

You can watch it on Youtube. Channel is Parkland Immanuel Christian School, video is PICS vs Credo Basketball Games March 28.  It's at about the 2 hr 20 minute mark. 

Monday Seth continued with radiation and was also admitted to the Stollery for another round of the harsher chemo. We went in around 5pm so he could get started on hydration and they started chemo at 11:30pm,  a little earlier than normal because we had to make sure the timing worked with his radiation appointments.  Radiation is again at the Cross Cancer Institute which is 3 minutes down the road, so they set him up with his IV backpack and I just take him myself. Even though it's 3 minutes down the road it takes about the same time as coming from home, but consistent. By the time we walk to the van in the parkade, drive out of the parkade, get to the next parkade, it's basically the same amount of time. 😄

Today we went to the Teen Room they have here at the Stollery.  We saw they had a pinball machine so had some fun with that and then moved on to the PlayStation.  The Teen Room closes at 4pm but we were allowed to take the PS5 to our room and just bring it back when it opens again tomorrow at 1pm.  So that was nice, good way to be distracted here.  

We are hoping, as said before, that we can go home with the IV backpack.  Even if they don't want me changing the bag we could still have a chunk of time to go home as each IV bag goes for 4 hours. Take out the 1/2 hour of travel time and we could be home for 3.5 hours!  It would be so nice just to be home, have a shower and a nap in our own beds.  Depending on the timing maybe even have dinner together.

We were told today that they'd be moving the chemo up a little bit every day so that we could go home a little earlier. Last time we had to wait 24 hours for hydration which was in the middle of the night. So as soon as we got up we were able to leave.  I think they are hoping this time maybe we can be done to go home in the evening instead of sleeping here an extra night. 

So far things are going well. We will do radiation every morning this week as well as chemo.  I'm hoping if we can come home a little early that we will be home on Saturday sometime, which is great because we really are not fans of being in the hospital on Sunday. We just want to be home with our whole family that day, even if Seth is sleeping the whole time, it's nice to all be under the same roof.

Praise God for all his mercies over Seth! He continues to take treatments very well with little to no expected side effects! They are hoping that maybe by doing radiation and chemo at the same time it'll be a double duty war against his cancer.  Pray this is the case and that it'll help shrink it some more so we can eventually do a surgery.  Ultimately we know who's in control over all things and we take comfort in knowing that Seth is in God's Good, Almighty, Powerful Hands. 💖💖👐 

It Shrank!

 I knew it had been a while since I did a blog update but March 4??? and I left you with a cliffhanger of news we were waiting to hear?😬 I have some catching up to do! Well...it shrank!! 🙌Not a lot, but this was the FIRST time they told us the words that it shrank.  Honestly I think after hearing the news we just felt a little relief and for me personally it felt like a break.  A break from trying to cling to hope and be positive, because this WAS hopeful and positive.  I think because of that I had it on my list to update the blog, but my brain just wanted to keep taking that break.

Now to get you all up to speed.  Seth was given the go ahead to drive again so he drove to school and was very excited to have that freedom back.  We told him to call me if he needs to come home because he's tired though.  We made it clear that he can drive as long as he's feeling energetic enough.

We were scheduled to go in for chemo on Friday but there was no bed available, which worked out well because I got a call for some more Oiler tickets. This time his sister Mya and I went along! Our first Oiler game (neither of us are really into hockey, but we wanted to go to at least one game). 

Myself, Seth, Mya

Seth went in for a harsher kind of chemo that he got over 5 days instead of 3 like before.  Then 24 hours of hydration so we went into the hospital on Saturday March 7 and came home the following Friday March 13. They told us they would be keeping an eye on him to make sure his kidneys are good and warned us of some other side effects, some rare but they have to mention them all.  A rare one was that the chemo could cause seizures, so again praying that none of that happens. 

Well, lets start by saying PRAISE GOD!! again!!! and again!! 🙌Seth's side effects were less than they were with his other chemo.  It literally makes NO sense to me that he did better than previous rounds that were less days and not as harsh on his body.  Divine intervention is all I can think of honestly.  Even when the doctors did their rounds, they said in a surprised tone, 'We were worried about how his kidneys would handle this but they are doing just fine,' then added, 'it's probably because he's young and athletic.' I nodded and smirked knowing full well Who's responsible for that. 😏

Seth went in Saturday, slept like normal, hung out with friends, did some homework, we played games, walked around, etc.  Finally by Thursday he slept until 3:30pm. I was also very thankful for this because I had to take him from the Stollery to the Cross Cancer Institute for a follow up appointment and CT simulation, so they can prepare for another round of radiation. Typically at this point he would've been so tired and nauseous, but other than being tired and me pushing him in a wheelchair so he didn't have to walk so far, he was fine. They just had to make sure his night time chemo was finished on time so that we could make our appointment in the morning. That way we can avoid the hospital having to transfer him and all that. It's easier to just hop in the van and drive 3 minutes down the road. 😉

His other rounds seem to knock him out by day 3, and then he sleeps for 2 more days at home.  By Friday he seemed good to go again, after sleeping in until 3:30 the previous day.  We got home Friday morning and he didn't even have a nap all day, meanwhile I went to have a quick nap and slept for 3 hours. 😴

Getting some homework done.

