Update • 9/29/19 • Treatment Has Started

It has been a very long journey up until this point. Thank you to everyone who has been praying and walking along side us. 

Crazy to say it’s been a long journey because Grady just started chemo today. 

I received a great compliment Friday when the social worker at our Oncologist visit declared I should get a reward for the greatest advocate. I’ve been working so hard this past month, and especially last week to actually get Grady’s treatment started. His tumors were growing so fast, but because of our crazy healthcare system it took this long to get him into the hospital. We had a lot of mixed emotions while being admitted into the hospital Friday afternoon. I was so happy Grady was finally going to be  treated, but also feeling so scared at how. Chemo is a very scary thing to us. 

Grady had his port placed Saturday. They prepped his body with fluids the rest of the day and he started chemo this morning. We will be here until Tuesday. He will get another chemo Monday and Tuesday morning. 

Grady is doing great. He doesn’t have an appetite and he’s sore after his surgery, but otherwise he’s the very spicy, silly, determined two year old we all know. 

Reece has been able to visit a lot. He loves all the snacks and toys. He’s definitely concerned about his brother but he’s doing great and understanding what’s going on. So thankful for my parents this week helping take care of him and juggling all the logistics involved. 

Let’s call this the beginning of part 2 of our temporary journey! 

Please pray Grady handles the meds well and bad side effects are minimal. Pray for Jason and I that we stay strong as a team. Pray for Reece that he feels loved and supported through this. 

Thank you,

🎗❤️ Nicole

Pete the Cat came to visit (aka Grandma). 

Update • 09/14/19

I want to start by thanking everyone for all the support and prayers as we wrestled through this past few weeks! It has meant the world to Jason and I. ❤️

We have decided to move forward with Chemotherapy for Grady. We have had doctors across the country review his case. Typically they have presented him in front of sarcoma groups and conferences. We have to move forward trusting our doctors. It's a hard choice knowing all the not-so-great side effects of chemo. At this point, anyone who sees Grady would think he is nothing shy of a healthy, happy, energetic 2 year old.

We are waiting for health insurance before Grady starts his treatment. We expect that will be within 1-3 weeks. This is messy and complicated. I don't want to share publicly on the world wide web but I'm more than willing to share if you're interested.  Maybe some of you have this all figured out!

It sounds like Grady's treatment plan will consist of chemo once a week for 6 months. The plan is that it will all be outpatient, so that's good news. He will have to get a port installed first. (Installed? I don't know🤣.) We plan to finish treatment with radiation.

Please pray for our family as we navigate what this temporary journey will look like. Please pray for Grady's big brother Reece, that he understands what's going on and expresses his emotions in a positive way. His best friend and playmate is about to get very sick.

Again, thank you. We need every one of you.

❤️Nicole
(Grady's mom)