Twas the Night Before Christmas

This is a picture of Emily trying to touch an ornament on the biggest Christmas tree I've ever seen inside.
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I just want to send out a quick note of thanks for all the support and love and good wishes that have been sent our way from everybody. One would think that this would be a difficult time of year to be at the hospital, but it has been surprisingly joyful and uplifting (and not because of the avalanche of gifts Benjamin has received). We had a wonderful day together as a family today, and are looking forward to tomorrow's activities.
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There is a sense of rightness in spending the holidays with the very same people we've been living with for the past 6 months, nurses and patient's families alike. This morning a father of a patient who is now being followed through the out-patient clinic came by to wish us happy holidays even though he should have been at work. That's just the kind of place this is - it doesn't take much for the families here to become a bigger family under the cancer umbrella. And what better way is there than to spend Christmas with family.
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So to hugs and kisses to all our cyberspace family, who have been faithfully following Benjamin's progress through this blog, and the Merriest, Jolliest, Happiest Christmas possible to all of you, full of love and joy and good times. And here's a video to make you smile:

Chemo: A Thing of The Past

Well, it's official. A week ago today, on December 16th, Benjamin received his final dose of chemotherapy. Now we're in the waiting game. His counts are still dropping, and today he will receive transfusions of both blood and platelets (he already got platelets on Wednesday). But other than that this final course has been a breeze. Except for chemo and the transfusions, Benjamin has been free from his lines. He's still eating and drinking like a champ, so nutrition and hydration are not issues. And this week he started walking on his own - from the middle of the room no less. After taking tentative steps all week, on Friday he just decided that he would push himself up from the floor and take off. Luckily, I can take video with our digital camera, so I was able to capture the moment.

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We will be spending Christmas at the hospital (obviously), but that's not a bad thing. First of all, if we were at home our tree wouldn't stand a chance against Destructo-Baby. "No" to Benjamin is a joke, and he thinks everything in his reach is fair game. Secondly, we're being spoiled - not just Benjamin, but all of us. Since Benjamin was admitted on December 7th, there has been a steady stream of gift givers, carolers and local celebs for the kids, as well as punch, egg-nog, massages and other treats for the parents.

On December 10th the Montreal Canadiens invaded the hospital, causing near-pandemonium and mass-hysteria in patients, parents and staff alike. Benjamin and Emily had their pictures taken with Chris Higgins (#21), Mathieu Dandenault (#25), Andrei Kostitsyn (#46) and Jaroslav Halak (#41). They also got autographs and goodie bags, and Emily got her picture with Youppi, the team mascot outside the hospital. We made sure Emily was there that day, because we knew they were coming, and she made a picture for the players. But when the time came to give it to them, poor Emily froze. Who can blame her, all of 3-feet -nothing standing in front of an 800 lb. wall of muscle! But she was very excited, and has now decided that she is a very good hockey player.

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Two days later we were visited by Kent Nagano and part the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. They wanted to play for Benjamin, but he was sleeping. The local soccer and football teams also visited, as well as many other people bearing gifts, either on behalf of corporations or just because. Leucan, the local childhood cancer support group, delivered a massive stocking crammed to the brim with goodies. The Child Life department hosted a Bingo game over the intercom system as an excuse to give out more gifts, and Santa will be visiting each floor Christmas morning with even more.

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So don't worry too much about us. As long as Benjamin continues to be well, we'll enjoy this Christmas together as a family buried under a mountain of toys. I've already made plans to do a sweep of the toys we currently have, and fill up bags to be donated so that there's room to bring all these new ones home.