First day of Kindergarten!

Jackson’s 1st day of Kindergarten!!

The day has come for him to head back to school with his friends just like the other kids! He was so excited and did so good going right into school. He even told me he didn’t need me to walk him in.

He is starting Half days as we monitor how he tolerates it. I have faith that he will be going full days before long.

I just got an update from his teacher he is having a good time!

It may seem like such a small victory for him to return to school, but for our family it is huge! Seeing him get stronger and healthier and able to do everything other kids do is indescribable!  Knowing we have a fresh start and we can continue to try and get our lives back is another step in the right direction.

Knowing he is on the other side of this awful disease is amazing! During the treatment looking forward to this day was hard to visualize. It felt so far out of reach! It felt so uncertain, it felt scary.

We continue to thank God daily for his remission and for the Joy that Jackson continues to have despite all he has been through!

Thank you for all your love! Believe it or not all the support plays a huge role in our strength and healing!

One month out

First Offical One month check up since treatment ended was today!

ANC is still low at 800 and white Blood count is low. But all other numbers are stable! Doctor said today it will take 6 months to 1 year for his bone marrow to fully recover. The doctor reminded me again how intense his treatment was and how hard chemo is on the body.

I was reminded to be patient and let his body heal. It’s so true. I just want him to be 100% and the truth is he just isn’t yet and I need to be okay with that. I know it will come soon enough. He is getting stronger everyday and I need to stop and rejoice in that and not focus so much on the end result.

His hair and eye lashes are coming in full force so that is exciting. His weight is steady at the big 5-0 and he is 3’9 And he finally lost both his front teeth.   All things to celebrate!

Big Bath

Have I ever mentioned how much this guy loves water?!

From an Infant on he has always thrown a fit when I make him get out of the shower or Bath-tub!

Tonight he gets to take a bath after a long 6 months of not being able to shower or bathe.

Meredith Schaumburg Husnik he loves the shaving toys and bath bombs it was too Cute watching him shave. Thank you!

Matt Myerscough he’s watching even when you don’t know it. He knew exactly what to do.

#finallybathtime #bubbles #bathbombs #shavinghisface #JacksonStrong

Stupid fever

So many of you have reached out asking for an update on Jackson. 

So here it goes... 

Friday he had his surgery and did awesome! He was sore from the line being removed but was so brave. 

Saturday morning around 3:30am he spiked a fever of 102.7 after several phone calls to Riley’s, they decided he needed to go to the ER @  SBL to have lab work and blood cultures done. In the mean time we learned his ANC had dropped to 500 right before the surgery that raises some red flags.  Which warranted an ER visit! Man, was that hard to do. Taking him back knowing he was going to have to get blood taken and get a IV after just having his line removed. It crushed my heart. 

They ran labs and gave him IV Antibotics. Labs came back negative for any bacterial infections. So we chalked it up to a viral bug. He continued a fever for a day along with some vomitting. He was feeling much better on Monday!  He goes back for more labs and a check up on October 11th! 

Today he got to start his homebound schooling and we are so excited that Mindy Beurskens gets to be the one doing it. I can’t describe what an amazing feeling it is to have someone you know and trust to do this. He will also start his speech and OT at home as well. So we are excited to get that going as well. 

Otherwise he is getting stronger each day. He loves being outside playing hide and seek and going to the car wash! 

Oh and he got a new puppy yesterday! 

Thank you for loving him through each phase, for checking in on him and for praying for him daily! 

CFD

Huge Thanks to the Charleston Fire Department for making Jackson’s day! He got to climb around the fire trucks and a ambulance and check them all out! Learned about all their tools, lights, and sirens. His favorite part was spraying the hose!

We are so blessed to have such amazing friends and to live in a community like this one! These guys were so gentle, patient and kind with Jackson.

#Jacksonthefirefighter #CharlestonFireDepartment

JFL and Wilber Cares

Thank you #WilberCares for the awesome Posters and for selling T-shirt’s to raise money for Jackson!
We appreciate it so much!
Mark Myerscough thanks for making the trip, so glad we got to visit with you.

Jackson got to cheer the Trojans on at the JFL football game today and had some very special visitors there to see him as well! #CousinLove

His request for the weekend was Camping and Boating. So guess what we are doing?!?!

One week out

First check up @Rileys since ending his treatment was a success. Jackson was so brave almost like he had done this a time or two 🤪
Things look good, ANC is at 300 and all other numbers are stable. He still has his central line in. He won’t get that removed for a few more weeks.  His anc has to be at 1500 before they will remove it.

So until we get that removed we are in a limbo state and feeling like it’s not quite over just yet. With his ANC so low we are keeping him contained as much as possible to ensure he doesn’t get sick. We can’t wait to celebrate the day when he is DONE with this all and we can work on putting this behind us and move on.  We are feeling stuck right now, but glad we are feeling that way in the comfort of our home and not a hospital room.

Since we have been home he hasn’t done much. He is loving hanging out with his Brother and Sister and of course was over the moon excited when his buddy Vincent stopped by to see him.  Uncle Jeff Ianello sent the boys some fun Remote control cars too.

#JacksonStrong #cancerFree #Remission #brotherandsisterlove