Max Update! Sep 28, 2004

Hello all, time for another update on Max!

 

First off he's really doing very well all things considered.  He's now completed five of his six in-patient chemo therapy treatments, (the fifth was completed last Saturday, September 25). He will complete the program with a final treatment toward the end of October. 

 

This was our fifth time through this three day treatment and by now the process seems kind of familiar. It’s still an exhausting, uncomfortable ordeal - sleeping in a room with up to three other patients, waking up every hour or so throughout the night for Max to use the bathroom, having vital signs taken throughout the night, nurses coming in and out and mostly being confronted with so many beautiful kids who’s lives have been so traumatically affected and forever changed by cancer.

 

It's still difficult and for some reason almost surprising to see "Hanson, M" on the door of one of these rooms as you walk in.

 

We play games, color, go to the playroom, watch movies, and overall we're able to keep things moving along. The people here are all so wonderful and it's good to connect with others going through this. Walking around the hospital it's hard to imagine that just a few months ago we pretty much lived here every day, every night for six weeks. I don't know how we did it.

 

So far Max’s body has coped with these treatments phenomenally well. This is a really aggressive protocol. We were told that it's not unusual for kids on it to spend more time in the hospital than out. The fact that Max can walk around is amazing - but he’s not just walking around. He’s going to school full time, reading books, doing math problems and taking tests. He’s helping to coach his school soccer team, going to Seahawks games and birthday parties. It is very sad what has happened to Max. He’s trying so hard to be just like he always was and despite the fact that he can’t run, jump, throw, or swim very far, he keeps trying anyway. There is so much he can’t do, so much he is unsure of, so little he understands and so much physical and emotional pain he feels. But his strength and courage are inspired and deeply moving.

 

We keep reminding ourselves how blessed we are that he is doing so well.

 

Max went back to school with the rest of his third grade class in early September! His teacher, the students, the faculty and all the parents at St. Anne’s continue to amaze us with their support and help. We are profoundly grateful.

 

All the kids in Max's class made self portraits and they're hanging on the wall outside the classroom. Max's is bald with a couple stubbly hairs and a really big smile.

 

It's soccer season and thanks to the kind support of the St. Anne soccer coaches Max has joined the team as assistant coach. He loves it! He's pretty good at it too, drawing up drills, helping put cones out and even kicking the ball around a little. During games and scrimmages he stands on the sideline shouting encouragement to his team. I looked on one practice and noticed something I hadn't before - a sense of strength and a presence that somehow set him apart from anyone on the field. In past years he was obviously a good soccer player. This year he seems to be something more. I can’t describe it. I just felt enormously proud and I wanted to be close to him.

 

On October 16 Max gets to be "Lucky Dawg" at the Huskies football game! This means he'll accompany the Husky football team captains onto the field for the coin toss and sit with his family in some special seats for the game. Max is really excited about it and so are we! If you can get to the game on October 16 try to come a little early and join us in cheering Max, (and the Huskies) on!

 

Thanks to our friends that stopped by Max’s hot chocolate stand on Sunday! He raised about $100 for Make a Wish Foundation thanks to your very generous contributions. We have some really exciting news about Max’s Make a Wish but we’ll save that for our next update.

 

Once again thanks to our dear friends and family everywhere for your support and continued help. This has completely changed most every part of our lives. We are so humbly grateful to all of you who have decided to let it change yours too, to be there for us, to help Max and to pay attention. Thank you.  Pay attention – there are angels, there are miracles, God is real.

 

Blessings and Light