It's been a minute...

Hi! It's been a minute... :)

Update on Coop:

Since Cooper's blood transfusion, his body has been fighting and recovering so well! They watched him VERY closely for those following weeks and there were a few days he was still borderline for a transfusion but he seems to be feeling alright so we haven't done one again since. They weren't kidding when they said phase 4 was a doozy! This is the lowest I've ever seen his counts so what a relief to see them starting to rise back up!

Last week he was able to start Phase 5 ON TIME!!! I had conceded the thought of that happening and was expecting a delay but that was not the case. THANK YOU JESUS!!! I felt like that was a win, mainly because our medical team was pretty impressed.

This current phase is a repeat of phase 3, just at higher doses. He goes in every 10 days this phase to receive IV chemo through his port and will receive two spinal taps. This combo of drugs makes him quite nauseous and at the higher doses it's hitting him harder this round. The day following his first treatment he couldn't keep anything down. What's really sad is seeing him sit there, TRYING to make himself throw up so that he will feel better. It's a reality that is becoming a little too familiar. I know it's "normal", "expected", "will get better" etc. but my heart still aches watching him fight through it.

Outside of that, he's actually doing pretty well! We are taking full advantage of his good days and try to bring in the "fun" of summer as much as we realistically can. It has taken some creativity and "re-thinking" a few things but we've already made some fun memories all together and with friends this summer.

The last couple weeks we've really been working on mindset and how powerful our minds are. This whole experience has caused quite the mental chaos and roller coasters for Coop, rightfully so. It's pretty heavy to watch and help carry as his mom. We are going to be experts on navigating fear and anxiety after all of this! Or at least experts on handing it over to the One who has the capability to carry it!

Coop won't let us use the words "chemo" or "port" or really anything to do with the hospital anymore. I watch him physically squirm in repulsion when he sees something on TV that reminds him of any of this or if I start to talk about something related to his cancer he shuts it down REAL quick.

We have now named his port "Bruno"... because "We don't talk about Bruno no no no no." (Thank you Encanto!) Ha!

If we are able to stay on track during this phase he is scheduled to be in "Maintenance" starting August 18th!!! AHHHHHH!!!!! (insert happy dance) Just in time for school ;) We will repeat a 3 month cycle over and over through maintenance all the way through the end of treatment in February of 2027.

So even though the end of treatment still feels forever away, getting here feels quite amazing!

For my incredibly powerful prayer warriors:

If you could please pray for Cooper's hemoglobin to rise. It is the one thing that has had a hard time recovering and he is still considered anemic. Please pray for wisdom and discernment around which integrative doctor to move forward with. I've interviewed a few and feel torn but am feeling the nudge that it is time to start really pouring into the healing and rebuilding of his body (I've done a LOT on my own but it's time for some experts to help). Insurance doesn't cover integrative care so it feels even more important to choose wisely as it's an additional investment. Please pray around Cooper's school situation this upcoming fall, there may be a change happening and that is a big detail for what this upcoming year will look like for him. Please pray for Cooper's mental health, for peace, joy and strength to be stronger than fear and anxiety. To learn tools that can help him navigate not only this but many other moments that will come in his life. As we get closer to maintenance, lots and lots of prayers for protection against his leukemia returning. Prayers that it is 100% gone from his body and never returns!!!!

🧡 So grateful for all of you! 🧡

God has shown up over and over through so many of you. You are such a important and powerful part of Cooper's story. Every action, encouragement, prayer and support has carried us through. I don't think words can ever quite convey how powerful that has been! THANK YOU!!

Much Love,

Brittany