3 down, 2 to go! This has been a tough week so far. The main side effect of antibody treatment is nerve pain, and Peter is experiencing his fair share. They pre-medicate him to avoid hives, nausea and help manage the pain, but it is still evident during and after the treatment; it wipes him out! We spend most of each day in clinic (8 to 2) and then we head back to the Ronald McDonald House. He has been sleeping the rest of the days/nights and is on his way to doing that again. He’s having a lot of residual pain in his feet (neuropathy) so they hurt no matter what position he is in; and walking is out of the question. The only remedies seem to be hot packs, me rubbing them until my hands are numb and the pain meds (and a little “Captain Underpants” reading in between!) You know he’s not feeling well when he’s not even thinking about the playroom downstairs. By morning, however, he is happy & ready to go again (albeit with a little more hesitation each day). It might seem a little harsh to subject our child to this, but we hope it is “training†his body to eliminate cancerous cells on its own. And, compared to the side effects of all the other treatment he has had, this is at least manageable and doesn’t carry any long-term issues. So we are taking each day as it comes & looking forward to coming home late Friday night! It’s hard to believe that it’s been 1 year since Peter’s lungs “shut down†and we were told he might not make it… he has come a long way! We do not take this for granted for 1 minute, and we never forget our other friends who are fighting hard or have fought the good fight. We would love it if you could add my Dad (aka “Grandpa Poopsterâ€) to your prayers, as he has just been diagnosed with an early stage of prostate cancer.
Thanks for checking in!
A journal of Peter’s journey
Hang in there, Pete-man! It brings tears to my eyes just imagining your mommy having to watch you deal with such pain! The hardest part about being a mommy (or daddy!) is watching your child suffer. I guess it’s comforting to know that this treatment is worth the fight…. anything to help train your body to eliminate cancer cells is worth the fight! Hang in there, my friend! You’ve proved tough so many times before – we know you will sail through this, too!
I am so sorry about Grandpa Poopster. Atleast he has you, Pete, to guide him through the tougher times!! We will most definitely add Grandpa to our prayers ….
With love and happy thoughts~
Jen, Ryan, Emily, Lily & Parker
Hello Pete and Erika
I am so glad you only have to do this for one week. At least he gets a break after that. We are so glad he is out there having this treatment. He has waited a long time to be HAMA ready. Yahoo!
Hope the next couple days go good and you get home safe and sound.
We will definately pray for Mr. Poopster. Hope all goes well for him and that he is taken care of as well as Peter has been.
Take care and we will talk when you get home.
Thinking of you all the time.
Jill S.
Pete-man,
It doesn’t surprise me to hear that you are taking this challenge in the same manner as you did all of your other challenges; head on. What stinks is that you’ve faced more challenges in just over two years than most families do in a lifetime. Hang in there bud, we all love you very much and will be sure to continue to pray for you. Additionally, we will be sure to add Grandpa Poopster to our list, and we have no doubt that you have provided him with the greatest role model possible for his upcoming fight.
Love you,
Uncle Roy, Auntie Macer, Grace & Lily
Hey Peter, and family,
I am so sorry to hear about your Grandpa poopster. I will definately keep him in our prayers! We have been thinking about you and your family a lot lately. It doesn’t sound like you are having much fun in New York, thankfully it’s almost over for this time. I will contiue to pray for the pain to go away and for a complete healing. You all are always on our minds. Keep fighting!! Love you all and miss you too!
Many prayers,
LaCoe Inwards and family
I hurt just reading your posting … hang tough Peter, almost through. Michelle did tell me about Brian … our thoughts and prayers are with all of you for good news all around!
Mary & Gary Mueller
Hey Pete! Hang in there buddy! Doesn’t sound like fun for you either MOM. Have a safe trip home. We are all thinking of you here at MHC!
Woody and Dino
Dear Erika, Ty, Peter, Eleanor,
Good morning. It’s a beautiful morning here in the Twin Cities. You are front and center on my mind as each Saturday morning is set aside for my private Eigner moments and I take a hushed pleasure in the process. It is very quiet and thoughtful time.
We are pulling for you.
Thank you for the antibody treatments update. We understand the need for this and you are angels to weather these challenges. I can visualize you tenderly rubbing little Peter’s feet, Erika. It’s a gift to Peter and it is just so sweet and loving. As I thought about it, there is a lot of symbolism in this exercise that goes back in history thousands of years. Rub those sore feet.