He gets chemo during the night because he can't leave the ward while he's getting chemo treatments. During the day he is just on an IV and they have IV in a backpack for him so he doesn't have to push an IV pole around everywhere. It's very handy.  They told me that if I was willing, I could learn how to change the IV bag and he could just go home during the day.  There are some things I would have to monitor, but since he did SO well they said he didn't really have to be at the hospital during the day. Each IV bag runs for about 4 hours. Pray that he does well next round so we can do this and also for me to be calm and capable of being the 'nurse' during the day. I feel very unqualified. 😬

His IV backpack.

Sunday he did get up and wanted to go to church, all dressed and ready and he sat on the couch to put on his socks and said, 'I think you should stay home.' He looked so exhausted.  He planned to live stream, and told us he had a half hour until the live stream started so he figured he'd just lay down for a bit.  He slept for 3 hours. 💤

Seth now has to go twice a week for bloodwork, so he'll have his regular appointments on Thursdays now, instead of Wednesdays, for PICC line dressing change and bloodwork, and also Mondays just for bloodwork. Thankful the doctors and nurses did his PICC dressing change early so that he could go along to Basketball Provincials in Peace River. He just had to get bloodwork done while he was there. Bryan went along, and was given a doctor letter explaining Seth's situation and protocols in case Seth needed to go to Emergency.

'Cheer for Viher, we're so glad you're HERE!'
Got this photo off the school's fb page 😇

Another round of radiation starts tomorrow. Another 12 treatments, last one being April 8. Every morning of spring break, yaaaaay. 😒 Pray that it shrinks it even more and for side effects to continue to stay away! Also pray for our whole family, if Seth ends up having to do chemo IN the hospital it just makes ever harder.  Our experience last round with a week in the hospital meant no family dinners with everyone there, Bryan and I were often tag teaming at the hospital, like ships passing in the night, and it felt like we had to unpack and clean up after a week of holidays.  I tend to dump everything and catch up on sleep.  It just sucks and I grieve the normal life we had, knowing it will never be that way ever again. 

Also a BIG thank you to all of you being so caring.  This last round I didn't do a meal train, and just had things the kids could cook easily and for any amount of people who happen to be home. We just wanted to see how that would go. It went very well, and hopefully next round we can come home during the day and it'll be even better! I do plan on doing a meal train for the few days when we are back and just all so tired. I know sometimes it's nice to know how to help and sometimes we don't even really know.  I will say though, homemade muffins or cookies are always awesome for lunches.😉  I don't take the time to bake and just buy them if needed, but there is just something about homemade. 💖 haha DO NOT feel obligated 😅.  We appreciate you so much even reading this blog and praying with us.  Every time Seth has no or little side effects I just smile and think of all the prayers it took to make that happen.  We will never be able to thank you all enough. 

Perfect Moments and Divine Timing

 Last week Monday Seth went to radiation as usual. He did get a nose bleed on the drive there that he was trying to control.  With chemo treatments his blood doesn't clot as fast so this can take a while.  He'd seem to have it under control and then the clot that started to form would come loose and it would start all over again.  So when we got there we let someone with an appointment after Seth go ahead of us as they were there early for their appointment.  This gave him enough time to get it under control.  They did send a nurse to check in on him just because he'd been trying to get it to stop for over 20 minutes.  Finally it was under control enough that he could do his appointment. They did prepare us back in November about nose bleeds and that it's common.  Thankfully Seth hasn't had too many to deal with, thank God He's spared him from having them constantly, especially in our dry winter climate. 

Monday night the senior girls and boy had basketball games. If you were there you already know how amazing and unbelievable it was.  For the rest of you let me paint a picture. 

Both Senior Girls and Boys played home games at PICS and turned it into a Cancer Awareness Event and invited the community.  They even handed out yellow ribbons for Childhood Cancer Awareness. It was neat to see a whole crowd full of yellow ribbons. Of course we were all hoping both teams would win on such a night as this!

First up, the Senior Girls played a great game and won!! One win, we're halfway there! Now for the Senior Boys. They played a great game and were in the lead most of the time, but then the last few minutes of the game the other team took the lead by only a couple points! 

