Stitiches Out!

Monday, November 3



It has been a week or so since I posted news about Tyler's progress. Sorry for the delay!



Tyler is at the hospital today having his stitches removed from his leg. He will be put under anesthesia because some the the stitches are deep in his muscle. It will be painful so it is better for Tyler to be asleep. The doctors removed the cast last Friday and he will be put back in his brace. His brace has two metal pieces on the side and open in the front. It has dials that can change the angle of his leg. The angle will increase over time until he can bend it all the way. He has physical therapy to help with the movement also. After he wakes up from this procedure today, he will have tutoring and physical therapy. The days get longer and longer at the hospital to get in everything that he needs to do.



School work is going slow. He does a great job when he is at the hospital with his tutor. He sees him 3 times a week but when he is at home Sarah said he gets very little done. Mainly because he hasn't felt well. He received high doses of methotrexate last Friday (10/24). He was in bed until this Friday (10/31). His body is so beaten down from all of the drugs that it is harder to recover from the chemo.



Halloween was a fun night for the Hanson kids. They went to the Ross' neighborhood to trick-o-treat. Elijah dressed in a purple cape that covered his head and body and had a black mesh face. Sarah said she thinks he was a purple ghost. Tyler dressed as a large skeleton bobble head. It was hilarious. The skeleton head was rather large and he looked out through the mouth. He wore a cape over his head and body. He didn't feel so great so he went to a couple of houses and then helped hand out candy. Christian had a nice transformer outfit but decided he wasn't dressing up.



On Saturday, Sarah and Charles took the kids camping. When Tyler was younger, they camped all of the time. Elijah had never been camping so they headed to a nice area in Arkansas that wasn't too far to drive. It was cold at night but the weather was nice during the day. It was great to get away and enjoy being a family together and having fun. Tyler was feeling better so they took advantage and got away.



Today is a sad day for the family because Alli and Aiko (Sarah's sister and niece) is leaving after 7 weeks. She is returning to Arizona. They hope she will return during the Christmas holiday. They will miss her so much!!!! She has been a huge help to the family.

The Finnesand's are traveling south this extended weekend and are stopping in Memphis tonight to see the family on their return home to Louisville. Tyler will have a long day at the hospital but I know he will enjoy hanging out with Clay, Chad and Jenna tonight.

The Hanson's hope to come to Louisville in the next month or so for a weekend to visit. It all depends on Tyler's treatment. His chemo treatment is pushed back another week. His liver enzymes were extremely high this past week so his chemo was pushed back until next week. Liver enzymes should be at a 40 and Tyler's were as high as 1100 last week. This is such a bummer for the family because they are counting down his weeks of treatment. Charles has made a countdown wall. Tyler has 9 more chemo treatments. They celebrate every time they tear down a number and get closer to the end.

Tyler still has a tough road to travel.. The chemo has battered his body down and it takes longer to get over his treatments. Continue to pray for him to recover quickly and to stay on track to be completely healed of this cancer. He will have extensive physical therapy to get his leg operating like normal. Charles has taken a leave of absence without pay so finances are tight. The family is appreciative of all the support and continued prayer. They continue to be patient and put their faith and hope in the Lord. Isaiah 40:31 "but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint". His strength is our strength! Thank you Lord!
Stay close! Kim