The High Cost of Doing Good

We got the bill for Jake's 28 sessions of radiation.

35,996 dollars. And zero cents.

Jacob is now far and away our most expensive child :)

We're very blessed in Chris's job and the insurance it provides. But man! Seeing a number like that is enough to make you look twice.

In other news, Jake and I made it through episode 11 of Survivor: Pearl Islands. That was 4:15 in the morning. Jacob managed to fall deeply asleep until about 8:00 a.m., but I pretty much just listened to my iPod and dozed a little in the chair. Fortunately we were home before noon so I could have a nice long nap.

He never did get sick--hooray! But he's a harder time bouncing back this week. He was tired and dizzy and didn't want to eat or drink for several days. He's back down below 90 pounds. He also had his first fall on Wednesday. Between being dizzy and the neuropathy in his feet, he just went down in the middle of the kitchen.

But here's the great news--he's got a two week break! He just completed the first 13 week cycle of the VAC protocol (he'll do three cycles in all) and after 13 weeks he doesn't have to have any treatment until his next inpatient on April 21. It comes just in time for spring break, allowing us to leave for Oregon without having to have chemo first, and hopefully his hands and feet will recover a little without any Vincristine for two weeks.

More than anything, though, it's a chance to be a little more free. No doctors, no clinic, no hospital--just the home care nurse to draw blood twice a week. And neupogen shots. And antibiotics on Mondays and Tuesdays . . . okay, so not completely free. But a little is better than nothing. And we're going to enjoy ourselves fully.