Back on the Weight Wagon

Chemotherapy went as planned---Monday thru Saturday. However, he came home with a new appendage of sorts: TPN and lipids (I.V. nutrition). He'll be hooked up to pumps for TPN and lipids at night for 12 hours to help give his body a boost. This is all a result of his weight hitting an all-time low: 49 lbs! He was about 64 lbs. and 1.5 inches shorter a year and a half ago at original diagnosis and he's always struggled to get back up to that weight. Weight and appetite loss are common side effects of radiation and chemotherapy, but he just can't afford to fluctuate down anymore, especial when he's lost almost 25% of his already thin body weight. At dinner he said, "Why can't there be more commercials about how to gain weight? Everything on TV is about how to lose weight. That doesn't help me!"

Today's appetite was pretty small. One of the important things with TPN is to keep him eating by mouth. His body can only get the I.V. nutrition for so long before it starts taking a negative toll on his other organs. He's felt a little nauseated from time to time, but we are trying to wean off the Zofran if possible. Tonight as I was saying prayers with him, he squeezed my hand and said he needed a bucket. Luckily we keep one right next to the bed. He threw up all of what little dinner he ate 2 hours earlier. After getting him cleaned up and tucked back into bed, he told me how tired he is of all this. I told him how much I loved him and how strong and amazing he is and that his Heavenly Father loves him so much and knows how hard this is for him. He continued to smile. I told him he was a golden warrior and he said, "Thank you for saying that because I feel like I know I am." Oh, how I love that big, strong spirit in that little boy body.