Let me take you to the very last few seconds of this game: The other team is winning with a score of 59-57. I kept saying to my hubby sitting next to me, 'You never know, they could still win this,' which he responded with raised eyebrows and head tilt. I wasn't sure if I believed my own words either.  Then, our team starts the play and passes the ball in, they let the ball bounce it's way up the court because the clock doesn't start until they touch the ball (I did not know this so I learned something new) then as the opposing team moves in our team grabs it, the crowd starts counting down, 'FIVE, FOUR, THREE,' he makes a pass, teammate catches, 'TWO,' one bounce and throws the ball right as we all yell, 'ONE,' and MAKES A THREE POINT SHOT!!! WE WIN!! 60-59!! All the kids rush off the stage, the crowd is going nuts! It was just so unbelievable!

Does this not feel like it could've been a movie? 16 year old boy in high school has rare cancer, can't play basketball anymore but the team keeps him on anyway.  They have a Cancer Awareness Night because so many, if not everyone, is affected by cancer and then honour the student battling it currently. Then for his team to win the game in the last second like that? We'd watch that heartfelt movie and probably cheer even though it's just actors in a nice story. I'd be the one crying watching that even though it's not real.  God brought that to LIFE on Monday and used everyone in that gym to do it. What an amazing night! 

Also made me think about how I said, 'We could still win this,' even though we both weren't very sure. Hanging on to hope until the last possible moment because you just never know is a way I want to live. 😍

There is a youtube video of it. The youtube channel is 'Parkland Immanuel Christian School' and the video is 'SH Boys Basketball Senior Night Feb.23,2026 @6:30pm'.  If you just want to watch what I described here it's at the 1:23:46 mark to be precise. If you wait until the very end you'll see Seth's brother, Drew, climbing back on the stage where he was sitting and just start saying,' That was absolute cinema!' And he is absolutely right! Felt very much like a future 'based on a true story' movie! 😁

Wednesday was Seth's last Radiation appointment. He got to ring the 'Bell of Hope' for completing treatment.  It seemed not as exciting because we know there will probably be more radiation in his future, but it was nice to ring it anyway.  We said bye to our waiting room friends and said, 'Hopefully we never see you again...at least not here.' 😂Right after that we went to his regular Wednesday appointment for PICC line dressing change and bloodwork. He also had a follow up this time which usually happens so he can be admitted, and he was due for another round of chemo, so that's what we were expecting.   Dr. Eid said he wanted to wait for the CT scan on Monday though, and get the results of that.  He wanted to maybe try a different type of chemo this time depending on those scan results. Seth was happy to go home and sleep in and enjoy the weekend.  He still has fantastic energy and it was nice to have some extra time to enjoy that before another round of chemo. 

Ringing the 'Bell of Hope' at his last radiation treatment of this set. 

Saturday Seth went with us to early morning hockey.  Seth was in the Beulah hockey and played the first Saturday and then the following week we found out he had cancer, and he hasn't played since. Bryan helps coach sometimes and this time they let Seth come help ref the game.  He got to do all the puck drops for the game and even participated in the shoot out they did with everyone at the end. 

Participated in the shoot out they did for fun at the end. 

Helping Ref and getting to drop the puck.

Monday, Seth went for his CT scan so we will hear the results of that at todays appointment and Seth will be admitted depending when they have a bed available, usually between Wednesday and Friday has been the norm for us to get a call to come in for admission. 

Waiting for Dr. Eid to come in to tell us some news.

Also, I have a pretty amazing moment to share.  Seth's CT scan takes all of about 5 minutes.  Only a couple people knew when his appointment time was (which is actually irrelevant because it ran about an hour late).  Seth was playing on my phone and a message came across the top, then we hear his name get called.  The nurse said he'll be done in about 5 minutes. While he's gone I got 2 more messages of people just saying they are sending hugs, prayers, and thinking of us. Seth went in at 12:54 pm and I have 3 texts from 12:53, 12:54 and 12:55.  By the time I was done answering them back Seth was done. 

God made sure I wasn't alone in that moment. How else do you explain 3 separate people who did not coordinate that and had zero idea that Seth was getting a scan at that VERY moment.  Through tears on Sunday I chatted with our minister about how the next few days is usually when my anxiety starts to creep in.  After this, my hope was running high again and anxiety never even had a chance to make a move on me.  So if you ever feel compelled to send a text or make that phone call to someone, do it. Your given that feeling for a reason, I truly believe that. 

What a God we have! One who comes down into the valleys with us to calm our fears. This doesn't mean we are spared of tears of the journey, it's still a hard road to walk, but walking it alone without Him would make it full of fear and anxiety and terror. Instead we still cry, but with less fear and more calm and peace.