We have been home a month now and are settling back into our routines. Kancho has been going to the local cancer clinic several times a week for blood count checks, Kylee has returned to school and I to work. Connecting with friends who we have not seen since before heading to Raleigh has been nice. We were recently able to go to Charleston over Easter to visit family. We stayed with my sister Robyn so Kylee was able to sleep and play with her cousin Lily for several days. Kancho had his first PET scan and doctors appointment at UNC Hospitals following the transplant on 4/8/10. He enjoys seeing the UNC staff, especially our nurse case manager Debbie. We continue to learn from this journey, that we should not place too much weight on each and every appointment, scan or test. I think we inevitably set ourselves and those around us up for disappointment. We had really hoped to hear some "pivotal" news from this PET scan, and in reality it was simply meant to affirm the last course of Kancho's treatment (transplant) was productive. Don't get us wrong, we were very excited to hear the tumor has shrunk, and that the cell activity has decreased! I guess we are still adjusting to the fact that Kancho is not out of the woods for several years with this type of cancer. We keep hearing the words, "you should be cautiously optimistic" based on how Kancho has responded to the past year of treatments. We have to learn how to pace ourselves like running a marathon or we get out of breath easily. Our attitudes remain positive and we look forward to time we have set aside to spend with family and friends this summer. Kancho continues to rest and gain strength with each week that passes. We are not certain when he will be able to return to work, but he is hopeful it will be at the start of next school year. We return to UNC Hospitals for another PET scan and doctor's appointment 6/3/10, where we should gain additional information about how the process will look for the remainder of 2010.
Thanks again to everyone who follows our journey and sends us encouragement and prayers.
Luv
Ali, Kancho and Kylee