It’s difficult to fathom the breath of this past year since Peter’s lungs shut down. The period, in many ways, has been and is a lifetime. It’s been a privilege for us to be able to remotely monitor it with you. You are all in my thoughts all the time, especially Saturday mornings.
Losing “Little Gus: is heartbreaking; nothing less.
We are very sorry to learn about your father Erika. We hope this has been caught early enough so that he is able to deal as easily as possible.
I look forward to hearing how the rest of the week played out.
Thinking of you all this day.
Sincerely,
Terry Forbord & Rebecca Hopf
Hello Pete & Erika,
It sounds like your not having any fun but hang in there big guy because we are all praying for the pain to go away and you will be up and running real soon. Erika so sorry to hear about your dad we will keep him in our prayers as well. Have a safe trip home we think of you all often.
Dean , Denise , Blake , Bren & Tiff
Hi Peter!
I hope you are recovering from the round of 3F8 and feeling much better. We are so proud of you, thinking of how much you have endured and how very brave you are, and praying so hard that all of this will make you well ALWAYS. Many many prayers and much love to all of you–hope everyone is getting settled in to new surroundings and you will be off to a GREAT school year!
We are so sorry to learn about your little friend! And about Grandpa Hanson, too!!! Peter, you are such a tough little man – you can surely help Grandpa out!! I got a really cute picture of you at Jennis’ Uncle Tracy’s house at the lake. It was so good to see you and you sisters – I sure miss you! We still keep you all in thought and prayer!
Love, Peg and Ron
Hello Peter!
Just checking in to see how you are doing and by the sounds of it you hanging in there! Lexi was hospitalized at the U of M last week and as we walked the halls in 5B, we came across your picture! Every trip around the floor we would look at your picture and Lexi would say “and there’s Peter”!!
I hope you are home soon!
Take Care
Hang in there Peter! We have been praying for you. You have such a wonderful family to take care of you and help you through this! Take care, you and your Grandpa are in our prayers. Keep fighting!
Love,
Jason, Melissa, Cole and Paige Beyer
Peter~
It was so wonderful to run into you at the store last night. I can’t believe how great you looked. It brought such joy to me, to see you looking so good. I know your parents are so proud of you and all you have done! I can’t tell you guys enough how much of an inspiration you all are to us. We are sad that you are moving, but hope to stay in touch. Would love to get together with you all someday when your lives settle down. Hang in there buddy, and I know that we will be celebrating all the wonderful news you will share with us, especially the NED status. Love you!
All our love and prayers~ Ryan, Megan, and Logan
Hi, Eigners….we are in MSP this week watching Tasha’s girls part of the time and dog sitting while she is attending a vet conference. Drove past the “old neighborhood” yesterday and thought of the Hanson’s. That reminded me to check on you, Peter. Happy to read of all the positive reports…yahoo!! Sorry to hear you are in so much pain after these treatments…you’ve been through so much but if this helps keep you well, then it will be worth it!!
We are very sorry to hear about Grandpa. I bet you’ll be a big help and inspiration to him as he fights this battle too. Our thoughts and prayers are with you both!
Hang in there, Peter!
Eigners: Sorry to hear about Grandpa Poopster but happy that by this time you are home and enjoying what is left of summer. Hope you are taking time to bask in the sun and revel in the triumphs so far. Pete will start school soon–what a joyous thing to be able to say. Ann Hoechst
Hey Pete~
So good to have had you and Ellie on Wednesday! Everybody was jumping for joy when I announced that the 2 of you were coming over! They sure are going to miss you……
I was just thinking about the date… and it occured to me that we must be at the 2 year “anniversary” date of when you were first diagnosed with NB?? I send you my happiest thoughts and my strongest prayers… you’ve tackled so much these past 2 years, yet you never cease to amaze me with your abundant strength and your will to fight. Keep that fight and that determination going pal… you have a long life ahead of you and many more lives to influence. 🙂
If I don’t see you before, good luck as you begin 1st grade at your new school! Your classmates are in for a real treat …. 🙂
Love you, Peter!
Love, Jenni & family
Dear Peter,
You are an amazing young man to continue hanging so tough all the time. I will continue to pray for you and ask our Father in Heaven to continue to give you strength. Our whole church prays for you most every Sunday too. It makes me happy to see that you have such a loving family that stays close to you and helps you. May God bless you all.
Ken Schroeder