Phase Two!

Onto phase 2!

Last week, Owen had an appointment to go over the results of his bone marrow biopsy that happened the week prior (day 29). Overall, we received positive news - there was no leukemia found in the marrow! The fine print to that was that there wasn't a lot of 'good stuff' in the marrow either - Our doctors described Owen's situation best with comparing it with a flowerbed. When you have a flowerbed with weeds and you spray on stuff to kill the weeds, the flowers die too. You know the weed killer has done its job when the flowers grow back, but not the weeds. While we didn't have a ton of flowers, there was also no weeds either at the time of the biopsy, and that was the most important part of induction. Owen's platelets and other numbers continue to go up on their own though, and that tells us he has some healthy marrow in his body! There are a few things that have to happen to move to consolidation (phase 2), and Owen passed on most of those things. He had the blood numbers he needed (platelets and hemoglobin) and there was no leukemia in the marrow, but his ANC (immune system) was still a little low. His doctor was confident that it would get to where it needed to be by the end of the week, so we planned to start Thursday. While they were getting Owen's next batch of Chemo ordered and ready, they ran into a snag with our insurance that delayed a med out till Monday..Our doctor shrugged that off and said, "how do you feel about going home to Wyoming for a few days?" ..we of course jumped at that chance!

The last few days have been absolutely wonderful, spending time together as a family in our own home for the first time in over a month! Our apartment in Denver was beginning to feel more like home since its been the only place the 5 of us have been together over the last month. We celebrated Mike's Masters graduation and Mother's day this morning..all together, as it should be! 

If I learn nothing else from this experience, I hope I learn to not take for granted how truly blessed I am. I have the best husband/partner and best kids in the world. With all this going on, I live for those moments when all three kids are fighting about some seemingly dumb game like who shot who in Fortnite. I want the fights and the laughter that follows because that comes with being together. I have a family who loves and cheers for us and we have an entire community there to support us along this journey. I hope I remember to love like my kid has leukemia. 

Owen and I made the trek back to Denver and we'll head to the hospital bright and early tomorrow morning for day 1 of Consolidation. Consolidation lasts 8 weeks and at the end, Owen will do another bone marrow biopsy to check to make sure there is still no leukemia. He, technically speaking, is in remission. Its 'little r' remission and not 'big R' Remission, but we'll take it! Owen has been so much more himself lately and its been so great for all of us! Here's hoping he continues to handle the chemo well and his body works to keep the leukemia away. He's the bravest, strongest person I know and really truly an inspiration to me and Mike. 

Day 29

First off, get yourself a sister like mine. Quick little shout out to Melissa, Owen's fearless aunt, who took time to not only build this website, but design shirts and mugs and everything in between for it too! Off-line, she's my go-to kid watcher, tortoise feeder, and cat finder at a moment's notice. Thank you, Birk family - You're pretty darn spectacular. 

What a (insert expletive) month. 

On Easter, while I was working to prepare dinner for mine and my sister's family, Owen got a bloody nose. Normally, a bloody nose is no big deal, but the week prior, we were in the ER with a bloody nose that lasted over 3 hours. This one seemed to be tracking to be similar, so Michael made a walk in clinic appointment for an hour later, hoping we wouldn't need it and having the safety net if we did. Oh boy did we need it.

Owen and I were ushered back to the room shortly after arriving at the hospital and I told the doctor my concerns - that, on top of the nose bleed, Owen was lethargic the last couple weeks and needed several naps throughout the day- something that, if you know Owen, was completely out of character. I was concerned he had strep or some sort of cold causing him to just feel icky. The doctor listened - something I thank God for everyday. Our walk-in clinic doctor listened and quite possibly saved Owen's life. He took my concerns and ran a hemoglobin test that showed Owen needed a blood transfusion, maybe more. We were moved over to the ER and while they were running all the needed tests to make sure the blood would be safe for Owen, they discovered something more. Maybe the ER nurse told me what he had then, maybe it was just the 'blood infection' that I swear I heard, but before I knew it, I was calling Mike, telling him to get me an overnight bag together and ask my sister to take the kids for a bit while things are figured out, he was already a few steps ahead of me when I called. Mike brought my bag and shortly after, I was getting into the back of an ambulance with Owen to head to the airport. On the flight, Owen got platelets which helped the nose bleed clot, over 6 hours after it started. He started the blood transfusion while I furiously googled different blood infections and asked my sister about family history of things since she was well versed in stressing about a child's health. Once we landed and were taken to Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children and the overnight doctor told me that we would find out what type of Leukemia Owen had in the morning. Leukemia. My baby, my sassy, adventurous and sure of himself baby, has cancer.

Mike was able to join us in Denver with his dad managing the older boys so we could face this all together. In the coming days, Owen would receive around the clock care to address all the things that he was fighting through. On top of, and also due to, the cancer, Owen was given care for his rhinovirus and strep and a few issues with some of his organs that were working so hard to keep him safe. Chemo started on that Tuesday and the oncology and picu doctors walked us through each test and concern that came up. If you have to have a sick kid, Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children is top notch. Seriously. Everyone, including the sanitation staff, were and continue to be so wonderful.  

I think the first few days I was just numb and in disbelief. Honestly, even a month in, I sometimes feel like that. This isn't supposed to be something that happens to normal people, it happens in movies or "Walk to Remember" type books people read in middle school. The harsh reality is that this is real life..too real, and its something we will be living for a while. I can't thank the people in our life enough for all the support and prayers that came our way in those early days and still today. If I haven't said it to you already, thank you. The support and offers to help in some type of way are wonderfully overwhelming and it makes this mountain that we have to climb a bit more bearable. Our parents and families, our jobs (shout out to my boss!), CDS (Mr. Clint!), our friends, Kara for being a superstar of all things, Mallory for caring for our older boys so I can continue to work, organizations that have helped us navigate this all, people venoming us to help with care and living life in two different states...There's too many people and acts of kindness to list. We are truly blessed. We've made it to day 29 of treatment, which is the end of his first phase of chemo. We find out next week where we're at and where we're headed. Prayers are appreciated as we sit and wait once again for news. Owen has a long road ahead of him, but my hope is that he is just stubborn enough to get it done. 

When Mike taught kindergarten, he would read 'Oh the Places You'll Go' to his students before they moved onto first grade. There's a line in that book that he mentioned:

"You will come to a place where the streets are not marked. Some windows are lighted, but mostly they're darked."

Thank you for being the light in Owen's windows. You are all so incredibly appreciated and I don't think there is anything we could ever do or say to express how thankful we are for your support and love through it all, but we will continue to try.