We had a fun weekend. Friday night we had dinner with Uncle Matt/Auntie G (almost a nightly ritual!), watched the Twins game. Saturday we had some flag football activities, then went to cousins Macy & Brooks’ birthday party; and on Sunday Peter was able to go to the Twins game with Grandma & Grandpa Hanson and Uncle Matt. He didn’t catch any foul balls but it sounds like they had fun!
On Monday morning we made into the parking ramp at the U before getting a call that Peter’s treatment had to be postponed. It wasn’t a preventable situation; just a timing issue with the insurance and they believed it would be squared away by Thursday. We had his arms all numbed up, ready for the poke(s)! No matter – he was ecstatic to put this off for a few more days, and wanted to know if he could go to school! We were still able to meet with Dr. Weigel & Jody (our wonderful NP) and discuss the treatment & possible side effects. The Rituximab is a drug they administer a lot of; typically for lymphoma’s. This is a good thing – they are very familiar with it. The most common issue is immediate reactions to the drug, which can be severe, so they administer it very slowly and have an arsenal of drugs available in case they need them. He will get this infusion on Thursday and again in 2 weeks. It targets B cells so it will put him at a higher risk of infection (particularly viral) for awhile, but won’t lower his counts in a sense of making him neutropenic (like he would get each round of chemo, which targets T cells). The day after the 2nd Rituxan infusion he’ll get Cytoxan, and this is a chemo he has had. This dosage is just over half what he had before, and they anticipate some nausea and that he may be a bit wiped out for a couple of days, but that should be it. They do expect his hair to thin at the very least; maybe fall out since he’s had so much treatment. I told Peter and he said, “well I’ve been bald before!†I guess that didn’t bother him too much! I worried this might not go over so well now that he’s 6, in school, and is much more aware than he was at the age of 4. He said he told his class that he has cancer. I think it’s good because the more kids can understand his situation, the more normal he will feel, and that’s what he loves… to be normal and do normal kid things!
First flag football game tonight – he told me on the way home that his team lost 1-0. I’m not sure what kind of scoring system they use in Flag Football, but I agreed. Then he told me that he is slower than all the other kids, “butâ€, he said, “I probably practice my moves a lot more, so I am still really good!†… I love it. Always finding the silver lining.
Thanks for your ongoing prayers for Pete, and please pray for our friend Ella! (http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ellahope)
A journal of Peter’s journey
Erika,
You couldn’t have phrased it any better……
” Always finding the silver lining!” I
is amazing how perceptive and resliient children are to all that is around them. He’s / you’ve all been through so much.
He’s a pretty remarkable young man.
Peter…..I wish you well at your appointments and keep up that positive attitude, it will take you any where you want to go!! Have a great school year and allot of fun perfecting those flag football moves!!!!
Thoughts and prayers to all,
Love from Brainerd,
The Olson’s
Ty, Lisa, Paige, Drew & Hallsey
Peter, all of us here in Detroit are thinking of you and keeping you in our prayers. Sounds like you are doing a great job with football. I saw your Golden Gophers beat up on our Bowling Green Falcons last week, maybe one day you will be the starting QB at U of M!! Good luck and keep fighting!!
AJ, Heidi and Claire
You are so often in our thoughts- keep that handsome chin up like you always have, and best of luck with this next go. Dr.Weigel and Jody are wonderful practitioners, they will take good care of you as always.
Then get back to school, and back to your usual, family-sport-friend filled life!
Take care,
KT Kelley and Peter Wolkoff
Peter, you’re the best! Always finding the silver lining…I love that. A fantastic quality, my friend. Thanks for the day brightener on such a dreary day!
-Amy Peterson
Hi Eigners –
Brainerd is not the same with out the EIGNER Gang.
Our thoughts and prayers are with your entire family as you begin another chapter in the journey called LIFE!!
We are all so appreciative of the website – Thanks for keeping us up to date on Peter and your awesome family.
Colleen Faacks & your friends at the MMBA!
You’re all in my heart. All of you, all of Peter’s family, are my heroes for the courage and heartfulness you embody as you tend to Peter’s health, tend to each other, tend to daily life! Thank you for being such compassionate people.
Hi, Eigners….catching up on you as we’ve been out of town a lot with Jim’s mother being ill and sadly passing away 2 days before her 93rd birthday. She has been blind for many years and like you, Peter, was so brave and determined! It is so good to read how well you’re doing, Peter. Hang in there through these next few treatments and know that everyone is sending extra prayers for you. I chuckled at your mom’s note about you bringing home your lunch because you liked to talk too much and didn’t have time to eat….it reminds me of someone else (Mom)…back when she and Kyla were Miss Socials!