Chapter 3

May 1st -- one month in.

Life is different.  We are forced to think in new ways about familiar and unfamiliar happenings.  Sometimes this is difficult.  Sometimes it is strangely fun.  It is true that big challenges flush out hidden talents, ideas, and emotions.  Being with Miles has always been fun and thought-provoking.  But he's pulled out some pretty slick concepts lately.  A lot of you have remarked how resilient kids are to adversity, compared to adults.  True that.
And just when you think the positivity and lack of wallow equate to denial, the earnest vulnerable boy comes out.  So, I think Miles has balance.  He will need it, literally and figuratively.
--------------------------------------------------
Miles had two-and-a-half weeks between chemotherapy treatments, regaining his spunk.
He's completed plenty of schoolwork, hung out with friends, visited with family, been to baseball practice, battled it out with Louis (totally unfair, considering the crutches), went to a Red Sox game with Mom and brother, and has generally just been doing his thing.

As the typical treatment scheme for osteosarcoma is Chemo--Surgery--Chemo, we met with the surgical team last Thursday to discuss options.  A heaviness accompanied us to this monumental day.  The choices are clear, and we are leaning toward a repair that both eliminates the primary tumor and allows a solid return to athletics.  Miles has been talking about it.  He says if he could skip the chemo, and just get on with the surgery and rehab, he would.  We know though, that "cure" is paramount, and this requires a parade of systemic medicines scavenging the far corners of his insides to eliminate stray cancer cells.  So, on we march.
--------------------------------------------------
This is week 4 of treatment--inpatient IV methotrexate and two-to-three days of IV fluid flush.  This began yesterday, so we anticipate being home Sunday.  This same treatment is slated for next week, but Miles is planning to do the IV hydration part (two-to-three days) at home, with a backpack-based pump.  A welcome set-up, we think.

Miles' blood counts have held strong--no anemia, platelets good--and his intermittent nausea and pain are controlled with medication adjustments.

We learned from Dr. Rodriguez-Galindo (Miles' primary oncologist) that Manny Pacquiao (boxing Floyd Mayweather tomorrow night) has a foundation that serves children in his home country of The Philippines--scholarships, clothing, etc.  The topic came up, as Miles is considering streaming the fight tomorrow night.  Not typically a primary interest of his, but hey, we'll exploit any applicable metaphor these days.