Chemo - half way done (or more)!!

Chemo went as well as it could be expected. I really did not feel to great during it and it was a tough time. The first day was the toughest. I went in around 9:30 and i had about 6-7 hours there. I was put into a room and for the most part i rested and played x box. Something that i have realized during chemo is that anything you eat or crave during it, you never want to eat again. The next day it just sounds like the worst thing ever. The first day was definitely the roughest day. Days 2 and 3 were okay. I only had about 1-2 hours of chemo and it was mostly getting in and out pretty quickly. Over all it kinda sucked but I find small little things to look forward to during chemo like getting home and resting. I was not able to get to my hockey practices this week but I am probably most definitely feeling good enough to go to them this week.

When I am at home i can mostly keep my pain under control. I have had quite a bit of nausea and haven't been able to walk due to dizziness. This week I am doing my tutoring Monday and Tuesday and hopefully hockey practice.

Tuesday i have a blood test to test my counts depending on if i can play in my hockey tournament this weekend up in Hyland Hills. The Dr.'s said not to plan on playing.

I am very excited that chemo is over half way done (so we think). I am also hopeful radiation therapy will go smoothly so i can go back to school and hockey. Going through all of this it really makes me think how grateful it is to just go to school and have a normal day and see all my friends. I really miss that but I am hoping its not too long before that can happen.

I will try and write more now that I am on chemo break again!

Thanks for all your prayers and support!

-Tristan

p.s- If any of you get a phone call from me asking if i can stay with you don't act surprised, my parents are pretty fed up with me.

Twas the night before chemo and all through the house...

Relaxing before the big event...

From Lenina
(Tristan's Mom)

Tristan's hair started falling out on Friday. As awful as that can be - especially given that he has great hair (!) he and Chris (Tristan's Dad) both shaved their heads Saturday morning. Lest it be just a ho-hum experience, my good friend Leighann, owner of Leighann's Hair Studio and Spa in Greenwood Village, pampered them and comped the services (Thank You!!).

Chris (Dad) goes first

Caleb (brother) waits patiently

Not so sure...

Almost Done!

Bald and Beautiful...

We have Chemo tomorrow, Tuesday and Wednesday. We will update during that time to let you know how round two of chemotherapy goes. As always, thanks so much for your thoughts and prayers.

From Lenina: Tristan's Mom

Day 2 of Chemo - yesterday wasn't so bad, but today has been rough. We are at Children's hospital as I write this and we have another hour or so to go before they will send him home. Tristan looks very pale and weak and is feeling nauseated but they are treating him with several different nausea drugs. It is so very hard to see him this way. I know that chemotherapy is virtually poisoning his body but it seems to have sucked the life force out of him too. We are so lucky that we only have a few months of this - we've been told that some kids have to do chemo for 24 months. This is not how I'd envisioned his teenage years...but due to this amazing medical technology, he will most certainly get to celebrate his sweet 16 in February. Although a 16th birthday is noteworthy for every kid...it will have very special meaning for Tristan and all who love him because at that point, most of the brain cancer treatment will be behind us.