Max Update! Nov 7, 2004

Time for another update on Max!

Max finished his final inpatient chemo treatment on Sat Oct 23 and his very last chemo treatment on Wed the 27th. Attached are a couple of pictures. Max has been working so hard for this day for the last nine months. He’s done with treatments. We’re so proud of him but it seems he doesn’t really want to hear about it. He’s done, that’s that. He’s ready to look ahead. Here's some pictures from his last treatment, leaving the hospital - http://groups.msn.com/SharedHansonPictures/byebyehospital.msnw

As expected the treatments have lowered Max's white and red blood cells as well as his platelets – his “counts” quite a bit. In past treatments his body had rebounded remarkably quickly and counts bounced back pretty dramatically. This time it's definitely been tougher. His body has just been beaten down to a point where even as strong as he is; it really has to work to get back to normal.

We had to go in for a platelet transfusion on Halloween. It was pretty upsetting for Max – he thought he'd seen the last of the cancer treatment wing at Children's. It went fast though and before the end of Garfield the Movie we were on our way home.

As a result of the situation with Max’s blood we had to stay home from the Seahawks game against the Panthers. The Panthers are one of his favorite teams so he was pretty upset -yet another in the growing list of things Max wasn’t able to do. We decided we’d try to cheer him up by making Qwest field on Queen Anne. Next thing we knew there was a sign on the door to the basement “Qwest Field” in big blue letters. Max even made a concession stand in front of the TV in the basement. During the game his favorite part was always when I came over for some more peanuts, chips and beef jerky… It worked out well. The Hawks even won!

For Halloween this year Max was Santa Claus and his brother Beck was Rudolph! Once again I have to say that I don't know how he's doing this. He trick-or-treated all up and down the street by our house, climbed stairs carried a big ol’ bag of candy all while dressed as Santa - complete with a pillow strapped around his waist for added girth. Max doesn't even really like candy that much. Of course his evening was nothing like it would have otherwise been - running, laughing from house to house with a pack of friends. Max had to stay away from crowds of kids - he really wouldn't have been able to keep up anyway. This seemed more like an athletic performance – one thing Max wasn't going to let get away from him. He didn't.

Here's a few pics from Halloween
http://groups.msn.com/SharedHansonPictures/halloween04.msnw

This last Wednesday began the festivities surrounding Max’s Make a Wish trip. He came up with a really imaginative wish – The Make a Wish people are amazing for being able to pull it off. Max’s wish was to travel on the team plane for a road game with one of the local sports teams - Sonics, Mariners or Seahawks. Our Make a Wish volunteers told us they’d never heard that one before and cautioned us that it might be pretty challenging – Sports teams probably have some really strict rules about who can travel on the team plane. After a few months (and a few backup wish ideas) they got back to us - the Sonics graciously agreed to grant Max’s wish – He’d get to be a Sonic for the day. So on Monday November 7, we’re traveling to Denver on the team plane, staying with them at the hotel, going to shoot around before the game and Max will even get to be an honorary ball boy for the game! Then we all get to watch the game together. Tune in if you get a chance, it’s on Tuesday, Nov 9 on Fox Sports Net at 6PM. Make a Wish doesn’t let wishes happen without quite a big production! Here’s a quick itinerary so far, it’s been really incredible!!

We had a big send off party at Max’s school, complete with an all school assembly. The Sonics mascot, Squatch, even came and played games with the kids. We got some pictures with him and Max. We'll post to the site soon.

On Thursday Max was picked up from school by a limo! The kids in his class all went outside to have a look. Kids love limos!

The limo took us to Sonics practice where we got to watch Nate and the guys run through the offense and work on defense too. Max was invited to go down to the floor and Nate took time out from practice to introduce him to the team. He asked Max what he thought they should work on after seeing their first game the night before. “Playing better defense” Max said. Everybody laughed.

During the rest of practice Max sat on one of the benches by the court talking to Rashard Lewis, one of his favorite players who was laying low at practice. I later asked Max what they were talking about – “basketball” he told me. That’s it? “Yep, just basketball.”

After practice Nate told us we could go out and shoot some hoops if we wanted. Max had brought his own ball – “M.J.” (he names all his basketballs). He looked at me, passed me the ball and we headed onto the court. We shot baskets. I didn’t even think about it but this was the first time since before Max’s surgery that he and I have played together on a full size hoop with a full size ball. It felt great!

I guess it could have been a little uncomfortable or maybe scary for Max – hanging out with pro athletes. Somehow Max didn’t seem at all “start-struck” by it. Maybe he just figures he’s a basketball player, they’re basketball players – “what’s the big deal?”

Max’s blood has finally started to rebound and he’s at last perking up. It’s starting to feel like we can take a breath. Max should never have to worry again about whether he has to stay home from school because he doesn’t have enough white blood cells or have the threat of a transfusion hanging over him. He feels the difference too. This evening I came up stairs and caught him doing sit-ups in front of the TV while he watched the Sonics, Spurs game.

It feels like we’re standing at the edge of a monolithic ravine. We’re looking down one last time into the chasm we’ve just climbed out of before turning to walk away together. Thank you all for the hand on the way out.

Blessings, Love and Light,
Strength, Courage and Love To the Max