First off, our family wants to extend a deeply heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone for their interest, love, and support of Trip. It feels nearly impossible to effectively put the challenges of this experience into words. When it comes to the care and concern felt by all of you, however, there is but one word, and that is GRATEFUL.

Here’s what  has transpired this last month:

Within 24 hours of learning Trip’s diagnosis, we were blindsided by another stark reality: a large mass in his chest made up of white blood cells. As the doctors rushed to begin clearing the mass – the mass got into his bloodstream. At this point, things quickly became critical as there was a risk of him approaching kidney failure, so the plan was made to take him on an emergency flight to Cincinnati in the case he would require dialysis.    

When wondering what Trip’s first flight would be like, I don’t think any of us could have dreamed it would have been on a medical helicopter under such urgent circumstances.

Arriving in Cincinnati, however, Trip was now under the care of the best pediatric specialists in the United States. Thankfully, the doctors were able to avoid dialysis by utilizing high-powered blood pressure medications. Over the weeks, Trip has been such a big boy as he’s dealt with the painful installation of a PICC-line for his medicine, lumbar puncture, and bone marrow aspiration.

Thus far, Trip has had four doses of chemo and is on steroids twice a day – which help with the side effects of the chemo as well as work to eradicate the mass.  

Today, He is doing great. His little face is puffy due to the steroids, but he’s got a solid appetite and is in smiley spirits. Under regular circumstances, Trip is famously an extremely picky eater (especially for a 5-year-old). We’re happy to announce that that has very much changed 😀. Foods that he usually won’t even look at, he now suddenly can’t get enough of –  especially egg sandwiches and his new favorite, Korean food.

We will have more updates in the coming days.

With love and gratitude,

Trip’s family